Craig Murden Creative uses WordPress exclusively and here’s why: 1) it’s amazingly easy to use interface, 2) web-based accessibility, 3) continuously growing user community providing valuable features and tools, 4) it’s inviting simplicity, which inspires ‘dive in and create content’ feelings for users and 5) low-cost, high return.
This is in addition to the fast training curve it provides and the plethora of available templates that can be customized and honed for clients.
Let’s dive into a few of these details:
Interface
Simple to use because it is very similar to Word and other commonly used word processing tools. Uploading images is easy as well as creating new ‘pages’ and ‘posts’.
Web based Toolkit
A content management system is defined by a structure that allows the user or manager to work with a common structure to serve information via a database. WordPress is so powerful because it combines a web-based database, interface and structure that serves information (content) and images/graphics within specified templates. Bottom line: log-in, edit, update, add, etc. all from the web without a lot of effort.
User community
WordPress is an open-source system with a robust user and developer community around it. A quick visit to wordpress.org will provide some insights on where this platform has been and what’s ahead. What impresses me is the professional system of input, beta testing and continuous improvement. I began working with WordPress several years ago, version 2.0. Version 2.9 launched this week. The user community includes widgets, plug-ins and design templates. These feature-filled elements are being updated and improved almost daily it seems. These are essential components with examples that include: google analytic settings, ad management, navigation enhancements, twitter integration, etc.
Inviting Simplicity
Some web and software interfaces are simply univiting because of their design and recognizable function (or lack of). WordPress comes across very quickly to most users as an inviting place to create content. This is important because the best web sites are full of current content. For your own business and team, do you want a toolkit that is cumbersome and difficult to even begin to use? Imagine trying to create content there every week to keep up with your competitors or manage your own gameplan.
Stay tuned for another blog installment on these three elements below:
- Low-cost, High Return
- Fast Training Curve
- Templates
