The Advantages of Joomla and WordPress Website Platforms

When you're seeking new website development, there are a few things that are important to understand. First, here is a brief and non-technical history:

Websites used to be developed through manual coding. It was time-intensive and required a specific skill set with an interface of good graphic design for not only excellent function, but audience appeal. Anything unique that was desired such as movement, forms, etc., had to be built. We know this first-hand because we were one of those companies coding websites back in the day - when we had to walk uphill in the snow both ways to get anywhere.

Before, we had to rebuild a stage every time there was a show. Today, we have open source website platforms that provide us with the right stage. They are not at all complete, but they come with basic functionality as well as thousands of components, or technical elements, that you can add to create a beautiful web performance and keep your audience around for an encore.

The two most popular open source platforms are WordPress and Joomla. We use both for our clients for different reasons. It's rare that we use a pre-made template, as we offer unique sites and customized design, but we can if needed.Because both platforms are used worldwide, they both have amazing functionality as well as worldwide support. If your site is built in these platforms they can be updated, serviced, hosted, or maintained anywhere in the world. Programs and software like QuickBooks and Salesforce typically work with these platforms and if not, there is certainly a component we can use to make that connection.These platforms are always improving – when the core operating systems are updated and maintained as designed, you know that you're always mobile, modern, and secure.

Many companies have created their own website development systems. Most are coded after a WordPress or Joomla site structure, but they've modified the code enough to own the technology. Most companies who do this have had it done overseas and sell it here, often not mentioning that because it's not an "open source system" and they are the only ones that can service the site. In addition, since the sites are not compatible to the many available and free components that WordPress or Joomla sites can use, those who have a propriety site built typically have to pay much more for any site additions that require complexity, interactivity, or integration. Everything is custom. And, because everything is custom, it often takes longer as well.

Beware of website developers that will only use proprietary platforms; this method only benefits the developers, not the clients. A well-done site is an investment, but it is one that you should own outright after initial development. You will always need to maintain a modern site, but you should not be stuck in a long-term contract for development or search engine optimization (SEO) fees. Many people don't understand web development, platforms, SEO, hosting, or email interfaces. We see companies leveraging this lack of knowledge over people all the time. That's why it's important to understand the basics and work with professionals you trust.