I love WordPress, and I’m going to use it as an example in this article.  The general points and theories will apply to CMSs in general.

Let’s get something out of the way up front: Yes, it’s going to cost you more to pay the designer to implement WordPress off the bat.  A static HTML site that requires a producer to make any changes or maintenance is going to be cheaper at first.  That will work fine if you don’t plan on updating your website very often, or adding dynamic content like polls and comment systems.  Some clients just don’t need a CMS.  Most do.

Let’s say you decide on the static HTML site.  No problem, it’s easier for me to implement and code for anyway.  Some research, content development, site development, mock ups, implementation, annnnd we’re done.  The finished product is online, your customers love it, you get compliments from your friends on your flashy new website– all is well.

But wait, you want to update the news section, or add a new press release proclaiming how great your new site is!  So you shoot me an email with a draft.  I get the email, finish what I’m working on until I get to your job, implement the page, upload it, and shoot you a bill for my time.  You see a sentence you forgot to add, or a link that wasn’t initially in the copy you sent me originally and the process repeats: you shoot me another email, I finish whatever else I’m working on, get to your request, complete it and bill you.  This process might take half an hour, or it might take days.  For some clients this is great!  They don’t have to worry about sweating to get the new content up.  They’re paying for the convenience.  Hey, thanks!  I appreciate the business, and love working with your site.

There is another way.  You could decide at 9:02am on Monday morning that you need a news item for the important company change over the weekend and have it published and live on your site by 9:05am. All by yourself.  For free.  Then when you want to edit your content, it will take you even less time– and will be free again.  The hardest part is finding the sticky note with your user name and password on it.

The same goes for content on static pages… updating your “About” section might take you minutes, or adding a new link to your sidebar, or even an entirely new content section.  It takes about as much technical know-how as sending an email or using Microsoft Word.

This is the beauty of content management systems.  You have so much control at your fingertips through the powerful backend of the CMS that you totally cut out having to pay a designer unless you want to make major site changes.  Obviously if you make updates often and don’t want to enter into a service contract or maitenance agreement, this is a much cheaper alternative.