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Ways of updating your website

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A content management system (CMS) is a way of allowing you to update your website yourself. There are many different types of content management system and some are easier to use than others. However, they all require some degree of computing skill/aptitude, or a willingness to learn, and plenty of time and patience. If you are in doubt about any of these factors, we always advise that you should go for 'paid for' updates.

'Paid for' updates

If your website does not have a CMS attached, the only way you can update your site is by asking your web designer to do the updates once or twice a year. The costs will vary depending on what you have done, but to give you some idea, our average update bills for a small site are between £50 and £100.

Types of Content Management System

1) Simple Content Management System (Bronze version)

This is a very simple content management system which will allow you to edit text and images on the various pages of your site. The editor will allow to you upload new images, replace images and edit your text. Prices depend on how many pages/images are linked to the system. The CMS includes a user manual. If you are worried about your computing skills, you can opt for the text only option and let us change the images for you (the tricky bit).

Pros - very easy to use, can be linked to a text only version, easy to expand to other pages or images after you have launched your site, ideal for those with limited computing skills

Cons - will not allow you to add new pages to your site - you can only edit what's already there and although one of the simplest CMS systems available, it still requires some aptitude towards working with computers, handing image files, using text editors etc.

2) Full Content Management System (Silver version)

This is a powerful content management system gives you all the features of the Gold version (see below). It is more complicated to use than the Bronze version (see above), but is very intuitive and fun once you get the hang of it. The system is driven by is driven by Flash Technology. You can add or remove pages on your main menu, create new pages, edit images and text. Also lets you add a range of extra functionality to your site such as a blog, guest book, image galleries, PayPal buttons etc. You can either add these features yourself, or ask us to do it for you. There is a yearly charge for use of this type of CMS (for unlimited pages). Suitable for those with some knowledge of computing procedures, or the willingness (and time) to learn.

Pros - easy and fun to use, allows you to have a very impressive, editable website, with advanced features such as blogs, guestbooks, image galleries etc at a fraction of the normal cost normally charged for such a feature rich site site. Allows you to add new pages as well as editing existing content.

Cons - On Apple iphones and ipads, these sites will display a version optimised for presentation on these devices. This means that the site will not look exactly the same, but you can be sure that all the images and text will be there. Click here to see an example of how these webites look on mobile devices.

3) Full Content Management System (Gold)

This is a top of the range, powerful content management system and is only suitable for serious computer users. You can add or remove pages on the main menu, create new pages, edit images and text. The system also lets you add extra functionality to your site such as a blog, guest book, image galleries, PayPal buttons etc. This type of content management system is useful if you will be updating your website regularly and have plans to expand in the future. For the techies reading this, we usually develop such sites using Wordpress or similar systems.

Pros - very flexible, allows for a feature rich website. Allows you to add new pages to your site as well as editing existing pages.

Cons - not suitable for those with limited computing skills unless you have the aptitude and time to learn, the admin area has been described as 'daunting'. Bespoke sites can be expensive.