Guys,

 

Our IT department are trying to force SharePoint onto us. Basically we have a busy website that lets clients do deals and submit business to us. It has always been run by IT and Marketing have never been able to get their hands on it to update content and design. We want the forms and technical areas to be controlled by IT and then everything else controlled by Marketing and the design team.

 

In comes SharePoint 2007. As the applications that the clients use are in ASP/.net etc, they are rebuilding the current site (like for like) in SharePoint so that Marketing can be given permissions to change text, add pages, things like that.

 

Now I like to think I know a little about Content Management Systems, considering we are paying well into the thousands for this like for like SharePoint build, am I right in thinking we would have been better off getting a Bespoke one made for us? One that gives IT the access they need and Marketing the permissions we should be allowed?

 

Has anyone had any experience with SharePoint 2007, is it even used as a websites CMS, my understanding was that it is always used internally for businesses??

 

help!

Has anyone had any experience with SharePoint 2007, is it even used as a websites CMS, my understanding was that it is always used internally for businesses??

 

help!

 

The last company I worked at used Sharepoint internally, but like you, not a big fan myself. I've only ever come across one or two publicly facing sites that use SP, and it's pretty obvious. Take a look at wssdemo.com for some examples...

The last company I worked at used Sharepoint internally, but like you, not a big fan myself. I've only ever come across one or two publicly facing sites that use SP, and it's pretty obvious. Take a look at wssdemo.com for some examples...

 

Thanks for the examples, it sort of confirms that there is a huge limit to design when using SharePoint as a CMS. Bad times.

Thanks for the examples, it sort of confirms that there is a huge limit to design when using SharePoint as a CMS. Bad times.

 

I'm going to do a pitch for a new job to a company that is using Sharepoint next week. I had no idea it can be used to build web sites. Do you have any idea what's involved? I'm guessing it doesn't come in a version for Mac!

I've got to say, Sharepoint is just about the most fully featured and well supported CMS you are likely to find. It is brilliant, and a totally mind blowing product. Go and see a pro demo of it, and I'm sure you will be blown away.

 

A major point...don't go 2007. the upgrade path to 2010 is a nightmare, so you really should be looking at 2010.

 

If you have a situation where you want your marketting people, or any other department to be able to manage their own subsection of the website, then sharepoint is ideal. It can integrate with things like oracle, sql, exchange, etc and create a custom interface on a per user basis.

 

On the flip side...it's complex....my god, its complex. You almost need a dedicated person to manage it. Be very careful before delving in, because if you get your sharepoint setup wrong from day one you are going to have a world of trouble in the future. If your' new to it, hire a consultant.

I've got to say, Sharepoint is just about the most fully featured and well supported CMS you are likely to find...

 

On the flip side...it's complex....my god, its complex. You almost need a dedicated person to manage it. Be very careful before delving in, because if you get your sharepoint setup wrong from day one you are going to have a world of trouble in the future. If your' new to it, hire a consultant.

 

That's interesting, thanks. I suppose if an organisation already uses Sharepoint, a website built on the platform would have it's advantages. I've often been in situations similar to Daz when the IT department has the role of looking after the corporate website because it's to do with computers. And I think this might be one of those.