Updating Websites for Clients

[mrdamon]

I'm a freelance web deisnger and I have only done two sites. The sites I deal with are very small with simple code.

 

Questin 1: How do I set up something for my client to make their own updates if they choose to do so?

 

I've heard of a software call Drupal.

 

Question 2: Does this software work for Flash Sites as well as HTML?

 

mrDamon

Edited March 17, 2009 by mrdamon

[falkencreative]

1 - Yes, you can use a CMS of some sort. There are a variety you can work from, Drupal being one of them. Wordpress and Expression Engine are quite popular, though everyone has their own opinion. CMSMadeSimple is probably my personal favorite.

 

More info:

http://www.opensourcecms.com/

http://www.killersites.com/forums/topic/96/cms-content-management-system-accessibility-1003008/

 

2 - You would need a flash specific CMS. Most don't work with Flash, and frankly, most regulars here avoid full Flash sites anyway.

[LSW]

Drupal is a CMS, Content Management System. You create a template and the user can add, delete or update pages from their browser or any browser on the internet. No special tools or knowledge, it is all already set in the template. Drupal is Enterprise Class, it is very good for what it does... but it is meant for bug complicated web sites.

 

You sound like CMS Made Simple or Wordpress would be enough. But there are others... CMS (Content Management System) : Accessibility

 

Q2 - No. You can add Flash elements into the HTML and it will work fine. But it does not handle full Flash sites. For that the user has to know flash to make changes or the developer good enough to put all important info into a database so content can be edited but new pages and links etc. require new movies and you will have to do all that. Just one of the many reasons Full Flash web sites are a bad idea.

[lm]

About Flash sites -

you can make text files which will serve as dynamic text for each page of Flash website and your client will update text content making changes in these text files.

Also, many Flash image galleries are built with the manager ( for example SV manager for Simple Viewer gallery:

http://www.airtightinteractive.com/simpleviewer/svmanager/

But of course for website with many pages and with the need of frequent updates CMS is the best option.

[4folds]

I have two recommendations for you that will do what you want. The first idea is to use a simplified CMS like http://www.iUpdateIt.com. This will allow you to install a small snippet of code into their site where you want them to be able to update. Then, they'll be able to login and change that space using an easy editing tool that works a little like a word processing program. It's simple to use and allows the client lots of flexibility to add fonted text, images, etc... The other idea is to get them a blog on something like http://www.Blogger.com, and then feed the content into their site using something like http://www.FeedBurner.com or http://www.WidgetBox.com. This would be more if they want to do stuff like articles, but it works well. Both ideas are easy to create and will be a breeze for your clients to use.

 

As to the Flash elements, neither of what I said really intergrates as a Flash element, but probably could fit into a "space" on a Flash site... I think that you can do what you want for your clients with either of them.

[Guest fokinnerpola]

You must always ensure your website is relevant, fresh and up to date. You want your visitors to find your website professional and modern and so you must ensure the content within your site is too.Regularly visit your web site and explore the different web pages you have. Read the content within them and assess the quality and relevancy of the information present. Is some of the content outdated? Are your web pages still relevant? Will visitors to your website still find this information useful? These are important questions you should be considering as you read through the content within your site.

 

 

Edited May 17, 2010 by Andrea
Link Removed

[administrator]

For smaller sites, I recommend using Wordpress as it is easier to use, easier to set up and there is a HUGE community backing it with templates and plugins.

 

And being the shameless self promoter that I am, we also have a nice video course on how to edit and create Wordpress themes/templates.

 

Stefan