FreeLists / webproducers / [webproducers] Re: request for proposal

["Katherine Gray" <kgray@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

That's great advice, Sharon. Thanks.=20

I asked a client who is currently using Drupal how she felt about it and
she was pretty negative. She felt it was clunky and unreliable compared
to what she used in the past (which was a custom CMS) and she was
dependent on IT when she had a problem, something you're usually what
you're trying to avoid with a CMS. I wonder if open-source sounds great
to us because we can see the configuration possibilities with something
so flexible and easy to get into cost-wise (and, BTW, I'm officially
agnostic about open-source vs. uh, non-open source). But when you put
this in front of a busy marketing manager it doesn't meet their needs of
having something they don't have to think about using but just do.

I haven't gone through all the links everyone has sent but I thank you
in advance. I've got leads to explore!

Regards,

Katherine

-----Original Message-----
From: webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
sharongreenfield@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 10:22 AM
To: webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [webproducers] Re: request for proposal

Katherine, et al-

You know, I also find that a 'requirement' for a CMS solution, is =20
that it's sustainable with the client, that is you can just leave it =20
and they understand it and are happy.
So, sometimes I give them what I call 'testdrives'.

I have them run around the backend interface of Wordpress and Joomla, =20
(and now Drupal)etc.
This helps the client really see the realities of working day to day =20
in the CMS.

Some are so scared of Wordpress after taking the testdrive, that I =20
realise implementing anything more complicated than that would just =20
be malicious.
Or not, some really take to one interface or another. And then being =20
clear about the pros and cons and abilities of each compared with =20
their requirements.
And then make the decision together.

It used to be, we would just code a site for the client, and they =20
would be happy, but there was no CMS and tiny changes had to go =20
through us.
Now, with the idea of giving the client more control over their =20
content, it's important to include them in on the decision of what =20
kind of CMS, because they are going to be the ones working in it all =20
the time.

Give em testdrives, I say...

Cheers,
-Sharon

On Feb 27, 2008, at 7:19 AM, Katherine Gray wrote:

>
> Here's what my client is looking for, in general (I've got them =20
> working
> on specific requirements right now):
>
> 1. Update navigation, text, graphics
> 2. Import pre-made graphic callouts to mix and match will
> 3. Send info to Eloqua (still fuzzy on this, got them working on it)
> 4. See and manage folder system effectively - this will be a 250+ page
> site
>
> I worry that the blog solutions are just not robust enough. But they
> keep saying "CMS Light!" I don't think they realize how light CMSs can
> be now.
>
> -Katherine
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:webproducers-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Michael =20
> Cervieri
> Sent: Tuesday, February 26, 2008 4:13 PM
> To: webproducers@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [webproducers] Re: request for proposal
>
> i was going to say that without requirements it's difficult to
> recommend a solution.
>
> for example in the open source community:
>
> * a lightweight cms that lets us update a marketing site with blog
> attached to it
> ** wordpress does nicely.
>
> * a community site that where different content is displayed pre and
> post login
> ** drupal's my preferred. joomla, for the most part, is the same
>
> * community inter-communication site, perhaps tied to learning
> ** elgg
>
> * digg like community platform
> ** pligg
>
> it come's down to what you're trying to accomplish, choosing the
> platform that accomplishes the majority of that while simultaneously
> being open enough that you can either develop on top of it, or fuse it
> with another solution that accomplishes still more of your goals.
>
> michael
>
> On Tue, Feb 26, 2008 at 5:34 PM, Richard Ryan =20
> <richardryannyc@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
>> To my mind Plone on Zope remains the best (or at least
>>  one of the best) open source CMSes.  But despite its
>>  sophistication and object oriented nature - ideal for
>>  larger enterprises - Plone support remains challenging
>>  for smaller organizations, simply because Python
>>  developers are hard to come by.
>>
>>  For an enterprise-strength proprietary package, you
>>  should definitely be looking at Fatwire's CS7 or
>>  Percussion's Rhythmyx.
>>
>>  For review and ongoing input (including a blog and
>>  newsletter) on CMS issues and vendors generally:
>>
>>  www.cmswatch.com
>>
>>  Regards,
>>  Richard
>>
>
> --=3D20
> /********************************
> Michael Cervieri
> Executive Producer
> ScribeMedia.Org
> michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Reporting AIDS Emmy Nomination:
> http://www.scribemedia.org/shows/reporting-aids/
> ********************************/
>
>
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