who should have a content management system?
Seems like a silly question, but the answer is not everyone!
If a client knows for sure that they will be updating content on a very regular basis, and they don't want to pay someone else to do it then a CMS is required. It's a simple as that however . . .
All Content Management Systems require that the user is confident using computers. Some are more complex than others - in general an empathy with websites and how websites work helps a great deal. I have yet to find a CMS that can be used by someone with no IT skills whatsoever!
Some suppliers suggest that all website owners should have CMS. The reality is that plenty don't and for many reasons. Some clients don't have the time or inclination to update their own sites, and some have sophisticated sites that no CMS would be able to cope with due to the amount of bespoke content required. Some sites continually evolve in terms of design and structure. If this is anticipated then a CMS route can prove very costly as changes are more complex than using regular coding.
Many clients have brochure sites which act as online business cards and have no content that needs updating. Other sites only need one or two pages updated and therefore do not need to be built into a full CMS solution.
Finally, there are many clients who do regular updates and are happy to pay for their sites to be professionally maintained. This is something I am very happy to do on a pay-as-you go basis. As I am able to do most updates extremely fast this can often be a very cost-effective solution.
It's important during the first conversation with the client to discover if they want to update their own site.
If they do, then a CMS is required.
