< What's at the heart of your site? : No system is perfect >
A lot of systems claim to be the best, the easiest, the most full-featured and so on. Many also claim to be "simple but powerful".Don't believe the hype. Give a system a fair chance, but don't be swayed by big words or promises.
(By "website system" I mean web-based software that can be used to build a website, a blog, a gallery, a store, a forum and so on.)
1. A system that actually makes sense to you.
Look at what the system does now and use it to see if it makes sense to you. After all, you're the one who will be using it for your site. You don't want to end up with a system that is a nightmare to use.
Incidentally, this makes no difference whether the software is free or if it has a price tag (unless it's money you can't afford). Time is money; if you waste a lot of time on a free system, you're not that much better off than you would be if you'd wasted a lot of time on a paid system.
2. A free trial period.
If the software is free anyway, this won't be an issue. But if you have to pay to use it, even if it's a low price, you need a trial period before you can decide whether to buy it.
If the trial period isn't long enough, you might be able to ask for an extension. After all, if you're a potential customer, it would be daft not to extend your trial. This will also give you an idea of what the staff are like - more on that in a moment.
3. A reliable, evolving system.
Is it "ready" for public use? Watch out for systems that are listed as pre-release, alpha or beta - they may be less reliable than other systems.
No system is bug-free but beware of systems that look half-finished, especially if big promises are being made up front. This could mean the system is too unstable to be worth considering at this stage, or the staff are poor at planning.
4. A quick and easy way to get help.
Help documentation is one thing, but what if you have a fast question that you need an answer to? Look for support forums - these can be extremely useful if you get stuck.
5. Professionalism and enthusiasm.
User-to-user support is quite common on official software forums, but you will want to know what the staff are like. Are they professional at all times? Do they have a genuine interest in what they are doing? What about the regular users who have lots of posts?
Try asking a couple of questions before you commit to using the system- but don't mention that you're evaluating the software, just behave as if you're a normal customer (in some cases, this may not be possible until you purchase a licence). This will give you an idea of what the support forums are like.
6. Responsiveness to user feedback.
When evaluating a system, spend some time looking for things that don't work quite right or could be improved. Post your comments at the support forums and see what kind of response you get. Look around to see if other users have posted feedback, and keep an eye on how long it takes for staff to act on the suggestions raised.
There isn't a clear point at which you should become concerned about feedback not being acted on, but your main concern should be if user feedback gets ignored. Also, bear in mind that not every suggestion can or should be accepted, so keep an eye out for systems where the staff agree to everything and deliver nothing.
In conclusion
It's quite rare to find a system is perfect for every possible site. If you find a really good system but you're put off by a few of the downsides, it doesn't mean it's not right for you. Evaluate a few different systems so you can get a good idea of what's out there. Only then should you make a decision!
Tags: website systems, blogging systems, usability, free trial, support forums, professionalism, enthusiasm, user feedback, staff responsiveness
Posted by Ben on December 02, 2007 22:45 / Edited: December 03, 2007 10:48
Comments
2
Thanks for the supportive comment!
3
Does the OS platform (Windows or Mac) make a difference in the blogging platform you use (for either the user or visitor)?
4
Hi Mamaflo, it might make a difference when you're writing content, but it's more of a browser thing than an OS thing. Visitors may notice differences in how a site looks depending on the browser they use, but this is very common and not really limited to specific systems. It's more of a design concern. :)
Six excellent points, all of which are very important; no matter whether the site you run is for professional purposes or just for chatting and fun.
More people need to read this.