A CMS or Content Management System is the modern holy grail of web design.  What started with frames and HTML, evolved into XML then on to CMS.  Each incarnation allowing us to provide more interactivity to our users and engage them more in the whole web presence, rather than merely posting a site for them to read.

CMS come in all shapes and sizes.  The huge like Interwoven to the smallest like Zope.  Whatever the kind of CMS, the intention is the same.  To use something that lets us create a design while allowing the contributors to provide content in a completely separate but connected environment.

The beauty of CMS is that it allows web developers to concentrate on the structure and workings of the site and leaves the graphic designers to make pretty pictures without getting in our way.  We can all do what we’re good at without overburdening each other with tasks we don’t need to worry about.  The developers can develop and the designers can do their bit.

The upshot of this is that a web developer can be just that, not an unofficial trainer, tech support or troubleshooter for a site.  The CMS manages it all and once implemented should run with the minimum of supervision or intervention.

A CMS also streamlines workflow.  While the graphic designer is implementing a new template, the contributors can be creating and uploading content.  Neither operation interrupts the other and none of the changes means downtime for the site.

The RT Design Group has plenty of CMS expertise, from the standard ones like Wordpress or Joomla to custom ones made just for you.  Our web developers can implement or create a CMS from our offices in Naples.  Graphic designers then take that framework and add color to it and make it look attractive for the end user.

They can create a range of templates that can skin your website in minutes.  Using CMS technology we can implement changes in moments, not hours.  We no longer have to create websites that are backwards compatible, or make several versions of pages or files that work in different browsers as the CMS takes care of it all for us.  Backwards compatibility is now automatic with a properly formatted CMS.

Whether you choose a custom or package CMS, you will appreciate the fact that maintaining a website, no matter what the scale it now much easier to manage.  You can make significant changes, modify pages and posts on the fly, and pretty much manipulate it in any way without interrupting service or interrupting those people who are using your site.  The changes are implemented instantly and allows you to preview changes before making them live.

Creating a custom CMS entails a lot of work, but is worth it in the end.  The freedom is gives us, graphic designers, you the client, contributors and ultimately the end users is well worth the extra effort.

In a difficult economy, advertising is one of those operations that gets cut first.  It is often seen as an expense that can be dispensed with until things get better.  This can be a false economy though as businesses have to take advantage of every opportunity they can to get their name and their products out there.

Studies undertaken during the last two recessions in 1974-5 and 1981-2 showed that those companies who continued to advertise during that time experienced growth at an outstanding level as the economy recovered.

There are several cases for advertising, in any kind of economy, but especially in a difficult one.  Even though we are slowly coming out of recession, things are going to be difficult for a few years to come.  Spending money wisely is going to be the byword of almost everyone in the country for the foreseeable future.

The first, and to my mind, best reason to continue advertising during difficult times is that your competitors won’t be.  Chances are that they will cut their advertising budgets too, which is the perfect time for your company to fill the gap.  This works especially well for those companies who sell non-luxury items.  The public still needs to buy stuff they need.  If your presence is known, they are going to buy it from you.

Advertising agencies also know that it’s the marketing budgets that get cut.  Therefore they will fight tooth and nail for those clients who have money to spend.  Deals can be done, discounts can be had as well as extra expertise at no cost.  This might be the time to break into TV or radio advertising.  When the TV stations are losing ad revenue, and agencies are offering bigger and better deals for companies.

A difficult economy can also be a talking point for the advertising.  Don’t be afraid to address the difficulties directly.  We all talk about the recession and being short of money.  It is the ideal proposition for a product.  Offering it as a solution to a problem, at a discount, or highlighting its value compared to competitors is a great way of putting yourself in the view of a more frugal consumer.  Using words like “discount”, “bargain” and others will capture their attention like never before.

In smaller cities like Naples, advertising is still important.  There is still enough local competition to make things difficult if you don’t have a comprehensive campaign in the works.  Continuing the campaigns during difficult times will set you up to reap the rewards during, but especially after the recovery.  Consumers will remember your company, and the fact that you “were there for them” during that time.  This can create brand loyalty of the kind that money simply can’t buy.

By being open minded, and willing to keep spending you may reap rewards larger than you ever expected.