Articles - Page 125

Agentic AI for Agencies in 2026

bmckeiver

<a href="http://typo3.org/" target="_blank">TYPO3</a> has unveiled the latest Long-Term-Support version of TYPO3, the enterprise content management version.
The free and open-source platform was born in Denmark, back in 1997. Today, it boasts a global community of users and contributing developers.
<img style="max-width:250px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/typo3_logo_safearea-1.png" />
This new version will be supported for three years (until August 2017) with maintenance and bug fixes. Let's take a look at what's new.
<h2>Better Looking &amp; Quadruple the Speed</h2>
TYPO3 has proudly put their new backend interface forward as this update's “most striking feature”.
According to them, the new interface allows editors and integrators to work more efficiently thanks to a tidier login screen, simpler structures and the integration of previously distributed components.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/modal_-_discard_unsaved_changes560x0-is.png" /> 
Furthermore, customized images and buttons highlight actions and information boxes. All forms, tables, sections and messages are based on a uniform look and feel.
All editors and administrators can now insert an avatar image to personalize their access. The dial-in screen, the TYPO3 logo and all styles can now be replaced by a project-specific layout.
Typo3 is now responsive, too, allowing for content to be edited on touch-based mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones. Plus, the entire platform is running up to four times faster
<h2>New Features for Editors, Administrators &amp; Developers</h2>
Content editors have some new features to get to grips with, too.
Working with online media such as YouTube or Vimeo Videos is easier, while links, which now comes with previews, can now be referenced under “Text and Media”.
Images can be cropped in the backend without the file being changed. Plus, if a file upload will overwrite existing files, you can specify whether multiple files should be moved, renamed or be skipped by performing an action.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/image_manipulation652x0-is.png" />
As for Administrators, they can now load the TYPO3 sources and all of the required extensions via the standardized PHP Package Manager “Composer.”
A central information system shows important system features in the latest version at a glance. In addition, backend user groups can be managed just like individual users in a separate module.
Developers haven't been ignored either.
Thanks to a completely new approach to the backend interface that is based on Twitter Bootstrap 3, LESS/CSS3, HTML5, RequireJS and jQuery, TYPO3 CMS 7 makes it easier to add individual modules with simultaneous use of all standard rendering definitions and adapted, ready-to-use components.
More can be found out about this update from the <a href="http://typo3.org/news/article/announcing-typo3-cms-7-lts/" target="_blank">TYPO3 blog announcement</a>.
Plus, you can explore more of <a href="/products/typo3/" target="_blank">TYPO3 via our CMS Directory</a>.

TYPO3 CMS 7 LTS Has Arrived

mike-johnston

Founded in Paris in 2012, <a href="http://www.pikock.com/" target="_blank"> Pikock</a> is a user friendly drag-and-drop website building tool, built to make website creation as easy as possible.  
 Today, Pikock have launched their “Layout Slider” – a website editing tool which allows administrators and publishers to instantly slide their way through pages, changing the look and feel of their website. 
 Intrigued by the feature, I personally signed up with Pikock to get a feel for how their new Layout Slider works, as well as how Pikock works as a website builder.
<h2>Instant Carousel Changes</h2>
Pikock's Layout Slider first struck me as a bit of a redundant tool. However, the more I used it, the more impressed I became. Essentially, the carousel interface enables you to instantly change the entire look of a web page by simply sliding new page templates into place.  
 <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/pikock1700x0.png" alt="Pikock Layout Slider" /> Using the slider, you can browse through your website pages, select the one you want to change, and then simply flick through templates using the “Next” and “Previous” buttons. The page design is then replaced before your eyes. 
 Once you come to a suitable template, you can revert back to the editor, where you can adapt the pages by inserting text, images, videos and a range of other widgets via a drag-and-drop system. 
 <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/p3700x0.png" alt="Pikock Editor" />
Pikock comes with a small, but very well designed template selection, all of which are customizable using the drag-and-drop editor. With Pikock, your website will also be automatically optimized for mobile devices. Administrators can even preview Pikock websites on tablets and smartphones via the admin panel. 
 <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/pikock700x0.png" alt="Pikock Smartphone Preview" /> I also managed to ask Pikock Co-Founder Tsifei Chan a few questions about the Layout Slider, and where he and his team intend to steer the platform next:
<blockquote>
“Some of our users had some difficulties creating nice layouts. Entrepreneurs are not web designers, but they can differentiate between what is beautiful and what is not. It is easier in general to adapt [an existing page] rather than to start from a blank page. We decided then, to create some ready-to-start layouts in different categories. And in terms of UX design, the best deal in terms of simplicity was a slider.  
 For future ideas, Pikock is working in a different approach of the Drag and Drop builder.And we are thinking about also a new approach to upload images. We'd [also] love the slider move on to the iPad.”
</blockquote>
To find out more about Pikock and to sign up for a free trial, visit their <a href="http://www.pikock.com/" target="_blank">official website</a>. 
You can also watch an <a href="http://vimeo.com/91726951" target="_blank">introductory video on the new Layout Slider</a>.

The First of Its Kind: Pikock Launch Layout Slider to Simplify Website Building

<a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/cc-sitejet">Sitejet</a> is a comprehensive website builder that combines web design, content management, and project management into one complete platform. The brains behind the operation are a group of friends from Germany who initially developed the product as an in-house tool to support their own web design agency before deciding to launch it to the public in 2018.In this review, we will give you an overview of how Sitejet actually works so you can decide if it’s the right fit for you.<h2>Getting Started</h2>Setting up your Sitejet account is a simple process of filling in a few fields with your name, email, and company details. It’s as easy as that. You’ll start off with a 14 day free trial which gives you full access to “try before you buy”.<h2>Usability</h2>As soon as you log into Sitejet you’ll notice that it appears much more advanced than the standard website builder. This indicative of its primary market of designers and agencies.There are an extensive range of customization options available which could be overwhelming for newbies and the WYSIWYG editor uses some technical terms that may initially confuse the less experienced user. However this shouldn’t be an issue for the professional market that Sitejet is targeting.For the web design pros who aren’t interested in the drag-and-drop feature, manual coding is also available with HTML, CSS, or Javascript coding options.It’s also worth noting that new users are presented with a checklist guide to help navigate the website creation process step-by-step, so the learning curve is manageable regardless of your level of experience.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2019-02-11-at-12.png" />Editing the website is pretty intuitive once you get started and everything is very cleanly laid out. When you’ve chosen your template (see next section below), its added to a list in your dashboard where you select the “edit” button to view your site. At this point you can add/replace images and/or text blocks, move elements, change backgrounds, and more, in just one click.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2019-02-11-at-13.png" />I did notice one particular issue with usability which was the menu font size. The font is very small and might be difficult to read for some users.<h2>Templates</h2>To begin building your site, you can select a template out of the selection available or choose a blank template to work from. I’ve heard people say that the range of templates isn’t great, but I thought there was a good selection of high quality options. Personally, I’d rather be given the option of 70+ top-notch templates than have to navigate through 1000s of often dubious options on WordPress.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sitejet-review---5.png" />If you’re not happy with the selection available or need help with building your own custom site, you can work with one of the Sitejet design team by contacting them directly.<h2>Dashboard</h2>The Sitejet dashboard will take you from start to finish on each of your website design projects. This is an impressive system that facilitates collaboration, project management, and site maintenance all in the same place.You can work with multiple websites at once, manage the status of each project, create a to-do list that checks off each stage of development, and monitor the progress of each project you’re working on.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sitejet-review---3.png" /><h2>Collaboration Features</h2>Sitejet makes client management a breeze for web designers. There are three collaboration options available depending on your requirements:Collaborate With Colleagues: This function is allows design teams to work together on projects by leaving notes for each other, etc. without the need for individual logins.Collaborate With Customers: With this function, customers can follow your workflow through each stage and leave project feedback as needed during construction.Customer Self-Service Portal: Using the self-service portal, designers can hand the website off to the client whilst retaining control of the account and limiting any potential damage by restricting the access the client has to site elements.<h2>Customer Support</h2>The customer support available to users is better than I’ve seen in many other website builders. The Sitejet support system includes a wide range of tutorials (including video), a comprehensive FAQ section, and a step-by-step onboarding system. The support team is also on hand 24/7 on live chat.<h2>Pricing</h2>There are three plans to choose from after your 14 day free trial has ended: Professional, Team, and Agency.Professional: Manage 1 website with free hosting and an automatic website generator. $5 p/mTeam: White label tools, all professional features, and multi-user permissions for up to 3 users. $19 p/mAgency: White label tools, all professional features, multi-user permissions for up to 10 users, and an additional website export option. $89 p/mThe Professional plan is a good starting point but you’ll need to upgrade to the Team or Agency plan if you want to avail of the collaborative features available.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sitejet-review---4.png" /><h2>The Final Verdict</h2>Score: 4/5<a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/cc-sitejet">Sitejet</a> is a refreshing alternative to WordPress and an excellent tool for any designer or agency to have in their kit. The interface is clearly designed with its target market in mind and offers powerful customization tools that really set it apart from the rest. The high quality templates also demonstrate that this product was developed by designers for designers.Sure, there’s a bit of a learning curve in comparison to less comprehensive website builders on the market. But this is more than just a website builder. It’s a CMS, website builder, and project management system combined. So the extra bit of time it takes to get used to navigating the platform is definitely worth it.I highly recommend <a target="_blank" href="http://bit.ly/cc-sitejet">checking out Sitejet</a> if you’re in the web design game. Have you tried it out yet? Let us know in the comments section below.

Sitejet Review - A Website Builder for Designers

<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-19-1898x0-is.png" />
Last year, <a href="https://thegrid.io/" target="_blank">The Grid</a> burst on to the scene as the world’s first artificially intelligent website builder. Back then, <a href="/the-grid-artificial-intelligence-meets-web-design-or-does-it/" target="_blank">I was skeptical</a> – and I still am.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea behind The Grid; a website builder that can build websites on autopilot sounds great. I just wasn’t convinced that they would be able to execute it properly.
The Grid then entered a long period of beta testing, which ended this week. Here's their launch video to introduce you to The Grid.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aEfpARsP8Fg?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<h2>A Stuttered Launch &amp; A Pricey Pro Plan</h2>
Because I signed up to their newsletter, I received an email with the big news.
They used their email to link to their only plan (which I will discuss later), but when I visited their website's homepage, nothing had changed. It was the same pre-launch website I explored last year. Which was odd.
However this stuttered launch only lasted for a few days, as <a href="https://thegrid.io/" target="_blank">The Grid's new-look website is now in full flow</a>.
Currently, there's only one way to use The Grid, and that's by signing up to their Pro Plan.
You pay $249 per year ($20.75 per month) for:
<ul>
<li>1 year pre-paid subscription to The Grid</li>
<li>7 different sites with hosting</li>
<li>Custom domain support</li>
<li>Hosting, storage, and bandwidth included</li>
<li>Multiple collaborators when available</li>
<li>Commerce engine (not yet available)</li>
</ul>
Weirdly, The Grid team hasn't specified just how much storage and bandwidth you're entitled to on this rather pricey plan. To accomodate seven websites, you'd hope it to be a substantial amount.
Furthermore, I'm not a fan of having to pay for a yearly subscription up front. The lack of a monthly contract and a free trial just makes The Grid seem unapproachable. 
<h2>My Gripe With The Grid</h2>
A self-building and self-evolving website sounds like just what the doctor ordered. It is 2016, after all.
But I can't help but see long term issues with this method of web design. No matter how many “Filters” (otherwise known as templates) The Grid uses, it surely won't be long until it start churning out websites that look similar to each other.
If two separate food bloggers want to use The Grid to build a cake recipe website, will their websites look the same if they select the same filter? These are questions that time (and a large user base) will answer.
I'm hoping to get my hands on <a href="https://thegrid.io/" target="_blank">The Grid</a> very soon for a hands on session, so stay tuned for more coverage on the world's first artificially intelligent website builder.

The Grid Is Finally Here

<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/elcomcms.jpg" alt="elcom8.1" />
Elcom just announced the release of ElcomCMS 8.1, the latest version of their .NET enterprise web CMS. ElcomCMS is the Australia-based company's core product. In June of 2012, they launched version 8.0. This latest upgrade contains features that help users meet accessibility requirements, collaborate on projects, organize and protect content, and improve social capabilities.

Elcom is a powerful CMS platform that targets the needs of mid-enterprise organizations. As an enterprise-level solution, it's far more than just a web CMS. It also assists companies in the development and management of intranets, portals, eCommerce, learning management, and online marketing.
<h2>What's New in ElcomCMS 8.1?</h2>
WCAG 2.0 Level AA compliance
Perhaps the greatest benefit of the new version is that it allows organizations to better achieve WCAG regulatory requirements. ElcomCMS has many Australian clients. The Australian government recently <a href="http://webguide.gov.au/accessibility-usability/accessibility/" target="_blank">mandated</a> that all agencies must update government websites to acheieve level AA conformance by December 2014. ElcomCMS 8.1 offers as-you-type accessibility features and improved reporting functionality, making it easier for companies to meet the new regulations.
New Task Manager
The Task Manager Module is the core of ElcomCMS. Users can set deadlines, assign jobs, keep up with tasks, and better acheive progress from this centralized module.

Compare Versions Feature
Collaboration takes a big step forward in 8.1. For this reason, “compare versions” features is a great improvement. Users can view two versions at once, and see all highlighted changes at a glance.
Dynamic Widget Library
Dynamic widgets allows users to aggregate content feeds on their sites. Users can easily create news feeds, article feeds, document lists, image galleries, and asset libraries. The Dynamic Widget Library allows administrators to view all dynamic widgets that are used on a site, and modify their settings.

Taxonomy Management
ElcomCMS is a great tool for businesses that need high levels of content organization and structure. Taxonomy Management gets an upgrade with tag, edit, and reuse features.
Improved Social Capability
As social gains importance in CMSs, Elcom has stepped up the game. Version 8.1 improves upon the already-powerful <a href="/elcom-8-will-focus-on-social-intranets/" target="_blank">social capabilities of version 8</a>, and <a href="/elcom-7-5-brings-social-functionality-and-more/" target="_blank">7.5</a>.
Overall, ElcomCMS 8.1 provides a greater degree of collaboration, compliance, and other features that will help organizations already using the product and attract more potential customers. To find out more about Elcom, visit <a href="https://www.elcomCMS.com">www.elcomCMS.com</a>.
<a href="https://www.elcomcms.com/News-and-Events/News/PR_elcomCMS8-1" target="_blank">View the official press release for ElcomCMS 8.1.</a>
<a href="https://www.elcomcms.com/News-and-Events/Events/elcomCMS8-1/elcomCMS8-1" target="_blank">Register for a webinar walkthrough of the new version, hosted by Elcom.</a>
The following video provides an overview of Elcom.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUNqeBLrjmc]

Elcom Version 8.1 Released - Significant Upgrade and Improved Features

daniel-threlfall

<a href="http://dotcms.com/" target="_blank">DotCMS 3.2</a> is the latest and greatest version of DotCMS. It boasts plenty of new and useful features, building on the foundations set by versions 3.0 and 3.1.
The Java-based, open source content management system recently won the <a href="/2014-critics-choice-award-winner-best-cloud-cms-for-smb/" target="_blank">2014 Critics' Choice Award for Best Cloud CMS for SMB</a>.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/dotcms-250h.jpg" /> Mike Johnston kicked off this featured week with an <a href="/cms-critic-interviews-dotcms-ceo-tim-brigham/" target="_blank">interview with DotCMS CEO Tim Brigham</a>, followed by a <a href="/a-walkthrough-of-dotcms-3.2-with-cms-critic/" target="_blank">product walkthrough with CTO Will Ezell</a>.
Now though, it’s time to look at the forward steps DotCMS with its 3.x series.
<h2>Looking Back at DotCMS 3.0 and 3.1</h2>
The release of DotCMS 3.0 back in November 2014 saw a number of major changes being made both to the user experience, as well as under the platform’s digital hood.
On top of a new enterprise licensing scheme and support portal, DotCMS became the first Java open source CMS to let users build with the power of CSS preprocessors directly into the platform, with the help of Sass and LESS auto-compiling.
Multi-type containers became available to DotCMS users for the first time too, providing huge flexibility to what content a template can render.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/multi-container_700x0.png" />
This also allowed users to greatly reduce the number of templates maintained, thanks to the ability to re-use container code.
A native DotCMS mobile app demo was released on Android and iOS too, giving new users a taste of DotCMS from a mobile device.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/dotcms-starter-mobile-app.png" />
The DotCMS team also brought in modern code management tools including Github, Artifactory, Maven, and Gradle.
As for DotCMs 3.1, which was released in March 2015, users were treated to more creative features.
This included, “Pages-as-Content” feature allows you to extend DotCMS content concepts to pages, including; custom Page types, different versions for different language and the ability to create custom attributes per HTML page.
In turn, this allowed for custom workflows to be managed, including the use of “whole pages” in a workflow. This capability helped user experience designers use dotCMS custom workflows more effectively and efficiently, with less code.
<h2>DotCMS 3.2: What’s New</h2>
As previously mentioned, Mike Johnston recently sat down with Will Ezell, DotCMS’ CTO, for a <a href="/a-walkthrough-of-dotcms-3.2-with-cms-critic/" target="_blank">product walkthrough of DotCMS 3.2</a>.
During that walkthrough, Will Ezell said that:
<blockquote>
“[DotCMS is] very easy to develop for, very easy to extend and very easy to engage with. [That’s from] a business user’s perspective, as well as from a web developer’s perspective and a Java developer’s perspective.”
</blockquote>
The walkthrough showcased DotCMS’ inline content editing features, elastic search for geolocation functions, and personalization features.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-43.png" />
Version 3.2 supports 13 CSS frameworks, as well as theme based templates that automatically adapt and optimize content, images and videos to fit mobile devices. This accompanies multi-level caching and clustering abilities, allowing DotCMS to handle huge levels of traffic, and scale accordingly.
DotCMS 3.2 also boasts customizable pages, UTF-8 urls, facets, and also ships with Tomcat 8.0.18. the platform also now supports Java 8 as well as Java 7.
It’s clear that from a product perspective, that dotCMS‘s focus is to empower business users, developers and IT. As CTO Will Ezell mentioned:
<blockquote>
“We’re balancing the needs and dependencies of each stakeholder in a way that removes barriers, not adding unnecessary tooling and layers to get something done. Working with dotCMS should be fast and familiar, no proprietary tools or environments are needed. We had one customer say, “It’s like Christmas for developers.”
</blockquote>
To find out more about dotCMS, <a href="http://dotcms.com/" target="_blank">visit their website</a>, or explore more <a href="/2014-critics-choice-award-winner-best-cloud-cms-for-smb/" target="_blank">via our CMS Directory</a>.

What's New with DotCMS 3.2 (And the 3.x Series)

<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/coffee-desk-notes-workspace1280x671-cropx0y149-is655x0-is.jpg" style="text-align:center" />
Most document management software (DMS) vendors sufficiently describe their product offerings, but it’s very seldom they explain how DMS works within the context of a preexisting IT infrastructure, particularly when it comes to how departments within larger organizations are impacted by DMS deployment.
In a survey administered by the Compliance, Governance, and Oversight Council (CGOC), 98% of IT and legal stakeholders asserted that “defensible disposal of information” was a desirable trait in information management, bringing DMS’s automated document retention and deletion feature into the spotlight. However, as to be expected with emergent technologies like DMS, incongruence between the technology’s capacity and usage exists, particularly in IT departments:
The CGOC noted in a white paper that “85% of retention schedules included electronic information.” However, 77% of respondents to the CGOC survey said the contents of these “schedules were not actionable in their current form, or could be applied only to paper, requiring manual intervention to bring these schedules to fruition.
This suggests that despite the belief that DMS is difficult to integrate into contemporary IT systems, retention schedules and other routine IT tasks can be simplified, made actionable, and automated through DMS—reducing workload and inefficiency costs for IT departments. Companies interested in On-Premise(s) DMS and that already have a preexisting IT infrastructure should take special note of the following steps when it comes to implementing DMS for their organizations.
<h2>Common DMS Implementation Mistakes</h2>
As is the case with most technologies, all mistakes made with DMS implementation and initial use can be pinpointed on a continuum of either behavioral mistakes or technology mistakes. Although no mistake is purely behavioral or purely technological, any mistake made with the implementation of DMS contains both technology and behavioral mistakes to a certain degree.
<h3>Common Behavioral Mistakes</h3>
Even though automation is a large part of document management, DMS cannot be potentiated in and of itself—its positive impact is derived from how organizations utilize the technology. For instance, an example of a common behavioral mistake is failing to learn about and identify the goals of a new DMS, which can be costly, for it will then be difficult to use the features necessary to maximize return on DMS investment.
Furthermore, changes are often not adequately communicated throughout the silos of each organization, and even more frequently plans are not implemented to integrate DMS solutions into the routine processes and performances of employees.
<h3>Common Technology Mistakes</h3>
An example of a technology mistake as it pertains to DMS would involve selecting a scanner with a lack of Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which can lead to digitization of documents in unsearchable format, making information irretrievable.
Finally, it’s imperative to avoid selecting a DMS solution with inadequate data backup, which can occur in two ways: inadequate multiple points of data presence, temporally inadequate backup (which should occur as frequently if not more frequently than every 24 hours).
Additionally, not understanding the functions of DMS can hinder long-term investment in the software, which is where its revenue is.
<h3>Workflow Considerations</h3>
Efficiency and effectiveness, as they pertain to DMS workflow, are often terms used interchangeably despite their different meanings. Effectiveness in a workflow is most important, because an ineffective process can be done very efficiently. In order to avoid structuring an efficient but ineffective workflow process in the chosen DMS, diagnosing problems in old workflows, primarily the workflows which existed before implementing a DMS solution, is imperative.
Not only is workflow a drastically underutilized DMS feature, it is arguably the most crucial DMS feature for effectively mapping strategy after the implementation process, for it redefines the management process by identifying, tracking, and tabulating the results of projects and collaboration.
Workflow is also bi-directional and user and group specific, and creates accountability at each stage of a team’s task completion cycle. Specified users can move files to different parts of the workflow as desired.
The most sophisticated On-Premise(s) DMS solutions, and the up-to-date, Online, Cloud-Based DMS solutions will be able to track workflow once they are implemented, but either of these DMS models will retain the ability to create and start multiple workflows in the system, help determine the order of these workflows, and manage the workflows accordingly.
Going paperless can be somewhat disruptive, but shared drive migration to DMS is not the disruptive component of the implementation process; information architecture, however, is. The first step in architecting an effective workflow for a DMS solution is to identify existing workflow, then problems with workflow, then costs associated with these problems, then gaps in existing workflow, and finally, ascribing a dollar value to the gap in this workflow.
Just as a physician would not prescribe treatment (DMS) before diagnosing a malady within the body’s process (workflow), an organization cannot effectively implement the best method for workflow creation.

How to Assimilate a DMS into a Modern IT Model

<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/website-maintenance-620x442.jpg" alt="website building" />
Open source platforms such as <a href="http://wordpress.org">WordPress</a> and <a href="http://drupal.org">Drupal</a> are becoming more and more popular because of the ease of their content management systems, impressive and affordable themes, variety of options and plug-ins and access to numerous “communities” and forums. Often, website designers can build websites using open source content management systems at a fraction of the time and cost of hand coding HTML or using some proprietary content management systems. This makes them attractive and affordable options for budget-conscious businesses. If you are building websites using an open source platform, consider offering your clients a maintenance agreement to prevent some common problems:
Security Updates
Open source platforms generally require a significant number of ongoing security updates. Remember, the average person does not know or understand all that is happening “behind the scenes” of a website. They often think the site is just “there” in cyberspace. If security updates are not downloaded in a timely manner or kept up to date, the website can become a haven for hackers. It is important for you, as the website designer and programmer, to ensure the latest security updates are implemented on all your client websites. And, if Google feels the website has been compromised in any way, they will indicate it by posting, <a href="http://support.google.com/websearch/bin/answer.py?hl=en&amp;ei=y6kbUeCWBYj88gS2uIGADA&amp;answer=190597&amp;?sa=X&amp;ved=0CDEQpwgwAA">“This Site May Be Compromised”</a> in search engine results. This can be quite embarrassing, to say the least!
Updated Versions
Open source platforms tend to have frequent version updates. Once again, unless your client is website and IT savvy, they may not know or understand how to keep up with necessary version updates.
Plug-ins
Plug-ins allow a website to perform above and beyond the “norm” but they must be kept updated as well. And, sometimes, a better or more advanced plug-in becomes available which may be a more suitable option than a current plug-in. Although very easy for a website designer or programmer to understand and implement, the average person is probably not going to be familiar with the various plug-in updates and options.
Backup
Most website designers and programmers back up their websites using <a href="http://spanning.com/backup/demo/">cloud-based services like spanning.com</a>. When a website is being maintained by a professional provider, all of the files are securely backed-up to prevent data loss. Therefore, if the website does crash for some reason, it can be quickly and easily restored.
A website designer described an experience where her client did not want to purchase a maintenance agreement for a mere $40.00 a month, stating they would keep it “updated” themselves. She gave them a log in and quick tutorial after the site went “live”. The client left the site in cyberspace for months without logging in to it. So, no software or security updates were made, and Google placed it on their “compromised” list because it appeared to have fallen victim to hackers. In the end, everything was able to be fixed. However, it took more time and money to update and “recover” the site than it would have if the client had agreed to the $40.00/month maintenance agreement and allowed an expert to keep up with all of the updates.
So, if you are planning to use open source, strongly encourage your clients to engage in a website maintenance agreement. Otherwise, if all they plan to do is let the website “sit” in cyberspace, then building it in HTML may be the best option.
Gina Smith writes freelance articles for magazines, online outlets and publications. Smith covers the latest topics in the business, golf, tourism, technology and entertainment industries.

Website Maintenance Agreements: Why They are Important for Open Source Websites

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If there's one thing there's no shortage of on the web, it's software to help you improve your online presence. To help make things a bit easier, I decided to put together a free eBook which outlines what I feel are the Top 20 Tools for Webmasters. This is all software we use here on CMS Critic in some form or another.
<img alt="tools for webmasters" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen_shot_2016-09-09_at_11_36_38_am802x958-cropx6y2-is300x0-is.png" />
Within the eBook you'll find tons of great tools that can help you spread the word, promote your content, improve your ranking on the web, launch social contests, bill your customers and much more. My hope is that you'll try out some of these great tools for yourself and end up benefiting from them as much as we have.
I'd also love to hear from you as to what other eBooks we could put together that you might be interested in. If you don't mind, please leave a comment on this post with your ideas and we'll take them into consideration.
<a href="http://bit.ly/cmscritic-ebook" target="_blank">Get it here.</a>

20 Tools for Webmasters - A free eBook from CMS Critic!

<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sharepoint-620x350.jpg" alt="sharepoint" /> Recently, Chris Wright announced a <a href="http://www.cmswire.com/cms/social-business/prediction-sharepoint-will-disappear-very-soon-019572.php" target="_blank">prediction</a>:  “SharePoint Will Disappear Very Soon.” His claim was, of course, provocative and attention-grabbing. As it turns out, his prediction merely centered upon a simple issue of wording: “Let me explain, I’m referring to the word “SharePoint,”  the name, the brand we have grown accustomed to over the years. I’m not talking about the product, which I’m sure will be with us and going strong for many years to come.”
Is he right? Is “SharePoint” going away?

Declaring the demise of the SharePoint brand is like predicting that Apple computer will stop imprinting their products with an Apple, or  declaring that Google will change its name to something entirely different. After all, SharePoint is the technology engine that runs many corporate environments. It's a pretty big deal.
<h2>A Brief History of SharePoint</h2>
The original emphasis of SharePoint was, of course, integration and conslidation of work-sharing, organization, social activity, cloud-based app. In a word, SharePoint offered information management on an exponential scale. At the same time, SharePoint has necessitated its fair share of improvements. Products like <a href="/smartlogic-announce-availability-of-semaphore-for-sharepoint-2013-as-well-as-support-for-microsoft-office-365/" target="_blank">Semaphore</a> have helped to enhance SharePoint's power and enhance its capabilities.
To this point, SharePoint has been an evolving and ever-growing product in the lineup of corporate power products. Is it too early to publish the brand name obituary?
<h2>SharePoint 2013…and Beyond</h2>
SharePoint is still strong, still powerful, and with SharePoint 2013, it's growing stronger and more powerful still. There are some major improvements in SharePoint 2013, such as:
<ul>
<li>Streamlined user interface. This needed to be done. A trimmed down menu and wide-open UI make the whole process of building, integrating, working and networking much more appealing. The most pleasing change? Mobile-friendly views.</li>
<li>Better app building. The SharePoint app builder has been beefed up, making it easier for apps to be built and published to the SharePoint store. You can even pick your language — HTML, JavaScript, .NET, and go to.</li>
<li>More social. If you feel like you need more social integration, SharePoint has that, too. It's bigger newsfeed visibility (thanks to Yammer) provides your personalized newsfeed to give you all the social info you yearn for.</li>
<li>Better search results. SharePoint has been hammered in the past for its dismal search results. Thanks to some tweaks, the search function is much improved.</li>
</ul>
These improvements and others lead us to question Wright's claim. While Office 365 is big and strong, it's not so big that it will swallow up SharePoint. With improvements on this scale in 2013, there's probably a lot more good things to come later on — the SharePoint label still attached.
<h2>Predictions, Anyone?</h2>
We're not in a prediction-making mode right now, but it does seem that SharePoint has solid footing in the market. It's so much bigger than a CMS, so much broader than a development platform, so much more powerful than a document storage site. Plus, it has a large and loyal following, even if its not quite as iconic as Apple's apple. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
Predictions, anyone?

Is SharePoint Going Away?

<a href="http://www.pardot.com/" target="_blank">Pardot</a>, the B2B marketing automation system from Salesforce, has just received a noteworthy update aimed primarily at helping sales reps.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/login-logo-2014-1.png" />
The popular marketing platform made it on to our list of <a href="/8-enterprise-marketing-automation-softwares-to-complement-your-cms/" target="_blank">top eight enterprise marketing automation systems</a>. It encompasses email marketing, lead generation, lead management, ROI reporting, sales intelligence, and more.
<h2>Salesforce Engage for Gmail &amp; Faster Data Syncing</h2>
Extended Gmail functionality has come to Salesforce Engage, with the aim of empowering sales reps.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/pardot1155x0-is.png" />
Engage for Gmail is the first marketing automation plug-in built specifically for sales reps, empowering them to send emails directly from Gmail. In addition, the side panel, shown above, displays detailed lead information directly within Gmail.
Here's a further summary of what's new:
<ul>
<li>
Gain a holistic view of prospects, including name, company, title, address, phone number, whether the a record is a lead, contact, or prospect and their corresponding Pardot lead score and grade directly within Gmail.
</li>
<li>
Add and remove the prospect to and from Pardot lead nurturing campaigns with one click using the “Add to Nurture” button. If a sales rep clicks to add a recipient to a nurture campaign and that prospect does not exist in Pardot, a prospect record will be automatically created and assigned to the user.
</li>
<li>
Send and monitor one-to-one sales emails from Gmail in one click.
</li>
<li>
Log all Gmail email interactions–including clicks and opens within Salesforce.
</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/pardot3.png" />Salesforce has also addressed data syncing's need for speed.
With the Pardot update, they claim that the platform now boasts the fastest data sync with Salesforce out of any marketing automation tool on the market. Impressively, it can automatically checks for changes every two minutes.
<h2>Data Visualizations &amp; Report Customizations</h2>
A deeper integration with Salesforce is also gives users new ways to visualize data on a variety of different reports.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/pardot2764x0-is.png" />
For example, the new visitors report displays reporting of anonymous visitors and identified prospects to the website. And new multi-score lead scoring, shown above, allows marketers and sales reps to discover which products a prospect is most likely to buy at any moment.
These revamped reporting capabilities extent the existing functionality of Pardot's reporting features, empowering marketers to:
<ul>
<li>
Tie each closed deal back to its original source with closed-loop reporting.
</li>
<li>
Match website visitor behavior and Pardot prospect data using the Google Analytics Connector.
</li>
<li>
Get a high-level view of sales cycle health.
</li>
<li>
Monitor the performance of paid search campaigns.
</li>
<li>
Gain greater insight into email open rates, deliverability rates, email client and browser usage, read rates and more.
</li>
</ul>
So, all in all, it's a pretty robust update for Pardot.
More information about this Pardot update can be found on the Salesforce blog.

Salesforce Unveils New Gmail Integration, Reporting Dashboards & Faster Data-Sync for Pardot

Following an interesting interview with <a href="/cms-critic-interviews-sean-schroeder-matt-levine-of-mura-cms/" target="_blank">Sean Schroeder &amp; Matt Levine</a> to kick off our latest featured week, the <a href="http://www.getmura.com/" target="_blank">Mura CMS</a> team gave us a walkthrough of their platform's top three features.
Built to be easier and faster for people to build and maintain even the most ambitious websites, Mura CMS is a platform growing in popularity.
<img style="max-width:200px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/mura_cms_200x0.png" />
Whether you need to do something as simple as adding a news release or as complex as integrating website data with an enterprise CRM system, Mura CMS provides a clear and complete toolkit. Mura CMS was also crowned winner of the <a href="/2014-best-enterprise-cms-other-langs/" target="_blank">2014 People's Choice award for Best Enterprise CMS (Other Languages)</a>.
Here is Mura CMS in action.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6vDExDkPaoM?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
To find out more about Mura CMS, <a href="http://www.getmura.com/" target="_blank">visit their website</a> or check them out through our <a href="/products/mura-cms/" target="_blank">CMS Directory</a>.
Also, be sure to stick around for more Mura CMS coverage as this featured week continues.

A Video Walkthrough of 3 Great Mura CMS Features

<a href="http://www.joomla.org">Joomla</a> , one of the world’s most popular open-source content management systems, has today announced the election of Sarah Watz as the President of Open Source Matters (OSM).
More than 3 percent of the web runs on Joomla, with the platform being used for everything from websites to blogs to custom apps to Intranets.
Open Source Matters is a non-profit, providing organizational, legal and financial support to the Joomla project.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/joomla_logo_slogan700x0.png" alt="joomla" />
Members of Open Source Matters elected Sarah Watz as the new president on April 8, 2014. Further elected members who join Watz on the OSM board include Victor Drover as treasurer and Marijke Stuivenberg as secretary.
Sarah Watz is the first-ever internationally based president of OSM, and had some comments to make upon the news:
<blockquote>“Joomla’s success hinges on its large network of global contributors, who have enabled the CMS to grow to power more than 3 percent of the Web. Although Joomla has witnessed unprecedented growth recently, there are even bigger things to come largely driven by its massive international community and availability in 64 languages—the most of any content management system.”</blockquote>
Watz has been implementing Joomla professionally since it launched in 2005 as CEO and owner of Pixpro Stockholm AB, a Stockholm-based digital communications agency. Among many Joomla leadership positions, Watz has been an OSM board member since 2012 and was president of the Joomla User Association Sweden for four years.
In her new role, Watz will leverage her years of leadership within Joomla to further expand the project—specifically its international footing.
Outgoing OSM President Paul Orwig also commented on Watz’s appointment:
<blockquote>“As I exit my current role as president, I am humbled by how far the platform has come driven by our global community of more than a half million contributors. The past two years I have witnessed some amazing milestones with Joomla, like the CMS surpassing 50 million downloads and the launch of numerous Joomla products. I have full confidence Sarah will build on these accomplishments and take Joomla to another level.”</blockquote>
To find out more about Open Source Matters, check out their <a href="http://opensourcematters.org/">official website</a>. Additionally, be sure to explore more of <a href="/products/joomla/">Joomla</a> via our CMS Directory.

Sarah Watz Elected by Open Source Matters to Guide Joomla

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