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#1 2007-07-19 20:11:09

mhulse
Plugin Author
From: Eugene Oregon
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 200

Reasons why a client should upgrade site to use Textpattern:

  • Much easier to update.
  • CMS upgrades — good community support.
  • Free.
  • Easier for the less-experienced to maintain site inner-workings and content.
  • Superior template system.
  • Easier to change look of site due to template system.
  • Security.
  • Flexible and expandable.
  • Easy access to all (or some) of your content (depends on what you want.)
  • Multiple user accounts.
  • Manage uploaded files (pdf, txt, doc…)
  • Manage images
  • Manage your own links
  • More?

I think a list, like the above, would be great to have handy for convincing future clients to upgrade.

I would love to hear what others could add (or edit) to above list. :)

Cheers,
M

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#2 2007-07-20 23:01:04

iblastoff
Plugin Author
From: Toronto
Registered: 2006-06-11
Posts: 1,197
Website

Re: Reasons why a client should upgrade site to use Textpattern:

what exactly are the clients updating From?

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#3 2007-07-22 04:16:09

mhulse
Plugin Author
From: Eugene Oregon
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 200

Re: Reasons why a client should upgrade site to use Textpattern:

Hi iblastoff, thanks for the reply. :)

Oh, from a custom built PHP site… It is not bad at all, but I think a CMS like TXP, is always a good pick.

I guess, for the sake of not getting too complicated, lets just say we want to convince a client that upgrading to Textpattern is better than the non-CMS site they currently have.

So, from basic site (XHTML, static) to Textpattern… Anyone care to help add to the list? :)

Cheers,
M

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#4 2007-07-22 05:11:30

iblastoff
Plugin Author
From: Toronto
Registered: 2006-06-11
Posts: 1,197
Website

Re: Reasons why a client should upgrade site to use Textpattern:

ahh ok. well aside from all the goodies you’ve already listed:

  • clean, standards compliant output
  • separation of content and presentation
  • built-in search engine
  • very small footprint (download is only ~300 kb)
  • numerous plugins that extend functionality
  • a recently published 500+ page book on txp :)

etc etc

Last edited by iblastoff (2007-07-22 05:57:41)

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#5 2007-07-22 05:20:20

mhulse
Plugin Author
From: Eugene Oregon
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 200

Re: Reasons why a client should upgrade site to use Textpattern:

Oooh, yeah! Good list/nice additions. :)

I got the book like the first day it came out. I think a must-have, even for experienced folks.

Thanks for help iblastoff, I appreciate it.

Cheers,
M

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#6 2007-07-24 19:54:33

rloaderro
Archived Plugin Author
From: Costa Rica
Registered: 2006-01-05
Posts: 190
Website

Re: Reasons why a client should upgrade site to use Textpattern:

I think your list is good. Upgrading to TXP from another CMS is another thing altogether I guess, and would depend on the strengths / benefits of each. But just generally upgrading from a static site to a CMS is really what you need to sell the client on. You can do a quick search on Google as there are already a lot of pages that list the benefits of a CMS / dynamic content – I guess the ones I use are:

  • A CMS improves business efficiency: no technical knowledge is required to manage and publish content on your website
  • Expanded product / service offerings: easily add new products / specials and publish immediately
  • Reduces operating costs / risks: no additional party is needed to use the CMS

Not sure where I got those form though – I have them footnoted as Jakob Nielsen – Loyalty On The Web but I think he is specifically talking about fresh content = return visitors = bread ‘n butter of the internet.

While a CMS / dynamic content is the first point I try to sell, I also push “A solution based in Web Standards”:

  • Maximize the number of potential visitors: Sites built around Web Standards are more accessible to a greater number of visitors everywhere in the world
  • Increased search engine rankings / optimization (SEO): Well-written content delivered through well-structured, and semantic markup (HTML) is delicious food for search engine spiders and will help your rankings – this, of course, will lead to increased traffic
  • Future-proof content: Web standards will be accepted by future browsers, cell-phones, PDA’s, etc

And “Separation of style from content”:

  • A methodology of web design that has many benefits, including: Speed, Maintainability, Accessibility, Customization, Consistency and Portability

Among others. I will also add a couple of quick counter arguments for a CMS that have proven to be disappointingly apt for more than one client:

I think some of you guys are missing the point—no amount of tricked out framework-powered custom-admin ajax-display awesomeness is going to write a concise company statement, or select complementary images, or create attractive headings to match article summaries, or maintain a smooth page flow. As much as I love a well integrated content management system I think it’s hilarious (and sad) that a company will spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a web site and then place an untrained intern or entry-level secretary in charge of maintaining the content.

Before I sell a CMS, I always ask: do you have the time and the basic skills to use it? 80% of the time, the answer is no, and my client have just saved hundreds of $ (not to mention time).


Travel Atlas * Org | Start Somewhere

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#7 2007-08-06 16:05:49

mhulse
Plugin Author
From: Eugene Oregon
Registered: 2005-01-21
Posts: 200

Re: Reasons why a client should upgrade site to use Textpattern:

Ooooh, rloaderro, great info! Thanks for the contribution. Sorry it took me so long to respond.

Looks like some excellent linkage too.

Many many thanks to both of you for your helpful insights. ;)

Have a great day/night!
Cheers,
Micky

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