I have designed my first website for the client (woohoo). My question is, I did it all through notepad++ and uploaded it via filezilla. The client would like to be able to edit the website's content, what is the best way they can do this?? Thanks in advance

I have designed my first website for the client (woohoo). My question is, I did it all through notepad++ and uploaded it via filezilla. The client would like to be able to edit the website's content, what is the best way they can do this?? Thanks in advance

Really, this should have been built using a CMS (WordPress, Drupal etc) as you now run the risk of the client editing the main files that hold this site together.

 

Did the client not mention this in your meeting/brief and was it not put in the contract?

Really, this should have been built using a CMS (WordPress, Drupal etc) as you now run the risk of the client editing the main files that hold this site together.

 

Did the client not mention this in your meeting/brief and was it not put in the contract?

 

Well, client being a good family friend. I suppose this would be a mistake on my part, but as it is my first website it's a mistake I can make once and not again.

 

I'm not too worried about the website, I think the only thing they will want to change is possible wording on the website, and I've said if they want to add extra content that they should have me do it.

 

I have only had experience with uploading using filezilla and don't know anything about CMS in all honesty.

The uploading part really makes no difference to this issue as if it was a CMS you may still upload it with FTP. The options are they just ask you to make the changes or they learn how to access and change the pages and unless they are techsavy and you trust they wont break I wouldn't want them doing that.

 

Most business just pay for updates or as said use a CMS but then again some wouldn't even be able to manage that. As it's just a few changes I personally wouldn't use CMS.

We are all different, but I now consider myself a primary wordpress user. I have a client in the pipeline atm and they want a basic 3 page site, now most people would just design a site, and develop it, however I have learnt from the past clients can be tricky people, they may want stuff adding or extra pages (and as such extra navigation adding) etc, so now I do it all in wordpress, then that way, its much easier for any later additions to be done.

 

Of course, we are all different, I just find the wordpress route a much less stressful way of doing things.

 

edit:

to answer your question, you will have to teach them how to open, and edit, and upload.

Edited April 26, 201214 yr by jamesosix

Ok, thank you both.

 

Is it possible to put the website on something like wordpress or joomla after it's on the server/been designed without one of these programs?

 

I've got another website for a pub in the pipeline, should I start using a CMS for good practice?

Edited April 26, 201214 yr by Sector9

You have to weigh up the cost between the client (your family members) making changes and showing them how to etc, and ease of use etc.

 

The way I described my habits above, is just my way of doing things, however maybe for your next client (a pub?) then depending on the clients needs, 9 times out of ten I find using wordpress prevents a lot of problems later on (like I said, if the client decides he wants extra pages, or whatever adding).

Edited April 26, 201214 yr by jamesosix

You have to weigh up the cost between the client (your family members) making changes and showing them how to etc, and ease of use etc.

 

The way I described my habits above, is just my way of doing things, however maybe for your next client (a pub?) then depending on the clients needs, 9 times out of ten I find using wordpress prevents a lot of problems later on (like I said, if the client decides he wants extra pages, or whatever adding).

 

 

Thanks, that's a great help. I'm happy to do all the changes for them, so will probably just leave it as it is rather than trying to migrate it to wordpress (just read an article on that, and it looks extremely longwinded).

 

 

article: http://www.wealthydragon.com/2011/12/01/convert-html-website-to-wordpress-process/

yeah it would be quite an effort.

 

Also, designing for wordpress is...different. I tend to just "re-skin" sites, if they are on wordpress, or use sites like themeforest which offer some fantastic wordpress themes for a fairly decent price.

 

Best of luck

 

p.s. you going to brave it and show us your first site?

Converting a static HTML site to WordPress really isn't that difficult. I would imagine you are already keeping your header, footer and sidebar (if you have one) sections seperate to your actual page content anyway (ssi includes), and that is basically the idea of WordPress.

 

If your client wants/needs to be able to update the content without involving you, or another designer, then a CMS is really the only way to go. There is so much that can go wrong if they have access to all the core files of the site, not to mention the issues you could encounter if they have ftp access.

 

Try http://www.onextrapixel.com/2011/03/08/how-to-code-a-wordpress-3-0-theme-from-scratch/ and bare in mind you will only really need a header, index, footer and style.css for the most basic site.