Articles - Page 141

BlackMonk CMS Review

mike-johnston

Adobe today announced the integration of two big content solutions, its <a href="http://www.adobe.com/products/digital-publishing-suite-family.html" target="_blank">Adobe Digital Publishing Suite</a> (DPS) with <a href="http://www.adobe.com/solutions/web-experience-management.html" target="_blank">Adobe Experience Manager</a>, part of the Adobe Marketing Cloud.
Adobe's integration was designed for both publishers and brands to deliver content-centric apps, dramatically reduce publishing costs across channels and utilize app measurement capabilities from Adobe Analytics, part of Adobe Marketing Cloud. 
 So, let's get into exactly what's new. 
<h2>Faster App Content Authoring &amp; Brand Consistency </h2>
This new integration, in combination with <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adobe.com%2Fsolutions%2Fdigital-analytics.html&amp;esheet=50813174&amp;newsitemid=20140226006784&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Adobe+Analytics&amp;index=4&amp;md5=d4080747a3211a8619358cc9767d8845" target="_blank">Adobe Analytics</a>, enables publishers and brands to create, deliver and measure experiences across content-rich apps, like digital magazines and the Web, using  just one set of assets in the process.
 As a result, organizations can accelerate application authoring, reduce publishing costs across channels, and deliver a consistent brand experience and content marketing strategy on the Web and mobile devices.
Now, the combination of DPS and Experience Manager allows organizations to deliver relevant, timely branded content by:
<ul>
<li>
 Authoring compelling app content faster —using Adobe Experience Manager’s intuitive, drag-and-drop interface, content and creative assets can now be seamlessly added to responsive HTML templates, which are then synced with DPS. Templates are uploaded as articles into an existing .folio within DPS for publishing to tablets, smartphones and the Web. Responsive templates automatically size to different mobile screen sizes allowing organizations to design once and streamline content publication to multiple devices and the Web.
</li>
<li>
 Decreasing publishing costs across channels —creative teams, production staff and business managers can now leverage approved creative assets for delivery into content-centric apps, reducing dependence on Web production and design staff. They can ensure more timely delivery of content with greater control over mobile brand experiences as well as the ability to quickly update content as needed.
</li>
<li>
 Maintaining a consistent brand and user experience —production staff can ensure brand consistency across Web and content-centric apps by using approved, versioned assets that are centrally located and managed through Experience Manager’s <a href="http://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.adobe.com%2Fsolutions%2Fweb-experience-management%2Fdigital-asset-management.html&amp;esheet=50813174&amp;newsitemid=20140226006784&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Digital+Asset+Management&amp;index=7&amp;md5=4cb157ed8d8d05b650850cdd0d0a5f86" target="_blank"> Digital Asset Management</a>.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>A Time &amp; Money Saver</h2>
Regarding the announcement, Nick Bogaty, head of digital publishing for Adobe, had this to say: 
<blockquote>
“DPS and Adobe Experience Manager make it significantly easier for publishers and brands to produce consistent, rich content for customers on mobile and the Web. Delivering interactive magazines for mobile devices and content for the Web used to require separate assets, teams and time. That’s now a thing of the past. The combination of our tools will arm savvy CMOs with a tremendous advantage, helping save time and money and providing a competitive brand advantage.”
</blockquote>
As the quote implies, publishers and brands can look forward to a streamlined content production process across channels, which will naturally result in savings to both time and money.
In addition to the new integration with Experience Manager, DPS also offers full app measurement capabilities from Adobe Analytics, part of Adobe Marketing Cloud. 
The combination of DPS and Adobe Marketing Cloud allows publishers and businesses to create, deliver and measure rich-content mobile apps, ensuring the most impactful content reaches the right audience. 
 For more information on the Integration, check out the <a href="http://blogs.adobe.com/digitalpublishing/" target="_blank"> official Adobe DPS Blog</a>.

Adobe Announce Integration of Adobe Digital Publishing Suite & Adobe Experience Manager

With the number of ecommerce platforms out there, how does one determine which ones work as intended and offer the best bang for the buck? Today, we're going to help answer this questions by sharing with you our Top 5 Ecommerce Solutions for your Website.There's no doubt that ecommerce is playing a strong role in the content management market of late. Products and services are consistently being sold online more and more and traditional brick and mortar retailers are quickly discovering that without an online presence, they are sacrificing valuable opportunities to their competition.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/bigcommerce.png" alt="Bigcommerce" /><a target="_blank" href="https://www.bigcommerce.com/">Bigcommerce</a> is one of the largest and most popular ECommerce providers out there. With a number of offerings including the recently announced <a href="/bigcommerce-launch-bigcommerce-next-beauty-brawn-brains/">Bigcommerce Next</a>, they should definitely be considered as a major player.Check out this video showcasing Bigcommerce Next that was just introduced today: We recently did a <a href="/bigcommerce-review/">Bigcommerce Review </a>, which highlights some of the advantages to using their system. Check it out or <a href="/products/bigcommerce">visit their website directly </a> to get the skinny on this great solution for your business.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magento-go-logo236x0.jpeg" alt="magento go" />Magento Go is the hosted ecommerce edition of Magento, the powerful enterprise ecommerce suite. With Magento Go, you get tons of power and configurability for a reasonable cost. It's intended for customers who are new to ecommerce and offers an app store, marketing tools and tons of options for the price.This video showcases (in less than a minute) what you need to know about Magento Go:http://youtu.be/2_1vPLB23LcIf you want to learn more, <a target="_blank" href="https://magento.com/">check out Magento Go</a> and see if it's the right fit for your business needs.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/3dcart-logo236x0.jpg" alt="3dcart" />3dcart is another excellent platform for ecommerce. Unlike several of their competitors, 3dcart does not charge transaction fees and offers 24/7 free technical support. With costs that are certainly within reason, they are an excellent option. You won't be sacrificing features either, 3dcart is loaded with all of the features you'd expect from a great online store builder / ecommerce solution.Here's a quick video introducing the product: If you want to learn more, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.shift4shop.com/">visit the 3dcart website</a> and see if it's the right fit for your business needs.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/shopify-bag-and-logotype236x0.png" alt="shopify" />Shopify is another popular ecommerce solution. While it doesn't have as many years on the market as some of it's competitors, the company and the product have developed a very good name for themselves since coming to market. Shopify is a great solution that's very easy to use and chock full of features. By comparison, Shopify isn't as strong on the feature set as say, Bigcommerce but it offers a far more attractive set of themes and is more visually appealing. You can check out our in-depth <a href="/shopify-review-ecommerce-only-simpler/">Shopify Review</a> to learn more.Here's a quick video introducing the product: If you want to learn more, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.shopify.com/">visit the Shopify website</a> and see it's the right tool for you.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ecwid-cart236x0.png" alt="ecwid" />ecwid has been making a great name for themselves recently. Having <a href="/ecommerce-integration-arrives-for-wordpress.com-business">recently been selected by WordPress.com</a> as an ecommerce integration partner, along with Shopify, the ecwid brand has seen a big boost in adoption. Setup is very simple and the costs (aside from their free plan which is available for up to 10 products) is quite low and very competitive considering the features you get in return. With unlimited storage and bandwidth, ecwid is a great option to consider. You will find, however, that when compared with some of the bigger ecommerce players, there are some gaps in both feature set and visual appeal.Visit the <a target="_blank" href="http://open.ecwid.com/3htsZ">ecwid website</a> to check it out and learn more.Do you know of an ecommerce solution that you feel should be on this list? Share it with us in the comments below. Have you had experiences (good or bad) with any of these vendors? We'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to share in the comments.

Top 5 ECommerce Platforms for Your Website

Business users of WordPress.com were today treated to the eagerly awaited arrival of ecommerce integration. 
 The release allows <a href="http://store.wordpress.com/plans/business/?ref=ecom" target="_blank"> WordPress.com Business</a> users to connect their website to three popular online store solutions – <a href="/shopify" target="_blank">Shopify</a>,  <a href="http://open.ecwid.com/3htsZ" target="_blank">Ecwid</a> &amp;  <a href="http://en.support.wordpress.com/shoplocket/" target="_blank">ShopLocket</a>.
 Using the new ecommerce integration system, you can showcase, promote, and sell products to your customers directly from your WordPress.com site.
<h2>A Quick &amp; Easy Ecommerce Connection</h2>
Alongside features like live-chat support, unlimited storage, and free access to all WordPress.com <a href="http://theme.wordpress.com/themes/sort/premium/">premium themes</a>, Business users of WordPress.com can turn your site into a sleek online storefront, and let visitors shop from any post or page..
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen-shot-2014-02-25-at-10-31-51-am700x0.png" alt="WordPress.com Ecommerce" />
Connecting to your store is supremely quick and easy. All you have to to is head over to ” eCommerce Plugins” on the left-hand side of your WordPress.com dashboard, and then simply select your desired service from either <a href="http://en.support.wordpress.com/shoplocket/" target="_blank">Shopify</a>,  <a href="http://en.support.wordpress.com/ecwid/" target="_blank"> Ecwid</a> &amp;  <a href="http://en.support.wordpress.com/shoplocket/" target="_blank"> ShopLocket</a>.
<h2>Endless Possibilities</h2>
Once your WordPress.com Business site is connected to your online store, the possibilities are endless. 
 Although each of the three services is slightly different, you can feature your products by simply embedding a link to your product into the editor, pasting in a shortcode from the services’ back end. Furthermore, in some cases at least, just copying over the embed code into the editor will suffice. It's just that easy. 
 Regardless of the method you choose, the WordPress.com platform is ready to automatically convert each link into a highly professional product image.
Options to tweak your products’ appearance are also available. You can modify the look and feel of the products on your page by customizing the shortcode, from image size and background color to “Buy” button text. 
Also, depending on the ecommerce service you’re using, you can add products to your sidebar with a designated widget, or even have a shopping cart on your page. 
 All three ecommerce options are now available, so if you're a WordPress.com Business user, you can <a href="http://wordpress.com/landing/ecommerce-plugins/?ref=ecom" target="_blank"> try out the new ecommerce integration feature right now </a> .

Ecommerce Integration Arrives for WordPress.com Business

Today, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/out/bigcommerce">Bigcommerce</a> announced the launch of Bigcommerce Next, a release that supplements the popular platform with over 20 new features.For the 50,000 merchants currently using the Bigcommerce platform, Bigcommerce Next brings about brand new responsive themes, store management apps for iOS and Android, Stripe payments integration, and much more.Before I delve into exactly what's new, take a look at the Bigcommerce Next introduction video below.<h2>Beauty, Brawn &amp; Brains</h2>The beauty of Bigcommerce Next comes thanks to the brand new theme store with dozens of store designs that are not only visually stunning but are also responsive and highly optimized for conversion.Its brawn is down to the improved advanced Bigcommerce features, including the API and platform with the introduction of Single Click Apps™, one-click payment setup, and a built-in blog. Finally, the brains come via access to Bigcommerce's industry-leading knowledge with on-demand training, a step-by-step marketing wizard, and more.Regarding the release of Bigcommerce Next,  Eddie Machaalani, co-founder and co-CEO of Bigcommerce, had this to say:<blockquote>“With Bigcommerce Next we've placed a huge focus on two things – expanding the capabilities of our platform with Single Click Apps and increasing conversion rates for our merchants with blogging and dozens of new store designs that have been extensively optimized for conversion.”</blockquote><h2>Mobile Store Management, Blogging &amp; More</h2>Below is a listed roundup of what Bigcommerce users can expect from Bigcommerce Next:<ul><li>Single Click Apps, our integrated app store that allows merchants to add capabilities to their store via third party apps in a single click</li><li>A new theme store with dozens of store designs that are not only visually stunning but are also responsive and highly optimized for conversion</li><li>A new blogging engine which makes it easy for merchants to publish a blog that's automatically optimized for search engines like Google and Bing</li><li>Mobile store management apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android smartphones and tablets which lets merchants get order notifications, update products, and see real-time store performance metrics on the go</li><li>One-click integration with Stripe for payments – enables merchants to accept payments in seconds vs the traditional method of 2-4 week delays with payment gateways and banks</li><li>Google Trusted stores integration to increase the conversion rate for shoppers that arrive via any of the Google properties, including paid search and Google Shopping</li><li>A step-by-step marketing wizard called Traffic Engine which teaches merchants how to drive demand to their stores using Google, blogs, social media, email marketing, and more</li><li>A revamped checkout experience that has been designed to optimize conversion at each step of the process, all the way from the cart to the order confirmation screen</li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://support.bigcommerce.com/s/article/BigCommerce-University">Bigcommerce University</a>, a comprehensive video-based learning experience that teaches merchants how to sell more using Bigcommerce and online marketing</li></ul>A 15 day free trial of Bigcommerce Next is ready for anybody to try,  which can be found on the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.bigcommerce.com/">official Bigcommerce website</a>.

Bigcommerce Launch Bigcommerce Next: Beauty, Brawn & Brains

This month, I had the pleasure of visiting the head office of the popular open source enterprise CMS, Magnolia in beautiful Basel, Switzerland.Their offices are situated on one of the longest rivers in Europe, the Rhine River, which runs over 1200 kilometers through Switzerland, Germany and the Netherlands.It was an absolutely gorgeous view from the balcony outside their offices.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnolia18.jpg" alt="Rhine River" />When <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thekitchenmagpie.com/about">my wife </a>and I first arrived, we were greeted with a smile by Boris Kraft, CTO &amp; Co-Founder, and Ben Price, Marketing Communications Manager for Magnolia International. Of course, we did the obligatory pose for the camera (that's Ben on my left and Boris on my right).<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnolia.jpg" />We had a tour of the offices, which were really well set up in a beautiful old building that, according to Boris, were previously a dorm for students.  For your viewing pleasure, here are some pictures of their head office and their awesome team.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnolia14.jpg" />Natascha Natum, Management Assistant and HR Coordinator.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnolia13.jpg" />(left) Ben Price, Marketing Manager, (centre left) Isabelle Dubach, Marketing Manager, (centre right) Gavan Stockdale, Technical Writer, (right) Laura Gambell, Marketing Assistant<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnolia19.jpg" />Magnolia CMS Core Developers<figure class="image"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnolia21.jpg" /></figure>Magnolia CMS Core Developers<figure class="image"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnolia16.jpg" /></figure>(left) Sebastian Stang, Senior Sales &amp; Partner Manager and (right) Samuel Schmitt, Technical Account Manager.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnolia2.jpg" />Alain Kugelmann, Head of FinanceAfter my tour, I had a chance to sit down with Boris while he gave me a tour of the latest release, Magnolia 5.2.2 on both iPad and Desktop:<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnolia6.jpg" alt="Boris Kraft and Mike Johnston" />What makes this release unique is the amazing new interface they developed for it. The entire backend and CMS has been redesigned from the ground up to be completely functional on mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets. There's even a beautifully designed touch interface.Here's a great video showcasing the interface on the iPad: And here is another showing content authoring from the desktop: As we walked through the interface, I couldn't help but be impressed with the slick implementation. I know, I've said before in my “<a href="/how-to-find-the-perfect-cms">How to Find the Perfect CMS</a>” article that you should always be careful about being “wowed by the interface” but in this case, it's not just a pretty face with no functionality. Not only is the interface one of the best I've seen, it truly is amazingly simple yet functional on all devices.As Boris explained during our discussion, their goal with Magnolia 5 was to offer a CMS that actually doesn't just manage your content but rather provides a framework where users can build their website quickly and easily using a flexible system that is expandable through apps. They also wanted to ensure that this same system worked on the latest technologies such as tablets like the iPad.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnolia8.jpg" alt="Boris Kraft and Mike Johnston" /><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/magnolia10.jpg" alt="Boris Kraft and Mike Johnston" />They were so concerned with the interface being functional but not overwhelming that they went through three major redesigns before finally feeling like they hit the nail on the head with the Magnolia 5 interface. I have to agree. It truly is an amazingly slick interface.If you haven't had a chance to play with it yet, I strongly suggest you <a target="_blank" href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/">head over to their site</a> and try out the free demo (scroll down and fill in your details, it takes about 1 minute and it's well worth it to see what they've done here).Want to learn more about Magnolia? Check out the <a href="/products/magnolia-cms/">Magnolia CMS page</a> in our CMS directory.

My visit to Magnolia's Offices in Basel, Switzerland

Shopify - The global commerce platform

Build your business with Shopify to sell online, offline, and everywhere in between.

The global commerce platform

#ffffff

As they approach 1 million live pages around the web, <a href="http://www.silk.co/" target="_blank">Silk</a> announced a brand new Explore page, which greatly improves the way you can visualize and filter the information on any Silk website.  
 With Silk, users can publish facts, data and opinions in a variety of ways. The platform excels with the visualization of information by providing options for the use of crisply designed graphs and charts.  
 Now, with a revamped Explore page, Silk site visitors can search and view information easier than ever before. 
<h2>Explore More</h2>
According to Silk.co, their core goal with to their new Explore page was to make every Silk a joy to search and explore.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/silk700x0.png" alt="Silk Explore Page" /> The upgrade allows you to hit the “explore” button found on all Silks across the Internet, which then presents you with options to filter and search through content in order to experience the data you want faster, and in different ways. 
 Below are some live Silks with great examples of how the new Explore page makes exploration easier for the average visitor.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://world.silk.co/explore/map/collection/country/numeric/water%20area/location/document/filter/matches/region/africa"> Water Areas in Africa (on Countries of the World) </a></li>
<li><a href="http://gendergap.silk.co/explore/linechart/collection/history/numeric/percentage%20male%20nominees/numeric/percentage%20female%20nominees"> Male and Female nominees (on The Gender Gap at the Oscars) </a></li>
<li><a href="http://killedgoogleproducts.silk.co/explore/columnchart/collection/killed%20google%20product/numeric/active%20days%20under%20google/order/desc/active%20days%20under%20google/filter/range/active%20days%20under%20google/1825/-"> A graph of Killed Google Products </a></li>
<li><a href="https://3dprinters.silk.co/explore/columnchart/collection/3d%20printer/numeric/price/order/asc/price/filter/range/price/-/%241000"> A graph of 3D Printers under $1000 </a></li>
<li><a href="http://crowdfunding-funded-technology-projects.silk.co/explore/grid/collection/kickstarter%20funded%20technology%20projects/column/amount%20pledged/image/image/description/date%20funded/order/asc/document/filter/range/amount%20pledged/1000000/-/slice/0/100"> A grid view of popular Crowdfunded Technology Projects </a></li>
<li><a href="http://nea.silk.co/explore/piechart/collection/investment/distribution/sector/filter/equals/status/Current/filter/equals/domain/Information%20Technology"> A piechart of New Enterprise Associates’ IT portfolio </a></li>
</ul>
To find out more about Silk's brand new Explore page, check out their <a href="http://blog.silk.co/post/77289325866/introducing-the-new-explore-page" target="_blank">official announcement on their blog</a> – which also features a neat video introduction of the new interface.
Alternatively, check out <a href="http://www.silk.co/" target="_blank">Silk.co</a> for all the details related to their platform.

Silk Unveil Explore Page Upgrade

The latest version of MODX Revolution has been released today, containing a couple of bug fixes for the popular open-source CMS.  For those running MODX (and those looking to do so) it is highly recommended you update your system as soon as possible to ensure full stability of the platform.
From the release announcement:
<blockquote>Revolution 2.2.12 was released today. It includes two bug fixes including one affecting the phpThumb library that ships with Revo. In addition, it eliminates the bug with the alert notifying users to confirm navigation to prevent losing unsaved changes. 2.2.12 also includes update language files and copyright updates to 2014.
As this release contains fixes that improve stability and the Manager UX, we recommend upgrading all your sites. If you're using MODX Cloud, this just takes a couple clicks.</blockquote>
A full changlog of the fixes within this release is available here: <a href="https://raw.github.com/modxcms/revolution/v2.2.12-pl/core/docs/changelog.txt">MODX Changelog</a>
If you are not familiar with MODX, the are the winners of our People's Choice Awards for Best Open Source CMS for the 2013 Critics' Choice CMS Awards (see <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/">https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/</a>)

MODX Revolution 2.2.12 Released

In the real estate industry, looking the part is half the battle. <a href="http://www.realtysoft.pro/" target="_blank"> PG Real Estate Solution</a> describe themselves as, “The ultimate CMS” for building real estate company websites. With this review, I'll be finding out just how true that claim is.
Developed and supported by <a href="http://pilotgroup.net/" target="_blank"> PilotGroup.Net</a> – who are responsible for various other content management systems and website scripts, PG Real Estate attempts to offer estate agencies, brokers and agents a full-featured website to display their property portfolios and attract buyers.
For a quick overview of what PG Real Estate CMS can offer, take a look at their introductory video below.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JtxKHYNIGSE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
<h2>Initial Thoughts</h2>
In both offline and online presences, it is vital for every real estate agent, broker and organization to convey an air of professionalism, and PG Real Estate have definitely understand that concept as far as their own presentation is concerned.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/0_1700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Website" />
Their own website is in line with what you would expect from any respectable CMS vendor, whilst maintaining a real estate feel, for obvious reasons.
However, one thing I noticed, was the offer of two separate packages. The “Start” and “Business” packages are presented side by side on the homepage, yet within the “Start” package were three further options – Portal, Agency &amp; Broker, and Agent.
Each of these options led to a separate page, illustrating the features of PG Real Estate most relevant to the three types of customer they envisage using their product.
All the pages eventually led me to the same sales or demo page, regardless of whether you clicked on Portal, Agency &amp; Broker or Agent.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/0_2700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Website" />
Offering up these three different entrance pages for the same product would almost certainly confuse potential customers.
This is because it seems that there are actually three different types of software suited to three different types of customer – when it reality, it is the same software, presented in three different ways. A quick chat with a PG Real Estate support operator confirmed that this approach was simply there to highlight the flexibility of the software, and not to promote three separate packages or products.
A better approach would have been to explain how PG Real Estate caters for all three customer types, and then list the functions and features accordingly, all on one page.
This is not a colossal issue, but it was one which had me thinking twice about the way PG Real Estate was set out.
<h2>Getting Started</h2>
After I logged in to PG Real Estate Solution's back end, I was greeted with a simple, flat interface. There was no eccentricity in the design, and I liked that, because it suited the industry that it was supposed to be a part of.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/1700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Admin Panel" />
Before delving into any of the functions, I took a moment to explore. The user interface and presentation of most sections of the admin panel was consistent, clean, professional and simple.
I felt that, if I had never used a CMS before in my life, I probably wouldn't struggle to find the key areas needed in order to set up core features of my real estate website.
The left hand sidebar was home to options like property listings, payments, banner ads, and other features, whilst the dashboard's homepage held some further options like admin settings, file uploading, and so forth.
<h3>Adding Pages</h3>
To add a page to the website, I needed to access the dashboard's homepage, and then click “Add info Pages”, which presented me with a list of pre-uploaded website pages currently active on the demo website I had been given access to.
Additionally, I found some more well laid out options such as the ability to add further pages, sub pages and modify existing pages.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/3700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Pages" />
Page creation was straight forward, with a section for the title, keywords and a link to the live page once it is published.
The content editor was fast, responsive and easy to use, although it wasn't much to look at.
In fact, the content editor looked very out of place. The grey tool bar was a stark change from the greens and oranges found everywhere else on the PG Real Estate platform, and the area editing area itself was not aligned with the rest of the page.
Instead, it was just an awkwardly positioned grey box.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/4700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Editing" /> 
Everything worked as I expected it to, except when it came to image insetion. I searched for an image button and tried a number of copy and paste methods before realising that there just didn't seem to be an easy way to insert images.
As it turns out, inserting images on standard pages can only be done by clicking the “Source” button n the editor, and delving into the HTML code.
Hardly user friendly.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/5700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate HTML" />
Excluding image insertion, the act of adding and modifying pages was seamless, although I felt as though the button to view and add pages to the website would be better suited on the left-hand sidebar, along with the other core admin options.
Relegating the option to the dashboard home page means that it is more of a chore to access.
Another minor gripe I had, was that any time I clicked “Save” on a page after making some changes, I was taken back to the page listings, instead of remaining on the page I was editing. It's the minor details like these which can frustrate newcomers and experienced web developers alike.
<h3>Adding Properties</h3>
As expected, PG Real Estate excelled when it came to adding properties.
The “Listings” section neatly laid out all existing properties, along with their designated image, description, and options to either edit or delete the property.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/6700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Propoerty Listings" /> 
Modifying property listings was easy – much easier than when I tried my hand at modifying pages. For example, clicking the “save” button didn't transfer me back to the listings page, and there was also a handy drag-and-drop image uploader to speed up the visual side of uploading a new listing.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/9700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Property Options" /> 
All the options any Realtor would need can be found – and then some.
Property prices, sizes, locations, and availability options are present, alongside further specifications like local amenities, environmental surroundings, and even virtual tours.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/7700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Property Images" /> 
Panoramic images can be uploaded to create the virtual tours, giving visitors are grander view of the property on show. Additional interactive features include the mapping system in place for PG Real Estate. After typing in the property address, the Google Maps section is automatically updated, with both satellite and street views.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/8700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Property Virtual Tour" /> 
The process of listing properties seemed far more complete than the page creation section, although unlike the page editor, there was no link to the live property listing directly from the back end.
<h2>Apps, Templates &amp; Extras</h2>
Heading over to the <a href="https://pilotgroup.zendesk.com/forums/22095512-Apps#recent" target="_blank"> PG Real Estate Apps section</a> of PilotGroup.Net, reveals some useful, dedicated applications.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/10.png" alt="PG Real Estate Apss" />
At the time of writing, there are only 10 apps available – only one of which is free.
The apps are listed, with each one having its own description page. To purchase individual apps however, you are taken to the checkout page designed for customers wishing to purchase the entire PG Real Estate software package, with no option to simply buy one module on its own. Not exactly a silky smooth sales procedure.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/11700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Apps" />
The apps on offer would be useful though, with features like Live chat modules, mortgage modules, SMS notification modules, and so forth.
One thing which was alarming, was that the “mobile version” of PG Real Estate was being sold as a separate application, for $99. This means that, in order to achieve a responsive design for your real estate website, you will need to fork out extra.
However, there is also good news on the horizon, as PG Real Estate recently announced the upcoming release of their iOS and Android apps, with the beta <a href="https://pilotgroup.zendesk.com/entries/40908953-PG-Real-Estate-Beta-version-of-mobile-application" target="_blank">being available for testing right now</a>.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/12.png" alt="PG Real Estate Templates" />
Similarly, templates can be purchased at the <a href="http://www.pilotgroup.net/shop/" target="_blank">PG Template Store</a>, although it is very unclear as to how you can then make use of these templates without the help of PG Real Estate. A tactic which is becoming all too apparent.
<h2>Marketing</h2>
Built in to the PG Real Estate platform, are newsletters, which allow you to accrue email addresses for marketing purposes. Furthermore, Search Engine Optimization features can also be found within the platform.
<h3>Newsletters</h3>
The ability to collect emails and then send out newsletters, notifications and updates is all possible with PG Real Estate.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/13700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Newsletter" /> 
Different email templates can be set up to send to different subscriber groups, allowing you to target particular customers or partners with specific content.
The options are detailed, which may intimidate the typical website owner, but for those who know what they're doing, PG Real Estate's newsletter module can be a great way to stay in touch with clients and customers with just a few clicks.
<h3>Search Engine Optimization</h3>
Also found within the back end are SEO settings and options. Global titles, meta tags and keywords can be set, whilst a section for tracking codes from tools like Google Analytics can be integrated.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/14700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate SEO" /> 
What's more is, PG Real Estate offers some information regarding Alexa data and backlinks, allowing you to review some basic SEO data without having t leave your admin panel.
Further marketing options, are offered by PG Real Estate.Such promotional packages can once again be purchased at checkout.
<h2>Getting Help</h2>
Overall the support system for PG Real Estate is pretty solid, mainly down to the speedy live-chat system, which I was genuinely impressed with.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/15.png" alt="PG Real Estate Live Chat" />
On every page of the PG Real Estate website, you'll notice a relatively discreet box located at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, which allows you to quickly start live-chatting with a PG Real Estate support representative.
I experimented with the live chat feature a few times, and I was able to speak to different support operators within a matter of seconds, both of whom were very helpful.
To test the levels of customer service a little further, I requested that my trial be set up on a PG Real Estate server. The support operator told me she would contact one of the developers, who then emailed me within a few hours with my link and password. A seamless and pleasant process.
Besides the live chat feature, there is a handy customer support section where you can submit questions and requests. Here, you can also find over 200 pre-answered questions to help you find solutions faster.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/16700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Support" />
If all else fails, you can also call up directly, using US &amp; Canadian toll-free numbers.
Overall, as far as getting quick, effective help and advice, I think PG Real Estate customers are in very safe hands.
<h2>Customer Feedback</h2>
There's nothing quite like hearing from a genuine customer of a product to test its worth. So, I did some digging and managed to find some PG Real Estate customer feedback on <a href="http://www.hotscripts.com/listings/reviews/67211/" target="_blank"> Hot Scripts</a>, which seems to be the only public feedback out there which is recent.
With a score of 4.23 out of 5, the Hot Scripts reviewing section holds a positive view of PG Real Estate, although the criticisms are worth noting.
Besides the odd customer frustration over what seem to be “one-off” incidents, one of the biggest complaints seems to be the customer service – which I have already discussed and praised.
Another complaint listed stems from customers' lack of appreciation when it comes to functionality, templates and modules being sold separately when certain packages are purchased.
To PG Real Estate's credit, they responded to every concern and comment, offering thanks, advice and apologies where necessary. That's always a good sign.
<h2>Price Plans</h2>
With PG Real Estate, you can take care of all your website needs, from software to hosting, all in one place. This is naturally very handy, but it is also reflected in the prices that you pay.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/17700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Pricing" /> 
For a single domain name, prices start from $399, rising to $2299. The lower you pay, the more restricted you are in terms of module availability, branding and access to code. For example, paying the basic price of $399 means that you'll need to purchase future updates and modules separately, and live with PG Real Estate branding on your website.
The more expensive packages free you of such implications, giving you full access to modules and code alike. Furthermore, you can even arrange to pay in installments.
Pricing for PG Real Estate is definitely high when compared to real estate options found within WordPress, Drupal and other such platforms, although competitors AgenCMS charge quite a bit more than PG Real Estate, hovering around the $4,000 mark.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/18700x0.png" alt="PG Real Estate Pricing" /> 
Hosting, promotional, design and SEO services are also offered at checkout, all of which come with their packages and price plans. It goes without saying that if you wanted to really get your website looking unique and attracting large volumes of traffic, you'll be looking at forking out far more than the original software purchase price.
All in all, the figures aren't the prettiest – and I think PilotGroup.net should re-think their approach to pricing in order to offer more value, espeically when it comes to modules.
<h2>The Verdict</h2>
PG Real Estate CMS gave me an uneven experience.
By uneven, I refer to the inconsistent feel the platform has. To give one example, when editing a page, you have the luxury of a direct live link to the page you are currently editing, to give you quick access to it in order to preview modifications – yet this same, simple feature is not found when editing property listings.
The platform is not terrible by any stretch of the imagination, but it also wasn't without its glaring faults. The simpler things need to be made easier. Inserting an image into a page for example, shouldn't require coding. Furthermore, the admin panel itself could do with some work, making pages easier to edit.
Additionally, there seems to be a lack of freedom for those purchasing cheaper packages when it comes to customization. As a result, PG Real Estate users on cheaper packages certainly won't get an “open-source” experience.
<h3>Pros</h3>
<ul>
<li>User interface is Extremely fast and easy to understand.</li>
<li>Friendly and attentive customer service.</li>
<li>Property listing is the platforms forte, with numerous options including virtual tours, maps and more.</li>
<li>Built-in Newsletter, banner ads and polling features.</li>
<li>Wide range of payment options.</li>
<li>Ability to import &amp; export properties via XML, CSV and other formats.</li>
<li>PilotGroup.net offer further services including third-party app integration, SEO, and more.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Cons</h3>
<ul>
<li>Inconsistent feel to the admin panel functions.</li>
<li>Images can only be inserted into pages using HTML code.</li>
<li>The software is expensive, especially since most apps &amp; templates require further purchasing.</li>
<li>Not many apps available.</li>
<li>Out of the box website customization is severely limited.</li>
<li>The process of purchasing and installing modules and templates seems confusing.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Final Remarks</h2>
If you're looking to set up a real estate website, whether for personal use, or for the representation of a real estate or brokerage company, I think PG Real Estate solution is worth consideration.
They aren't the cheapest solution, nor the most extendable, however there are a lot of positives within the platform, including speed, attentive customer service, strong property listing functionality, and a range of customization options, for a price.
I've gone into enough detail about where the platform falls short in terms of general usage and editing, but there aren't any major issues which would prompt me to advise you to steer clear. It's fair to say that PG Real Estate excels in some areas, and falls short in others.
Perhaps the biggest question is about price. The initial fee to get started with PG Real Estate isn't outrageously expensive, but it is the added fees when it comes to responsive design, modules and templating options. I personally believe that PilotGroup.Net need to re-examine their pricing options, to make their platform and service a little easier to stomach financially.
To conclude, PG Real Estate is far from flawless, but there is also plenty to like about the platform. So, if you're in two minds, I'd strongly recommend giving the <a href="http://www.realtysoft.pro/realestate/demo.php" target="_blank">PG Real Estate demo</a> a try for yourself.
Additionally, you can find out more about PG Real Estate via our CMS Directory.

PG Real Estate Solution Review

Drupal software &amp; solutions specialists <a href="https://t.yesware.com/tl/91e3a7ba29aa960855d37ea0e1bb697a5c298307/ff073599a00d4066fc6e3b29a623bb57/1068b875e19f53eb809cc996558faca3?ytl=http://www.acquia.com/" target="_blank">Acquia</a> have announced the launch of <a href="https://t.yesware.com/tl/91e3a7ba29aa960855d37ea0e1bb697a5c298307/ff073599a00d4066fc6e3b29a623bb57/ed8ac9465bf6496085e1cef409020f59?ytl=http://www.acquia.com//products-services/website-personalization" target="_blank">Acquia Lift</a>, an optimization platform that enables marketing teams to transform the digital experiences they offer customers into engines for revenue generation. 
 Acquia offers developer tools, cloud solutions and global expertise, helping over 4,000 companies and brands including Twitter, Mercedes Benz, Warner Music Group, and Stanford University.
For a quick look at what Acquia Lift can do, check out the introduction video below.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7Zx_rY5_6A
<h2>Built for Drupal, Designed for Easy Implementation</h2>
With Acquia Lift, marketers can easily create, iterate, and optimize content directly within Drupal, rather than toggling between multiple products and managing content in multiple systems. 
That means that all of your personalized content including text, images, videos, etc, can all be managed within Drupal as per usual.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen_shot_2014-02-19_at_10_22_03_pm700x0.png" alt="Acquia Lift " />
While the idea of creating and delivering personalized digital experiences isn’t new, most existing solutions require marketing teams to create manual customer segments and rules. 
This worked if marketers were only targeting a few segments, but it didn’t scale to the one-to-one digital conversations which consumers have come to expect from using sites such as Netflix and Amazon.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/preview_option_a700x0.png" alt="Acquia Lift" />
Furthermore, Acquia Lift is completely automated, based on unique learning algorithms that calculate the right digital experience to deliver to each user for optimal results and engagement.
You can simply select from a list of visitor attributes you’d like to test – such as demographic, location, daypart, user profile attributes, and Acquia Lift helps you to discover and implement the best experience for your users, all on its own.
<h2>Optimization, Personalization &amp; More</h2>
Acquia Lift provides powerful optimization tools to get a campaign up and running with a single click, and tests content not only against consumer profiles but also against specific consumer attributes. 
Using these new insights, Acquia Lift then automates the delivery of personalized content to each site visitor, inspiring actions like registration, subscription, purchasing, or improved engagement on both desktop and mobile devices.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/screen_shot_2014-02-19_at_10_51_29_pm.png" alt="Acquia Lift" />
Additional features and benefits of Acquia Lift include:
<ul>
<li>
Easy implementation: Designed to enable anyone within an organization to get testing and targeting functionalities up and running fast on their Drupal-based site.
</li>
<li>
Intuitive: Enables organizations to easily create, iterate, and optimize content within the same interface, rather than toggling between web content management (WCM) and targeting systems.
</li>
<li>
A/B and Multivariate Testing: Includes a variety of different testing and targeting options at the site owner’s disposal natively within the Drupal interface. These options enable the site owner to do both simple A/B and more complex multi-variate testing and then report back the results.
</li>
<li>
Interoperable: With Acquia Lift, there’s no need to focus on a single stack. The solution integrates easily with third party technologies, letting organizations have the freedom to leverage existing digital marketing tools, and explore emerging high value tools they may consider using in the future.
</li>
<li>
Measurable: Acquia Lift enables developers to define custom conversion goals for their sites and provides an easy-to-implement Drupal-specific personalization tool that automates the delivery of relevant experiences. Digital marketing teams can also create and track conversion goals, and gain real-time, granular insight into website conversion performance against KPIs.
</li>
<li>
Auditable Record of all Interactions: Enables the marketing team to gain insights from explicit information within the site, to anonymous user actions, to third party applications.
</li>
<li>
No “Instrumentation” Needed: Acquia Lift does not require developers to “instrument” a website HTML with Javascript tags, reducing the cost and time required while increasing web page load performance.
</li>
</ul>
The launch of Acquia lift also prompted a response from the Acquia CEO, Tom Erickson. He had this to say:
<blockquote>
“Until now, it’s been tough for the millions of Drupal sites to easily incorporate robust personalization capabilities. Acquia Lift equips the digital marketer with powerful website testing and content targeting tools to optimize content for each visitor. As content, community and commerce converge, digital experiences are becoming more complex. Acquia Lift ensures that each interaction delivers a relevant, high-quality experience customers expect.”
</blockquote>
For more information on Acquia Lift, check out <a href="http://www.acquia.com/products-services/website-personalization" target="_blank"> Acquia's official website </a> .

Acquia Announce Acquia Lift: Drupal Website Personalization Made Easy

<a href="http://www.hannonhill.com/downloads/cascade/" target="_blank">Cascade Server version 7.10</a> by Hannon Hill has today become available for download. 
Hannon Hill's award-winning Enterprise CMS now boasts several new user experience features and improvements, from the admin dashboard to the end-user mobile experience.
So, here's a look at the highlights of what's new with Cascade Server 7.10.
<h2>Progressive Disclosure, Better Dashboard &amp; Mobile Experience</h2>
It's always great to see developers listen to their customers, and so we'll start with the fact that <a href="http://www.hannonhill.com/" target="_blank">Hannon Hill</a> have implemented the second most popular idea on their customer idea exchange by introducing Progressive Disclosure.
Users can now select dependencies between Data Definition fields where one field will be hidden unless a specific value is selected in another “parent” field. This allows  for progressively showing more fields to the user as needed and hiding other fields that are irrelevant when editing structured data Pages and Blocks. 
For example, suppose a Data Definition contains an “Address” group containing a number of data definition fields used to capture address information.  This group can be configured such that it will only be displayed if a user changes the value of another data definition field called “Include Address?” to “Yes”.
Parent fields can be radio buttons, checkboxes, dropdowns, and multi-select boxes.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/progressive-disclosure700x0.png" alt="Cascade Server Progressive Disclosure" />
What's more is, the Home area Dashboard has received a face-lift, allowing every user to be able to customize their own dashboard for each site. The dashboard has been split into widgets that can be dragged and dropped to a new position or removed from the dashboard completely.
The Stale Content widget, the Content to Review widget, and the Analytics widgets can also be configured to show specific information in particular time frames.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/customizable-dashboard.png" alt="Cascade Server Customizable Dashboard" />
The dashboard is also responsive and compatible with most mobile devices.  The layout of the dashboard will seamlessly transition from a 3 column layout down to a 2+1 layout and then finally down to a single column layout as the viewport gets smaller.
Additionally, in a continuing effort to improve the Cascade experience on mobile devices, a number of mobile bugs have been addressed and improvements implemented that allow users to better interact with Cascade using their phones and tablets. This effort began in the 7.8 series and will continue through 7.10 and beyond.  
Thanks to these improvements introduced in version 7.10, Cascade's goal of creating a mobile experience as close as possible in functionality to the desktop experience for all core Cascade features is now a few steps closer.
Such changes include:
<ul>
<li>A mobile optimized login screen</li>
<li>Responsive home area dashboard</li>
<li>A fixed 800px width viewport for mobile devices</li>
<li>Improvements to editing to allow better navigation of edit forms</li>
<li>Addressed issues with the layout on mobile devices including an issue with the site dropdown sticking during scrolling</li>
</ul>
<h2>Advanced Code Editor, UI Improvements &amp; More</h2>
The Advanced Code Editor as introduced in <a href="/cascade-server-7.4-feature-overview/#.UwU-M_l_vhM" target="_blank">Cascade 7.4</a> has been added to the HTML View in the WYSIWYG.  This adds things like syntax highlight, code folding, line numbers and other convenient features to HTML editing. 
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ace-html-wysiwyg-view700x0.png" alt="Cascade Server Advanced Code Editor" />
Also on the list of updates, Cascade users can enjoy some revamped control icons, which make them easier to distinguish and easier to click.
This includes the links to expand and collapse folders in the left-hand navigation:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/left-hand-side-collapse-expand.png" alt="Cascade Server User Interface" />
Along with added controls to re-order, add and remove multiple fields when editing pages and blocks:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/structured-data-controls.png" alt="Cascade Server User Interface " />
Over the next two weeks, Cascade will be releasing a series of blog posts to give you more details about the major improvements in 7.10, but you can also learn about the new features in the <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1675/172220/48853" target="_blank">7.10 Release Notes</a>, the <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1675/172220/49238" target="_blank">7.10 Press Release</a> or by signing up for the <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1675/172220/48987" target="_blank">7.10 Release Webinar</a>, to take place February 26th at 2PM Eastern Time. 
To download Cascade Server 7.10, check out the official <a href="http://www3.hannonhill.com/c/1675/172220/48852" target="_blank">Downloads Page</a>.

Cascade Server 7.10 Released

Although the platform is still in beta, <a href="http://microweber.com/" target="_blank"> Microweber CMS</a> is attracting a fair amount of interest. 
 Focused on stripping away the complexities of most other content management systems, Microweber has hundreds of registered users, a growing online community and a platform which boasts some simple yet effective features, none of which require any technical ability to use.
 To get a taste for what Microweber has to offer, check out their quick demonstration video below.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eajCiD0ha2s?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<h2>The Microweber Story</h2>
It's always nice to get a feel for how a CMS came into being, and it just so happens that Microweber have a rather pleasant tale worth reading.  
 After working in the web design sector for some time, Bulgaria based Microweber co-founders Boris and Peter decided to try something new. They felt that the CMS sector lacked a truly easy to use service for the end-user lacking technical knowledge. Thus, the idea of Microweber was born.
Following a failed attempt to raise funds via Kickstarter, they made a bold move. A video was recorded and posted on their small YouTube channel in late January 2012, where Boris and Peter asked for financial support from whoever saw the video and liked their idea.
Less than a month later this move yielded a result, as investor Nicholas Gerber from the USA decided to help the duo. For almost two years though, Nicholas never met Peter or Boris, communicating solely via occasional e-mails. This means that between early 2012 and late 2013, all investments from Gerber relied completely on the sole trust that Boris and Peter were honest men who were focused at creating something innovative. 
However, during Christmas 2013, all parties met for the very first time in Istanbul, Turkey.
Since then, Microweber has quickly been advancing through its Beta phase, accumulating several hundred registered users, scores of orders from websites and a helpful community. The latter resulted in the purely voluntary translation of Microweber in six languages: English, German, Spanish, Russian, Slovenian, and Greek. Some users even wanted to teach about Microweber in their academic institutions. Thanks to this exponential growth, the project got its third developer – Alexander, who is responsible for front-end development.
With 2014 now underway, the trio decided that it was time for Microweber to go live and unleash its full potential. Their aim is to deliver an easy, free product that is rich on customization for end-users and that is open source so the designer/developer community can benefit.
<h2>A Superbly Simple CMS</h2>
Now that you know the Microweber story, let's delve into their digital offerings. 
Microweber is a CMS that lets you Drag &amp; Drop modules alongside its “Live Edit” feature. This means that websites can be drastically modified and tweaked via live preview, so that you can experience the end result as you edit.
<a href="http://microweber.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/2700x0.jpg" alt="Microweber CMS Dashboard" /></a>
The free and open source platform is aimed at delivering an optimal user experience, with simplicity always in mnd. It is also customization friendly, so developers and designers can have a take on it and create their ideas using the platform. 
Using Microweber, you can create a website, blog, or online store using the default theme of Microweber. The Microweber development team is also currently preparing a whole load of new templates so users can customize their sites according to their needs and wants. 
You can also make use of Microweber's Drag &amp; Drop technology when creating content, uploading images, embedding videos and a range of other tasks. Users can arrange elements with just a click of the mouse, dragging and dropping them across the screen before clicking them in order to modify them further.
<a href="http://microweber.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/5700x0.jpg" alt="Microweber CMS Live Editing" /></a>
The highlight feature of the CMS is the real time text writing &amp; editing function. With it, you can manage the site content without any use of admin panel, going “live” on the site interface instead. As an addition, there are different modules and layouts that offer rich customization in the pursuit of crafting the most suitable website.
Furthermore, Microweber can also be used as an ecommerce platform. The platform allows you to upload products, pictures and videos, set pricing &amp; shipping costs, customize products using custom fields (size, colours, everything needed) and track orders and payments.
<a href="http://microweber.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/4700x0.jpg" alt="Microweber CMS ecommerce" /></a>
The developers and designers can benefit from the fact that Microweber is open source. They can create and share themes, modules or plug-ins and either distribute them freely or sell them. A Marketplace is in the making so the process can become more coordinated.
For more information on Microweber CMS, visit their <a href="http://microweber.com/" target="_blank">official website</a>, or better yet, <a href="http://demo.microweber.org/" target="_blank">test out a demo</a>.

Microweber: A CMS Stripped of Complexity

It was just over a decade ago that WordPress was first released as a free and open source blogging tool. Since those good ol’ days WordPress has grown up; it has gone from a simple blogging platform to a fully fledged CMS (content management system) that literally has no boundaries! Has WordPress gone too far from its roots though -so far even that a new platform needs to exist?Apparently John O’Nolan and over 5,000 backers think so. The Ghost blogging platform is a new contender that recently entered the blogging ring, ready to throw some jabs at the blogging giant. The question that has come to mind is…<h2>Should you ditch WordPress and start using Ghost?</h2><h3>Installation</h3><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/wordpress-vs-ghost1-1328x0.jpg" alt="wordpress vs ghost" />You would expect a platform that describes itself as a simple blogging solution to have an easy installation; however that wasn’t the case with Ghost. The most important thing you need to know about doing a self-hosted Ghost blog is that your server MUST support <a target="_blank" href="http://nodejs.org/">Node.js</a>. If your hosting provider doesn’t, than you are plain out of luck.This was the case for me since I use a bulk account for hosting about 45 websites. I was forced to make the decision of either upgrading to a dedicated VPS or going elsewhere for my hosting. Fortunately there are a whole slew of providers that offer suitable hosting for Ghost for as low as $5 / month.Although the installer documentation is still a work in progress, I will say it was pretty thorough and helpful. Just don’t expect a 1-click install at this point without some terminal based action.Since WordPress along with numerous other popular applications are built with PHP, nearly any hosting provider will support it. Not only that, but WordPress has the clear upper hand advantage with it being tweaked and optimized over the past 11 years.Installing WordPress is relatively painless and straightforward, especially if your hosting provider has Installatron or Fantastico installed. Regardless of whether you use a guided installer application like those mentioned or install WordPress manually, it can be up and running in 10 minutes or less.Both of these platforms threw some punches, but WordPress stood out as the clear victor when it comes to installation. I do believe that given more time, that Ghost will be better supported and easier to install.<h3>UI Experience</h3>Now we get it to see each of these contenders throw some hurtin’ bombs! Let’s start with usability.I’ve got to be honest with you, I am really enjoying Ghost’s user interface. It is completely different from what WordPress offers and I mean that in a good way.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/wordpress-vs-ghost-editor-ii.jpg" alt="wordpress vs ghost" />Creating new posts in both platforms is extremely straightforward and easy. What really sets Ghost apart though is its two column system.It is obvious that a lot of thought was put into the user experience. You would almost expect that O’Nolan had previous experience in user interface design; oh wait, he does! O’Nolan was deputy head of the WordPress user interface team for two years.Simply put, the two column system is intuitive, well put together, and easy to use. You get your markup on the left and the preview on the right. Not sure what the shortcode is for a specific font styling? It’s as easy as clicking on the ‘markdown help’ to have a lightbox pop up with all of the shortcodes listed.Creating and updating posts on WordPress is completely different from Ghost. With WordPress you get a traditional WYSIWIG editor along with a ‘kitchen sink’ full of goodies.You do have the option to preview your post before publishing, which opens a secondary tab showcasing exactly what your post will look like when live.I have used WordPress and built literally hundreds of websites with WordPress over the past few years -and it works great! What I don’t like is having to have multiple tabs open at the same time as well as going back and forth so much.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/wordpress-vs-ghost-editor.jpg" alt="wordpress vs ghost" />I can see why WordPress still maintains using this traditional editor though. With many themes and plugins you install, it adds more to the kitchen sink through added columns, shortcodes, and features.What’s happened over the past few years though is that it really has gotten so feature heavy that it doesn’t always have the best user experience; everything is clearly labeled and in obvious locations but leaves you clicking back and forth much of the time. As you keep adding plugins and shortcodes the kitchen sink can become cluttered.So, what ‘blogging platform’ has easiest to use? It was a close match but I would have to say that Ghost is the victor if you’re looking for just blogging. The two column system just works.Hold up though, the fight isn’t over yet! Yes, Ghost won the battle for user friendliness.. but what about features?<h3>Features and Customization</h3>Right out of the far corner WordPress comes out swinging! WordPress is so feature packed that it can be overwhelming sometimes, especially with using a ‘high end’ theme that wants to be your everything.Before moving forward I want to make a note of exactly this whole theme debacle. WordPress by itself is a great platform for running your website. What has happened, especially over the past two years, is that ‘premium’ themes have taken over. WordPress really is more than just a blogging platform and wants to be your entire CMS.Theme developers have really taken things too far in my opinion. There is nothing wrong with having a multi-purpose theme that would work for a portfolio, business, personal, any niche website. The problem that has occurred is that themes have become so feature packed that they overly complicate standard WordPress use. It isn’t uncommon in today’s market for premium WordPress themes to have 20+ pages of documentation. Is that really necessary?Whoa, sorry for that tangent! Anyways now we’re back to features. Since WordPress has been out for so long there are literally thousands upon thousands of free and premium plugins available. Need a secure contact form? No problem! How about a pop up generator to reduce your bounce rate? Again, no problem.WordPress has a whole slew of free plugins <a target="_blank" href="http://wordpress.org/plugins/">over here</a> and you can get some really nice premium plugins over at <a target="_blank" href="http://codecanyon.net/?ref=cmscritic">CodeCanyon</a>.Ghost, being so new to the market, already has a nice set themes available. If you take a look at the <a target="_blank" href="http://marketplace.ghost.org/">Ghost Marketplace</a> you can see some beautiful themes have already been developed.Plugins for Ghost on the other hand, are few and far between. The Ghost forums are pretty active on plugin development, but there just aren’t many released yet – just as you would expect with it being such a new platform.So when it comes to features, WordPress would be the clear winner. You are literally just a Google search away from any feature you would require with WordPress. In all fairness, however, Ghost never set out to be a feature rich CMS -it was created simply for blogging.<h3>Your Turn</h3>It was a brutal match and punches were thrown with WordPress emerging as the victor. But for how long? I can definitely recommend Ghost if you are looking at running a blog; but if there is even the slightest chance of growing that blog into a complete website you should still consider WordPress.Will Ghost continue to stay the straight and steady course to becoming the best solution for blogging? Or will it strive to be more competitive with WordPress CMS and other platforms? Time will tell and this match may have to be revisited.Don't forget that when you go to set up your Ghost or WordPress website, you'll need a reliable web <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliates.arvixe.com/track.php?id">hosting</a> company. We recommend Arvixe. They are currently offering great discounts to our readers, so be sure to take advantage of the offer before it expires. <a href="/bluehost">Click here to get cheap, reliable hosting from Arvixe</a>.Do you agree with the outcome? Did I miss covering something you think is crucial? Make sure you let me know below!

WordPress vs Ghost: Should you ditch WordPress and start using Ghost?

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