Should I Use a Content Management System?

Once upon a time, most websites were created as a static product, one that contained different types of code that made management a total nightmare. That code - using JavaScript, Flash, HTML - was very difficult for many web servers to handle. If you were a web geek, like me, you took the time to learn all the coding techniques that, hopefully, added to you resume, thus fattening your bank account. Plus, without proprietary software and training, these documents were virtually uneditable by site owners. You had to keep someone like me “on the payroll” to make periodic updates and changes. Consequently, they were expensive to maintain so, unless a site owner could handle the task, someone with the skill, knowledge and software had to be hired to perform the necessary maintenance.

Therefore, a need existed to create a system on the “back end” where site owners could perform maintenance activities such as copy replacement, image replacement and add to the existing content without knowing any difficult coding. New technology, called Content Management System, or CMS, was developed. At the core of the system is employment of a database where the user can store content - copy and images - to retrieve and edit. Every site page is stored as simple text. The system converts this simple text into the appropriate HTML and JavaScript when a visitor lands on the page. The system also allows for the integration of a variety of features such as interactive event calendars, log ins with user names and passwords, news feeds, blogs, photo galleries and more.

If you are experiencing a great deal of difficulty maintaining a static site, it may be time to “upgrade” to one that can be controlled through a Content Management System. Here are some of the problems associated with a static website that if you recognize as aggravating, might be that sure indication it is time for a change:

Problems

-You have no control concerning updates and either need to go through your designer/host or not make any at all
-There is no search function available on your site to allow users to find specific content
-Limited features - if any - like logins, contact or request forms, forums, blogs, mailing lists, calendars ort other interactive features that elevate the level of user-friendly available content

Solutions

-Install an open source Content Management System (CMS)
-Transfer all your available content to the new system
-Learn how to use the system to perform your own maintenance (Can you use Word?)

So, what are the benefits from using a CMS?

First, you gain the ability to manage, update, change add or delete your own content. Additionally, through use of a CMS, you will be displaying content that conforms to present web standards. Which is important. Using current web standards will increase your accessibility allowing for your content to not become obsolete. Whenever an upgrade is issued for the CMS, installation is normally but a “click” allowing your site to stay in web compliance. Furthermore, CMS has embedded site search capabilities.

The Mechanics of Website Hosting

While many of us have heard of this term around the net, there has not been a concise effort to actually explain this in literal terms, and for one, this can be an interesting read to find out just how the mechanics of website hosting actually work in the first place. When thinking about this, what you need to know is how you are going to know the inner workings of the website hosting platforms that you can find all over the internet, and from there, make the decisions you should be making so that you can pair what you have with something that fits it to a T.It would be utilitarian for us to look at the assorted styles that we can excuse the condition to you for major observing. A net web server is in reality a type of service that survives on the cyberspace and constantly, what it does is avail to people and arrangements to truly platform their web sites on the world wide web, and this is what you necessitate to genuinely pay attention to.

As a service, they offer space on the host, which implies that it is an in reality information filled space that allows you to prop up a net mien, and this can extend from things like web sites, cyberspace diaries and even e commerce sites. There are umpteen kinds of hosting that you can discover online and they extend from expressions of servicing like FTP and even network interface, which form the mass of the varieties of avails that you might ascertain if you are actively depending for them.

Summarily, you can even ascertain fiscal functions that are connected to things like live servers which deal in commercial dealings, and this is what you postulate if you are going to be putting up a business on-line, There are also discrepancies of allocation, which can extend from web logs, society, imaging - all the way to video allocation as well.

The only dispute is the place that will be apportioned and the kinds of resources that will be transmitted towards your hosting result. There are plenty of organisations that are online that will be effective to overhaul you with these varieties of avails and all you require to do is to look for them. In the end of the day, there are so many companies out there that are offering this, and this is down to the fact that when looking at it, the resources needed to set up this kind of company is really negligible. In fact, it all boils down to the kind of services and the value addedness that you are going to be getting from these companies, and these are the real issues that you need to be looking at. Of course, when thinking about this, all you need to know is how you are going to benefit from their services, and of course, understand just how their technology of website hosting really works for you and the greater internet population.

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How to Speed Up Magento Commerce

If you’re running Magento Commerce on shared hosting, loading speed can be a challenge. Slow loading websites cause customers to click away and shop elsewhere.Before you begin working to optimize your website, test your speed with a tool like webpageanalyzer.com or iwebtool.com/speed_test Run several tests at different times of the day to get a better idea of the speed as it will vary with the current server load and other factors.Once you know your current loading speed, you can start working to reduce it. Remember to always backup your site before making any changes. If possible test these first on a separate sandbox installation of Magento instead of a live website.

Here are five steps you can take to speed up your load time with Magento. You may need to contact your website host or website designers to help you with some of the steps. Also, be sure to stop and check your website after any change to ensure it’s still up and running, this way you’ll know which change caused any issues that occur.

1) PHP5 - Make sure the server you’re hosted on supports php5. While the php5-cgi files Magento provides will work, they also drastically reduce the speed and increase the load on the server.

2) Enable Caching - Inside your Magento admin panel you’ll find options for caching under System > Cache Management. Use these settings. You’ll need to refresh the cache after future changes, but it will help speed loading for your visitors.

3) Enable GZIP Compression - This can be enabled in the .htaccess file Magento includes in it’s default files. Just uncomment the lines for GZIP by removing the # in front of the lines.

4) Install Fooman Speedster - Fooman Speedster is a Magento extension designed to speed up your site by combining, compressing, and caching javascript and css files. Get details at magentocommerce.com/extension/457/fooman-speedster and, as with any extension, be sure your version of Magento is compatible before you install it.

5) Optimize - Follow general good optimization practices such as resizing your images before uploading them, and using smaller sized file formats when possible.

These steps should get your Magento installation moving faster than a turtle through syrup so your shoppers can happily fill their carts.

Michelle Shaeffer is the CEO of Creo Communico LLC, a website hosting and design firm exclusively for small and home based businesses. Our mission is to provide affordable website hosting along with resources and support to help our clients succeed, including 300+ video tutorials, a choice of free site builders, and dozens of easy install scripts. Visit http://www.creocommunico.com today for a selection of free website management guides on domain names, website hosting, e-commerce and more.