8 Reasons Why WordPress is Better Than Contribute

Yesterday I send out an email newsletter about content management systems (CMS) for small business. I have already received a few emails from clients and subscribers who are interested in upgrading their static Web site to a CMS.

One client with a static site was using Contribute to update their site and wondered if a CMS offered any other benefits. This led to a discussion with my friend/co-worker Dave Cousins about the myriad of benefits  WordPress--a blogging/CMS platform we often use-has over Contribute. Other CMS platforms have similar benefits.

1. Contribute is $200 per copy. WordPress is free.
2. Contribute is $100 per upgrade. WordPress upgrades are free.
3. Contribute is for one computer. On the road? Working from home? You'll need to have your laptop with Contribute installed with you or you're out of luck. With WordPress you just need to log into your password-protected admin system from any modern browser and you're good to go. In fact, you can have multiple people updating the Web site and not have to buy multiple copies of any software.
4. It's easy to add pages in WordPress. Yes, you can add pages in Contribute, but it's a bear.
5. It's easy to update navigation in WordPress. Don't get me started on Contribute.
6. WordPress uses XHTML/CSS for fast-loading, bloat-free sites. Chances are if you're using Contribute, your site is a few years old and is ready for an upgrade.
7. Design revisions are less expensive with WordPress. Because of its extensive use of style sheets, a design update or even overhaul is significantly less labor intensive in WordPress. You only need to update the style sheets, not rebuild every page on the site.
8. WordPress is an online publishing platform, Contribute is an update tool. WordPress offers a site search, blogging capabilities, podcasting capabilities, RSS feeds, and unlimited plug-ins to enhance your Web site. Contribute allows you to fix typos and update your events page. In fact, it's really not fair to compare the two. But that didn't stop me.

I'm sure I'm leaving plenty of ideas out, so feel free to jump in. Or, if you think I'm wrong, let me know why Contribute trumps WordPress.

Rich Brooks
WordPress Web Sites for Small Business

Comments

[Jacob]

I am a big proponent of WordPress, but the "WordPress is free" mantra just isn't true.

Not all small business people have the technical know how to setup, upgrade and manage WordPress.

I still think it is a good deal, because what you end up paying for is real expertise, not software in boxes.

[Rich Brooks]

I hear what you're saying, but WordPress is free. The software is free. Yes, you'll either have to invest time (= money) to learn the software or hire someone to set it up for you. Many hosting companies offer a lot of this for you built in.

Contribute also has a learning curve, and the feedback I've heard from my clients is that it's a royal pain to use. I've used it a bit (I know HTML so there's little reason to use a program like Contribute) and I've found this to be true.

[chiplatshaw]

Just found the blog and got all my free stuff, so thanks for that. I've been working with a couple of CMS this past year and just had someone ask me which I prefer and how I set it up. Here's what I told em...

I've been using Joomla as a user site and wordpress as a slightly interactive blog with a couple of plugins to make it more useable (some forms, polls, etc. ) I use bluehost.com for all of my hosting and they offer a VERY SIMPLE one step install of either program.

In my experience, Joomla is better if you are building a "myspace" type of site but for just about anything else Wordpress trumps it hands down. WP has more templates, more plugins, and an easier interface. Using products like artisteer lets you quickly and easily build new templates for wp and expost them directly to the end file, while bluehosts control panel make uploading plugins a SNAP!

Learning any new program take a bit of time, but getting an seo friendly useable site up and running with wordpress is far and away the fastest, easiest, most cost effective option there is for the budget businessperson.

[Debra Murphy]

Rich,

I'm in the process of converting the last client html web site into Wordpress. I have moved all of my other clients where it made sense already. They love the fact they can update the site themselves, embed video and audio, add images and add to the navigation. I moved them when they wanted changes and updates so they didn't mind the small additional investment to get there.

Other reasons for Wordpress - plugins gallore! No matter what I need to do, there's a plugin for it. Saves time and money not having to code.

[Michelle]

I have recently discovered the truth in your post as well. Going forward, I am going to use WordPress for all client websites. It's a better solution for the client in the long run. Particularly, with all of the non-blog type themes out there that are fully customizable, you can't beat it.

[Joe]

Wordpress also will not crash, sometimes taking your computer with it.