Articles - Page 145

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/andycohen">Andy Cohen</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/deane"> </a>is the founding architect of Sitecore XM Cloud. He is VP/Chief Architect at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.altudo.co/">Altudo</a>, and a CMS Critic contributor. <hr /> When people talk about personalization, they often mean “the right content to the right person at the right time.” That idea is now past tense.I have watched this shift play out up close, from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore’s</a> early rules-based personalization, through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentstack">Contentstack’s</a> use of edge-based personalization in a composable architecture, to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/optimizely">Optimizely’s</a> launch of Opal, a system of marketing AI agents. Personalization no longer stops at swapping content on a page. It now reaches into the interaction itself, and soon, into the relationships agents form with one another.<h3 id="when-agents-adapt-to-us">When Agents Adapt to Us</h3>That shift, from “what” to “how,” is where the major CMS players are already moving, and you can see it in the different bets they're making:<ul><li>Contentstack has put its weight behind <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/livin-on-the-edge-contentstacks-new-adaptive-dxp-might-just-rock-your-world">EDGE</a>, which they call a hyper-personalization platform. It blends their headless CMS with a real-time CDP, AI, and automation. The goal is simple but ambitious: deliver one-to-one experiences in the moment and at scale. Because it is composable, brands can adapt interactions without locking themselves into rigid patterns. What strikes me about EDGE is that it reframes personalization as something continuous, not a campaign you set and forget.</li><li>Optimizely has taken another route with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/optimizely-opal-gets-supercharged-for-agentic-ai-powering-infinite-use-cases-for-marketers">Opal</a>. Instead of a single assistant, Opal is built as a collection of agents that act like members of a marketing team. There is a campaign manager agent, a personalization advisor, a market researcher, and more. With the 2.0 release, Optimizely put the emphasis on letting these agents collaborate and run multi-step workflows across content, data, and experimentation. I have seen teams spend weeks coordinating those same steps manually. Opal hints at a world where marketing execution is handled by an ensemble of digital teammates who can plan, act, and adjust together.</li><li>Sitecore has focused on bringing assistance directly into daily work. Through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sitecore.com/products/sitecore-stream">Stream</a>, they have introduced AI copilots that support authors and marketers in real time as they draft and optimize campaigns. On top of that, Sitecore’s partnership with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/sitecore-sharpens-ai-focus-with-strategic-partnership-and-new-leadership-appointments">Gradial</a> shows how agentic workflows can extend into campaign execution. It is not just about smarter editors or quicker drafts. It is about agents that can carry intent through to delivery and adapt along the way. For a company that has lived for years in the world of static content publishing, that is a meaningful step forward.</li></ul>None of these approaches feels like a gimmick.They are different answers to the same problem: personalization is no longer about what content you are shown, it is about how the interaction unfolds. Whether that happens through hyper-personalization at the edge, through orchestrated marketing agents, or via copilots and execution partners, the shift is real and already in motion.<h3 id="what-nondeterminism-really-means">What Nondeterminism Really Means</h3>Most software behaves like math: 2 + 2 always equals 4. Generative AI does not. Ask it to draft a thank-you note and you will get three different answers, all plausible, none identical. That variability is what we call nondeterminism.It is the very thing that makes AI feel creative, but also the reason it needs personalization to stay useful. As <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://parivedasolutions.com/perspectives/managing-the-non-deterministic-nature-of-generative-ai/">Pariveda Solutions points out</a>, nondeterminism is what makes AI flexible and creative, but it also introduces governance challenges that remain unresolved. In my own work with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/getting-loud-with-xm-cloud-sitecore-reports-100-growth-of-its-ai-powered-cloud-based-cms">XM Cloud,</a> I have seen how unpredictable outcomes can be a feature if the system adapts well – and a liability if it does not.<h3 id="when-agents-adapt-to-each-other">When Agents Adapt to Each Other</h3>The next frontier is agents adapting not just to us but to each other. Nondeterminism multiplies when two autonomous systems interact. They need ways to converge on workable outcomes.Sometimes that looks like adjusting communication style, where one agent is structured and terse, another free-form and verbose. Sometimes, it means learning to accept differences in task style, such as fast approximation versus cautious step-by-step reasoning. Other times it's about role negotiation: who leads, who validates, who escalates.And sometimes it is memory. Agents do not just adapt in the moment; they remember. That memory can look like a grudge. A search agent that hallucinated last time will get fact-checked the next. A procurement agent that botched a deal may face stricter oversight. Even first impressions stick. If an agent’s very first hand-off is sloppy, the other agent may never fully trust it, no matter how good the later work becomes.Humans behave the same way. In corporate life, one bad kickoff meeting can color a partnership for months. Agents will carry those patterns too.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.deepset.ai/blog/ai-agents-and-deterministic-workflows-a-spectrum"> Deepset calls this the “spectrum of determinism to nondeterminism</a>.” I call it relationship management.<h3 id="everyday-illustrations">Everyday Illustrations</h3>Picture a grocery agent told to buy apples if they are $0.99 a pound. A deterministic system comes back empty because they are $1.09. An adaptive one checks with you, “They are a little higher today. Should I buy anyway?” That is useful, until the store’s own agent learns to nudge yours into paying even more.Or ride-hailing. You set a $20 target. The price surges to $23. Do you want your agent to decline, wait, or decide on its own? What happens when the ride-share’s agent starts upselling yours into priority pickup at $28?Or travel. You say, “Book me a flight under $500.” The system finds none. A flexible agent returns with, “There is one at $525 with better times. Should I grab it?” Helpful, but it shows how quickly rules can bend.In the enterprise, this gets thornier. Procurement policies might cap software licenses at $50 per seat. A deterministic agent halts the deal. A personalized one negotiates to $55 and closes it. That looks like a win until you realize the vendor’s agent deliberately anchored higher, knowing yours would flex upward.Healthcare raises the stakes even more. You ask for an appointment with your doctor next week. A rigid agent says none available. A personalized one offers a nurse practitioner tomorrow or a specialist in two weeks. That looks like a better experience, but it could also push you toward higher-margin services instead of the care you really wanted.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/deterministic-ai/">Salesforce has written about this exact problem</a> of when to script agents tightly and when to let them roam. I see it every day in delivery projects. Too rigid and you frustrate users. Too loose and you open the door to manipulation.<h3 id="agents-that-carry-“you”-with-them">Agents That Carry “You” With Them</h3>Now push it further. Imagine your agent not only executes tasks but carries your personality footprint into every interaction. If you are cost-sensitive, it pushes harder. If you are time-poor, it pays more for speed. If you are detail-driven, it double-checks everything.What if you could swap personas entirely?<ul><li>"Frugal Andy" does the grocery shopping</li><li>"Executive Andy" books the flights</li><li>"Playful Andy" explores games and hobbies.</li></ul>Your agent would not only personalize to you. It would personalize as you.But there is risk in this. If the other agent knows who you are or which persona you are using, it can adapt back. That can be powerful when aligned with your goals, but it can also be exploited. Imagine a vendor agent that recognizes executive mode and steers you toward premium packages.This is not hypothetical. Optimizely’s Opal agents already act like different team members depending on context. Contentstack’s Brand Kit lets you define voice profiles and store guidelines so that every AI-generated artifact reflects your identity. Sitecore’s Stream copilots are designed to guide content creators in real time, aligning their work with brand and role expectations.These are early signals of a future where agents carry pieces of us, including quirks, preferences, and even biases, into every exchange.<h3 id="why-this-matters">Why This Matters</h3>This is why nondeterminism is not a flaw but the feature. Deterministic systems did not need personalization. There was only one output. Nondeterministic systems can go in many directions, and personalization is what prevents chaos.The best metaphor I know is jazz. Musicians improvising do not know exactly where the others will go. They adapt, they respond, they personalize their playing to the group. The music works not because it is scripted but because the players trust each other enough to bend and flex.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/seizing-the-agentic-ai-advantage">McKinsey has argued</a> that this adaptability is the defining advantage of agentic AI. From what I have seen in publishing systems, SaaS cost optimization, and large-scale CMS migrations, I agree. The resilience comes not from rigid plans but from the ability to adapt in context.<h3 id="what-leaders-should-prepare-for">What Leaders Should Prepare For</h3>Leaders should focus on their readiness in key areas. For example, trust frameworks must extend beyond human-agent interactions into agent-to-agent ecosystems. Standards cannot stay as fixed APIs; they need flexibility built in. Identity management has to protect personality profiles and alter egos from misuse. And agents must be able to remember not just what they did for us, but how they worked with others.<h3 id="the-future-of-personalization">The Future of Personalization</h3>Personalization started with content. It evolved into experiences. Now, it is moving into interactions – first with humans and then with other agents.If we get this right, nondeterminism will not be something to suppress. It will be the source of resilience, adaptability, and creativity. The companies that thrive will not just personalize their websites. They will personalize their agents. Those agents will adapt to us, and to each other, in ways that reflect who we are or even who we choose to be.And like humans, they will remember. First impressions will matter. Grudges may form. And relationships between agents will start to look a lot like relationships between people. <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:31.61%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/storyblok-joyconf-2025-logo.jpg" /><h4 id="storyblok-joyconf-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Storyblok JoyConf 2025</a></h4>October 14-15, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands November 4, 2025 – New York, NY November 6, 2025 – Los Angeles, CAJoin us at JoyConf 2025, where the future of content meets the people shaping it. Built for developers, marketers, and digital innovators, this free conference goes way beyond product updates or yet another strategy playbook. It’s where you’ll get inspired, get real, and get connected – to ideas, to the community, and to what’s possible when you build joyfully. Whether you're building lightning-fast frontends or launching cross-channel campaigns, this is where content becomes connection and collaboration becomes second nature. Come for the talks. Stay for the community. Leave with joy. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Save your spot.</a> <img style="width:28.9%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/sitecore-symposium-2025.jpg" /><h4 id="sitecore-symposium-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Sitecore Symposium 2025</a></h4>November 3-5, 2025 – Orlando, FLAt Sitecore Symposium, you’ll learn how to meet your customers where they are – across channels, moments, and touchpoints that didn’t exist a year ago. You’ll hear how the boldest brands in the world are transforming content into outcomes and creating experiences that are fast, relevant, and human. Join 1,500 marketers, digital leaders, and technologists in Orlando to see what’s possible when personalization scales, AI accelerates creativity, and trust becomes your competitive edge. This is the Third Wave of the Internet. And this is your moment to lead in it. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Get your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:31.44%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/cms-kickoff-2026-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">CMS Kickoff 2026</a></h4>January 13-14, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FLMeet industry leaders at our fourth annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global CMS event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">so secure your tickets today.</a>

Agent-to-Agent Personalization: Trust, First Impressions, and the 'Grudge' Factor

andycohen

A new version of MODX Evolution has been released. Version 1.0.13 brings with it over 100 fixes and improvements to the popular open source CMS.
For those running older versions, it's highly recommended that you update as soon as possible to take advantage of the many improvements and fixes available in this release.
Here are the highlights of the 1.0.13 release:
<ul>
<li>KCFinder – change uploaded image/file names with TransAlias</li>
<li>ManagerManager updated up to 0.6.1</li>
<li>Updated API functions: clearCache, now you can call it with parameter full ($modx-&gt;clearCache(‘full');)</li>
<li>Updated API functions: getDocuments, getTemplateVars, getTemplateVarOutput, getDocumentChildren, getDocumentChildrenTVarOutput, you can call getDocumentChildren with parameter all for view all documents (not only published or unpublished, and the same with deleted)</li>
<li>Updated Wayfinder to 2.0.2 (available document specific placeholders [+pagetitle+], [+longtitle+] etc.; fixed work of @INHERIT for custom TVs)</li>
<li>Managers with role = 1 can see all documents in manager panel and in front-end (in earlier versions documents with restrictions to special groups could not be seen by those manager users)</li>
<li>Added API function: $modx-&gt;parseText()</li>
<li>Added document ID to title during editing document, also added to QM+</li>
<li>Breadcrumbs 1.0.4 (you can exclude documents with the specified templates)</li>
<li>phpthumb 1.2 (if images on page processed already, phpthumb class will not included)</li>
<li>eForm 1.4.5 (added parameters: &amp;attachmentFields/&amp;attachmentPath)</li>
<li>FirstChildRedirect 2.0 (added parameters: &amp;default, &amp;sortBy, &amp;sortDir, &amp;responseCode)</li>
</ul>
For more information, check out the <a href="https://raw.github.com/modxcms/evolution/v1.0.13/install/changelog.txt">complete list of changes in the changelog.txt</a>
To learn more about MODX, visit <a href="/products/modx/">their listing</a> in our <a href="/products/">CMS Products</a> directory

MODX Evolution 1.0.13 Brings Over 100 Fixes and Improvements

mike-johnston

The award-winning marketing solution provider DNN, today released the latest version of Evoq Social, an <a href="http://www.dnnsoftware.com/solutions/evoq-social-online-community-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">online community solution</a> that enables businesses to create immersive and interactive online communities.
DNN  powers hundreds of thousands of websites and a large number of communities worldwide, offering a suite of solutions that make designing, building and managing feature-rich sites and communities fast, easy and cost-effective. The DNN Platform CMS is the foundation for over 800,000 websites worldwide and powers <a href="http://www.dnnsoftware.com/solutions/evoq-content-management-system" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Evoq Content</a>.
Supporting communities in over 30 countries around the world, DNN know a thing or two about successful community building. Nearly 63 percent of its users are deemed very active, and more than 8,000 new members sign up per month.
This new version of Evoq Social boasts an enhanced set of features and options for deploying social groups, encouraging conversations and enhancing collaboration. So, let's take a quick look at what's new.
<h2>Group Spaces, Group Directory &amp; Easier Blog Authoring</h2>
First of all, Evoq Social’s group capabilities have been enhanced. Now called “Group Spaces”, this feature provides more tools for group owners, community managers and administrators to help members discover new groups, along with ways to invite new members via notifications or email.
A brand new “Group Directory” allows groups to be quickly and easily searched, created, tagged and moderated similar to other Evoq Social features and is tightly integrated with Evoq Social’s gaming mechanics engine.
Evoq Social also provides a simplified community manager experience, giving additional insight into how community members are contributing with answers and ideas.
Furthermore, DNN has streamlined the platform’s blog authoring capabilities, allowing users to create even more compelling content to be shared on social networks. Evoq Social also features the ability for unauthenticated users to easily post a comment without the need for login or account registration, making the platform even more socially inclusive.
<h2>Responding to Customer Feedback &amp; A New Trialling System</h2>
Regarding the release of these new features, Will Morgenweck, DNN vice president, had this to say:
<blockquote>“Our new Group Spaces and Group Directory capabilities are the result of feedback from our customers, who told us they wanted to organize content and conversation within particular groups of users. Groups Spaces will facilitate these focused interactions. At the same time, we’ve made it easier for users to discover new groups they can join to collaborate with like-minded peers.”</blockquote>
In addition to launching the latest release of Evoq Social, DNN have also deployed a new and simplified trial experience. Users interested in Evoq Social can launch a free trial of the product, directly from the DNN website.
In the new trial experience, users will be able to spin up and configure the basic elements of an online community in no more than five minutes. To test the platform out, sign up for a  <a href="http://www.dnnsoftware.com/evoq-social-free-trial" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> free Evoq Social trial today</a>.
To find out more about DNN Evoq Social, check out their <a href="http://www.dnnsoftware.com/solutions/evoq-social-online-community-management" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> official website</a>.
Additionally, you can get to grips with the <a href="/products/dnn-evoq-social/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> DNN Platform via our CMS Directory</a>.

DNN Evoq Social Receives New Features to Enhance Online Community Engagement

During my <a href="/my-visit-to-magnolias-offices-in-basel-switzerland/">recent visit to the Magnolia CMS Headquarters in Basel, Switzerland</a>, I was given the opportunity to sit down and have a (lengthy but informative) chat with Boris Kraft, CTO and CoFounder of Magnolia CMS.I promise, there will be some solid video interviews coming soon where you'll actually be able to see us chat but due to unforeseen circumstances (a camera that broke while we were in Paris), I had simply a microphone and a laptop available. I turned our interview into a video just to make it easier for everyone to be able to listen.While it is a lengthy interview, I think you'll find our discussion interesting. It shows the passion that Boris has for his product and I found the entire chat quite informative and interesting. I hope you feel the same way after listening to it.http://youtu.be/a2enpJmSLogFor more info on Magnolia, visit the <a href="/products/magnolia">Magnolia CMS</a> page in our CMS Product Directory.

Interview with Boris Kraft, CTO and CoFounder of Magnolia CMS

Sometimes a seemingly simple CMS is only simple when it comes to the simple stuff.
But when it comes to actually modifying front-end elements and responding to mobile devices and third-party tools, many fall short in their simplicity.
<a href="http://www.surrealcms.com" target="_blank"> Surreal CMS</a>, however, is aiming to be one of the few exceptions.
Their user-friendly ethos seems to emanate from every feature, with usability in mind for an experience that is trying to be, well – simple.
<h2>Inline Editing &amp; Touch-friendly UI</h2>
Surreal CMS is geared towards users looking for a straightforward content management system, and it illustrates this brilliantly with an invitation for visitors to edit some text on their homepage.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/11111.png" alt="Surreal CMS Inline Editing" /> 
This inline editing feature found within Surreal CMS is perfect for those who are new to website design and modification. After all, pointing, clicking, editing and saving just makes a whole lot of sense.
The friendly website editing doesn't stop there though. Surreal CMS boasts a responsive, touch-friendly UI, allowing users to make changes to their web pages from tablet and mobile devices.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/responsive.png" alt="Surreal CMS Responsive" />
<h2>Multi-site Management, Easy Integration Options &amp; More</h2>
Surreal CMS has more to offer than just a pretty face though. There's also a fair bit of functionality and flexibility to be found.
For example, the platform allows you to manage a number of sites from one place, even if you have multiple hosting providers.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sites_1.png" alt="Surreal CMS Site Manager" /> 
Furthermore, Surreal CMS can connect to any site using FTP, SFTP, and even Amazon S3. That means there is no need to make special arrangements to accommodate the platform. It just works.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ftp.png" alt="Surreal CMS FTP SMPT " /> 
Additional features include built-in analytics, photo galleries, file management, and more. To dig a little deeper, take a quick look at their <a href="http://www.surrealcms.com/features" target="_blank"> features page</a>.
<h2>A CMS With a Friendly Face</h2>
One other thing I noticed about Surreal CMS, is its friendliness. Not only was it presenting features which almost anybody can make use of, but it did it with some charm – and that's worth praise.
Far too many content management systems get lost in their jargon and sleek website design to offer up any personality. Surreal CMS on the other hand, keeps it cool and casual.
Just check out their <a href="http://www.surrealcms.com/pricing" target="_blank">prices page</a> for example. Their platform is an ideal solution for website designers looking to streamline their tasks and earn via a platformlike Surreal, and so Surreal CMS go out of their way to explain how best to do this.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/2222.png" alt="Surreal CMS Pricing" /> 
Their website layout, copy and even the green Alien mascot found throughout their imagery and icons helps to maintain a friendly, helpful atmosphere. They even offer up a discount to non-profit organizations.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/3.png" alt="Surreal CMS Offer" />
To find out more about Surreal CMS, check out their <a href="http://www.surrealcms.com/" target="_blank">official website</a>.
Additionally, explore some more of the features on offer from <a href="/products/surreal-cms/" target="_blank">Surreal CMS via our CMS Directory</a>.

Surreal CMS: a Straightforward Platform With a Friendly Face

BlackMonk CMS Review

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

Call Tracking + AI 

Call Tracking + AI that Turns Calls into Leads

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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

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.

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