Why we need another CMS

Every design agency needs a content management system. They are a solid business need. But, does every agency really need a custom solution? Especially when it comes to small business, the CMS is causing more problems than it’s solving.

They Just Do Too Much

Most of the CMS systems I’ve seen tend to do way too much.   Much more than the client needs to do.  Most brochureware websites have simple demands:

• Edit the textual content
• Upload Media (images, galleries, etc…)
• Manage basic design elements (layouts and basic styling)

Most CMS software focuses on the need for more features and more functionality.  It’s our animalistic nature to want more, faster.  This animalistic nature is what drives good software into bloated software.

Local Cleveland web design firm TenthFloor markets their CMS, Base-10, with the slogan “Yes, it does that too…” - Perhaps, this is the reason that so many Base-10 users have told us how overwhelmed and confused they are with the product.

What we need is a CMS with a small footprint.  Something light and adaptable.

The last week or so I’ve been beta testing Reflect.  Nate Klaiber and our friends at ClearFunction have hit the nail on the head with their hosted CMS solution.  It’s light, agile and flexible.  You can build your own website in a few minutes or have a professional designer put the look and feel together for you.  It’s competitively priced and offers a few well thought out features:

• Hosted application eliminates the need for a 3rd-party hosting agreement
• The management system isn’t tied to the design agency, so you aren’t locked in anywhere
• The features are intuitive without compromising flexibility.  (You’re creative abilities won’t suffer)

We are sold on the idea of Reflect.  I’m looking forward to working with it post-beta and integrating it’s API into Simpli5.