Greetings Sports Fans,
Let's get ready to rumble... Joomla! vs WordPress. This month we have a heavyweight match up between two of the world's most popular content management systems. Also, we've got some great features, our entertaining tidbits will give you a laugh, and finally, don't forget to check out This Month's Site of Interest.
Introducing Steve Backe-Hansen This month we welcomed a new member to the Avatar team. Steve Backe-Hansen has recently joined the Avatar crew and he’ll primarily be involved with seeking out Web solutions for our new and existing clients.
Steve has an extensive design and development background in the Web industry and holds a degree in Interactive Multimedia Technologies. We are excited to have him onboard the Avatar Mothership and we look forward to raising the bar in the Web Solutions Department.
As Christmas approaches it’s a good idea to start thinking about how you’ll send out your festive messages to clients and business partners. It’s quicker, more cost effective and kinder on the environment to chop down a digital tree, so each year we’re seeing more and more clients jump on to the eCard format.
The lead up to Christmas is such a busy time of year, let us save you time by organising your online Christmas card greetings for you. We’ve got a great range of animated, static or customised options available, so get in touch to find out more.
If you’re thinking about using a content management system (CMS) for your next Web project, (or converting your existing site) then we suggest you consider Joomla! or WordPress. These two content management solutions are leading the global open source CMS market at present by providing site owners with comprehensive editing and content management capabilities.
Joomla! and WordPress are both great options, however it’s worth keeping in mind that each CMS has certain strengths that make them better suited to certain types of Web sites.
So what factors might affect your decision? Read below to find out what our experiences have found.
1. Customisation Requirements
If your Web site requires customisation to meet specific requirements and you want to build an online community, then Joomla! is a solid choice for you. It has thousands of extensions that can be adapted to meet high-end specifications, including eCommerce, forums, articles and membership areas. WordPress also has thousands of plugins to extend functionality but we’ve found is better suited to smaller content sites. WordPress is simple, easy to use and perfect for many brochure style business sites.
2. Blogging Power
If your Web project is going to include a blog that is going to be an integral feature of the site, then WordPress, the ultimate blog friendly CMS choice, is likely the better option for you. WordPress was essentially created as blogging software with CMS capabilities and today it’s used by millions of bloggers across the globe and is widely regarded as the most streamlined blogging tool available. Whilst you can still post blogs on your Joomla! CMS site, the blog functionality is not as integrated and the features aren’t as savvy as its WordPress counterpart.
3. Usability for the End User
If simplicity is a top priority, then WordPress is the best bet for your CMS project. Joomla! is an easy ride once you get on the horse and grab the reigns, however it can take time to get up to a gallop as an administrator. Managing content on a WordPress site on the other hand will get you racing in no time and is perfect for Web jockeys with limited technical experience.
4. Size Does Matter
If you have a very large site that requires a complex navigation and menu system, then Joomla! is generally the better CMS option for you. Its functionality is designed to handle large amounts of content with ease. WordPress, in contrast, can encounter some technical issues when the site grows larger than a few hundred pages.
The Big Decision
Joomla! is a powerful CMS that has been designed for sites that want to build a user community. WordPress has more of a blog-style approach to managing site content. It can be hard to make the final call, both are great for different purposes, but essentially a large, complex site requiring specialised customisation can be best suited to Joomla! A simpler site that needs to be easy for the end user to update is probably better suited to WordPress. If you’re not sure or have any questions, simply contact us to talk further about the best CMS option that will meet your needs.
Check out our recent blog on the Word’s Top CMS Options - WordPress, Joomla and Drupal.
Halloween carve. If you’ve always wanted to carve a pumpkin for Halloween but haven’t had the chance, now’s your big opportunity to do so online.
Frock up and enjoy the Spring. Head to Christchurch next month for the New Zealand Cup and Show Week. The annual week of racing and fun takes place this year from 7 - 14 November.
A questionable disguise. Two men in the US discovered that using marker pen to disguise their faces in a burglary, wasn’t great for keeping a post-crime low profile.
Introducing the Sugar Daddy Ken Doll. Ken is given a makeover Palm Beach style, according to this report. We’re not sure if this is legit but we’re intrigued all the same.
Be a show off. Can’t decide what to do with your spare time? This site should help. An online activity guide with step-by-step instructions for an array of weird and wonderful activities.
Earlier this month, we launched a brand new Web site for our long running client Stepshift. The re-branding exercise for Blue Chip Coaching sees a modern and sleek design for the New Zealand leadership development professionals.
Web site features include:
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