Choosing a content management system can be a little un-nerving at first. With the variety of options available, and literally dozens of systems to choose from, a first time installer can easily feel a little overwhelmed. However, you can make the process simpler by following a few guidelines.
1. Make sure the hosting for your website can run a CMS. Generally, you’ll need either PHP or ASP hosting. Some hosting companies offer installers right out of the box. Others may only host standard HTML-driven sites.
2. Determine whether you want PHP or ASP. Windows Server hosting will host ASP-powered content management systems, while Linux hosting will power PHP sites.
3. Make sure your hosting company offers at least database per website, or if you have a limited amount. This may affect how many simultaneous content management systems you can have installed.
4. Look for a website host with an automated installer (like cPanel, SimpleScripts, Fantastico, etc) to make your installation easier. Many companies offer these installers that make setting up a CMS-powered site as simple as filling in a few blanks.
5. Consider what you want the site do be able to do. Are you aiming towards large corporate sites, small businesses, or the consumer. Each group will have different needs in terms of features and functionality. Most of the open-source content management systems can have features added on-the-fly, through the use of Modules, Plugins, Applications, Etc. Make sure that what your site needs to do can be done using the CMS you’re looking at, and whether any limitations would be deal-killers. This can avoid a big headache down the road when the website design hits roadblocks.
6. See what others have been saying about the CMS. Most of the big open-source CMS platforms have large groups of users, and you can often find a huge spectrum of reviews. Look at user feedback for the CMS – Are they happy with it? Are they having a lot of problems with it?
7. If you can’t find an appropriate CMS for free, consider a licensed solution. Some proprietary content management systems operate faster and more effectively than what the open-source community can offer, and can often be more customizable.