Bespoke Website Development Vs Open source

There are literally hundreds of choices when it comes to content management systems and website development so which one do you go for? This is probably the most common questions we get asked these days and as everyone has an opinion, it leaves most people a little confused.

Essentially, there is no correct answer. No one can say one system is better than another as it’s entirely dependent on the project, the functionality needed and what the end user is going to expect. We love using WordPress and this would be our “recommendation” for an open source platform if we were asked, however, it’s not the right choice for all of our projects and we couldn’t say hand down it’s better than other content management systems as this is just an opinion.

So how do you choose?

Well, there are 3 simple things you can do to help make your choice:

1. Think about your project and everything it’s going to need.

Most “off the self” Content Management Systems such as WordPress boast a huge amount of features and will usually have an extensive plug-in library so see if what you need is out there first. If you think your project fits into a standard website format with features common to a lot of other websites (for example: content pages, galleries, blogs, search areas, contact forms) then there’s a good chance this could be the route for you. However, if you already know you’re going to need a website that manages your customers, produces reports or connects to other pieces of software then you’re probably better off with something a little more tailored your specification rather than the other way around. This is based on face value though so isn’t always the case and brings us on nicely to our next point….
2. Ask your web development team.

Your website developers should be in the best position to suggest what you’ll need due to their vast experience in building websites. As long as they listen to your brief then they’ll be able to run through the best options available. They’ll also help you to think outside the box, look at elements you haven’t thought of and plan for future requirements too. Going through this will also make it easier to decide whether they’re the right team for you as will – if they only seem interested in doing what they want or you’re unsure of their capabilities then you know the finished article isn’t going to meet your goals or expectations.
3.Make an educated decision.

You’ve got all the information you can and now it’s time to make a choice. The easiest question to ask is “does this feel like the right software for my website?” You need to go with your gut instinct on this one but if you think the software looks clunky and difficult to use now, how’s it going to function in 6 months time when you really need to rely on it? Or does the bespoke software you’re having built seem over the top compared to what you’ve asked for? If you compromise to begin with then you’ll never be happy so it’s vitally important to feel confident in the software you pick.

This may all sound simple and to be honest, it is. The difficulty lies in knowing where to start but if you follow these 3 easy steps, you’ll be well on your way.

If you would like to know more about a bespoke developed website or a content management system, why not get in touch? Contact us on 01284 706842 or email Howie@logicdesign.co.uk