About a decade ago, I worked with an interactive agency and one of the add-ons to our offerings was what we called an admin tool. We sold these left and right because there was a need for business users to update content, such as adding copy/images or introducing a new product, and they didn’t want to rely on an actual developer for these minor edits.
Since that time, Content Management Systems (CMS) have replaced those types of admin tools. In fact, CMS has allowed many business owners to self-serve so even the least tech savvy users can get by with little to no help. I’m not saying that we can cut professionals out completely but the point is, almost anyone can have something — how good it is is another story. (A perfect example is that anyone can use a pencil but the actual picture drawn with it can vary drastically depending on the skill of the user.)
There are so many CMS choices today: from free (Posterous) to low monthly fees (Typepad – under $10/mo.) to crazy expensive (Vignette – over $200,000!!!). What I’d like to do with this article is compare some of the more popular free CMS offerings: WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. Keep in mind that when I say ‘free’, although you’re not paying for the CMS platform, there may still be costs such as domain name registration, hosting provider fees, and maybe even some design and development investment.
I know, here comes the peanut gallery about WordPress being a CMS. It’s like saying Excel is a database which is always open for interpretation and interesting arguments (I’m on the side that Excel is a database, even though it’s not a relational databse). Sure, WP started as a blogging platform but it has evolved into a pretty robust CMS over the years. So much so that when small businesses look for a CMS for their websites, WP is often on the list of potential candidates!
WordPress
Why it’s awesome
It doesn’t get any easier than this! If you’re looking for something that’s realtively simple to use, read no further. That said, you still have to know your way around admin interfaces a little bit. And if you want to make your site look different from the plethora of cookie cutter ones, get ready to do some fine-tuning. The best part is the incredible number of plugins that are at your disposal and the vast support community that can help.
Why it fails
WP isn’t a great tool if you’re looking to have total control like you would with a blank sheet of paper. It starts you with a framework to build off of, which is a great thing for some, a not-so-great thing for more techie folks. It’s also not as mature when it comes to ecommerce as Joomla and Drupal.
Joomla
Why it’s awesome
Joomla gives you a lot more customization options than WP with just a slightly greater learning curve.
Why it fails
The development community is lacking compared with WP and Drupal. The good news is that you don’t have to be as technical as someone who uses Drupal. The bad news is that if you’re stuck, it’s possible you’re on your own.
Drupal
Why it’s awesome
This platform can do just about anything and has an amazing support community.
Why it fails
You better be willing to pay for a tool that can do anything. Not in money but in time! Drupal requires a bit more technical knowhow than Joomla and it’s a mountainous technical gap from WP.
CMS Wrap-Up
It’s impossible to pick a winner here since it really depends on your needs.
In short, how savvy are you? In order of simplicity, WordPress is probably best for the “every-man”. Joomla is for those who are a bit braver, looking to do a bit more, and have graduated beyond minor code edits. Leave Drupal for the advanced folks who are looking for a challenge who also happen to be control freaks.