Websites as standalone projects only work to a limited extent these days. Usage on end devices also plays a major role. While desktop PCs were the measure of all things a few years ago, this has changed fundamentally with smartphones. In short, a responsively designed website that is intended as an image or representative company homepage is favorable.
In such cases, good photos, meaningful texts, an imprint and contact form and perhaps a gallery etc. are often sufficient. The message of such pages is usually "Hello we are on the Internet - Welcome".
This is perfectly fine and there is no reason to shoot with cannons at sparrows, especially not when direct sales strategies in Company work quite differently, namely without Internet.
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Let's say you have a caravan business. You sell caravans, cars, or motorcycles. Then you'll probably want to use one of the big portals like Mobile, Ebay or even social media like Facebook. If you want your website to do tasks, you might need to program an app specifically for that.
A contact form is an interactive application, a guestbook is also an interactive application, an e-commerce store is a whole bunch of applications combined into one application. Of course, there are off-the-shelf solutions for everything and the spectrum ranges from minimalist applications for free download to complex store systems. The trend is towards the use of CMS, prefabricated solutions, i.e. systems that can be built in a modular way.
For medium to large company, so-called open source solutions are sufficient. This must be clarified in a needs analysis. In any case, it is important to discuss carefully with the agency what is feasible and whether the agency has the necessary resources. This includes, for example, knowledge resources, experience with store solutions or CMS applications, etc.
As mentioned earlier, CMSs are editorial systems or content management systems that provide a viable interface for end users to update content themselves. WordPress, Joomla, Typo3, Drupal and the myriad of custom-programmed CMSs are designed to help you maintain your website. However, your part of a CMS is limited to maintaining your website.
The administrative part, i.e. the entire website setup, including server setup, image, sound, configuration would be the job of professionals or, if desired, INTIMEON DIGITLAL-MEDIA. You need basic knowledge if you want to change something elementary, e.g. areas of navigation. Please do not confuse programming with a CMS, which is a framework for the further development of your homepage.
In fact, programmers can create special components, plugin modules or design templates for a CMS. Programming is always needed when off-the-shelf applications are no longer sufficient. Such components or plugins are available in thousands and it is very likely that for your purposes the purchase of a plugin is perfectly sufficient. Compare that to a smartphone, where you know you rarely or never need many features.
This is a good example, because a component usually provides more capabilities than you actually need. Don't be afraid of the cost, components are much cheaper and have little to do with the custom programming that is often needed in very large company.
A CMS is not an easy tool to use, even though promising advertising copy keeps claiming it is. Although a CMS should be easy to use "because it is actually intended for the end user", this is unfortunately not always the case in practice. Not to be underestimated are the unbelievably many functions and setting options of a CMS. Even the smartest programmer who writes excellent code has to learn the complexity of a CMS.
Joomla, WordPress or Drupal are huge tools programmed by thousands of developers. Over the years, such systems have grown so much that even renowned Company like. Porsche, Ikea, Xing, Sixt Budget, Deutscher Fußballbund and many others use such a CMS. Our tip, let INTIMEON - DIGITAL MEDIA or an agency of your choice explain to you exactly what makes sense for you.
Often it is not desirable to be confronted with too many technical details, but be careful, half-knowledge is not enough, you need to know how your website will be integrated into your company philosophy, otherwise the whole thing can have consequences for your company. Just think about the DSGVO, so the data protection regulations, the checkboxes for a simple newsletter, the user is often confused by scary warnings or even employees in their own company panic. Every agency can sing a song about it and is often far too busy to educate the customer about risks before and disadvantages or the benefits of a website.
Decide if you need something like this, and if you know someone in your Company or even in your family who can create websites, have them explain to you exactly how they do it.
It's a bit like filling out a tax return. The accountant or tax preparer can explain everything to you, but with all the ways and tricks to save on taxes, he or she has to know that you can't possibly understand it all in the short amount of time.
Keeping it brief while still providing basic knowledge is always helpful, if not the best protection against failure. Who has already made a tax return all alone with software, eg Elster from the tax office or external help, simply has a better overview. The next tax return may be better left to the tax advisor, but somehow it feels better if you know your way around a bit. Remember that your website represents your company to the outside world.
Even professionals can't do everything by themselves. That's why agencies have UI/UX designers, graphic designers, programmers, sales people and other specialists. When you talk to an agency about building your website, there should always be an educational conversation as well.
If you decide to go this route, you can even get involved in the creation of the website. In this way, you save immense costs and create a common ground with the agency for the successful construction of your website.
