JiscMail Logo
Email discussion lists for the UK Education and Research communities

Help for MCG Archives


MCG Archives

MCG Archives


MCG@JISCMAIL.AC.UK


View:

Message:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Topic:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

By Author:

[

First

|

Previous

|

Next

|

Last

]

Font:

Proportional Font

LISTSERV Archives

LISTSERV Archives

MCG Home

MCG Home

MCG  June 2018

MCG June 2018

Options

Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Log In

Log In

Get Password

Get Password

Subject:

Re: Sharepoint vs. Wordpress

From:

Ben Rubinstein <[log in to unmask]>

Reply-To:

Museums Computer Group <[log in to unmask]>

Date:

Tue, 12 Jun 2018 20:29:34 +0100

Content-Type:

text/plain

Parts/Attachments:

Parts/Attachments

text/plain (542 lines)

Hi Megan,

I'll certainly endorse everyone else's view that Drupal or Wordpress - or 
almost anything else! - would be preferable to Sharepoint.

But a more radical option that you might want to consider is not having a 
custom built site - albeit built on a 'standard' CMS framework - at all, but 
instead using a hosted template-able system, something like Squarespace.

This won't give you the infinite flexibility of a something built in a CMS 
framework, but would certainly accommodate your current site, and of the 
integrations you mention, online shop and ticketing should be straightforward.

Commissioning an external agency to customise and theme a Squarespace (e.g.) 
site would almost certainly be a _lot_ cheaper than commissioning a full 
external build; and in addition to the saving on the 'capital' build cost, 
you'd get an ongoing saving on maintenance - as Dave mentions, Drupal, 
Wordpress et al need looking after, so having that maintenance taken care of 
by a dedicated team and rolled into the hosting fee makes a considerable 
difference to the ongoing budget. This is especially important if you were 
going to commission a site with e-commerce functionality. (Unless your IT 
department are already comfortable with supporting Drupal, Wordpress, ModX, 
Joomla or whatever - and if they are with one of those, that's probably a very 
compelling reason to choose that one if you don't go for this idea.)

The one item that I expect wouldn't be simple with this option would be the 
online collection. I imagine (without knowing anything about it!) that it 
would be possible, but it would certainly involve some custom development. But 
again, still likely a lot cheaper overall; and depending on your timelines, 
you could proceed iteratively.

There, I've said it! I certainly think you should look at 
Drupal/Wordpress/etc; but you should consider something like Squarespace as a 
reference alternative.

Hope this helps,

Ben

On 12/06/2018 17:03, Dave Wade wrote:
> My only issue with popular CMSs like Drupal, Joomla and WordPress is that 
> being common they are targets for hacking and must be kept up to date.  It's 
> no good saying we are obscure we won't be a target, everyone is a target. The 
> hackers just want a web site to leverage and have scripts that scan just 
> looking for holes. So you also need a backup and recovery strategy, for when 
> it does get hacked.
> 
> Make sure you have the resources to cope with these requirements.
> 
> As for making stuff available, I rather like the features of Drupal. It has 
> some features that IMHO lend themselves to Museum data. I have used it to 
> catalogue my local radio club library and found it flexible with the way you 
> could build filtered sorted views of objects. You can probably do the same in 
> WordPress or Joomla but I think it might be more fiddly.
> 
> In fact given the wide availability of all three I would perhaps build three 
> prototypes just to see how things worked in each.
> 
> If you already have an in house system like modes, you may also wish to look 
> at the import/export features in your chosen CMS as that might help you you 
> quickly generate content.
> 
> Dave Wade
> Museum volunteer who look after a couple of small community web sites, but who 
> is share point trained and could never see any business value in it.....
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Tue, 12 Jun 2018, 17:31 Kevin Bacon, 
> <[log in to unmask] 
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
> 
>     Hello Megan,____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     At Royal Pavilion & Museums we also used to run a Sharepoint website. I’d
>     agree with all the comments previously made – even simple page edits could
>     feel like trying to defuse a bomb.____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     We switched to a Wordpress site back in 2015, and it was a huge
>     improvement. Much cheaper to develop and maintain, and it’s very easy to
>     train a wider group of staff to use it.____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     As we’re also a local authority museums service, I’d happy to share costs
>     and other data off-list that might help you persuade the Council to
>     switch. ____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Cheers, ____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Kevin____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Kevin Bacon____
> 
>     Digital Manager____
> 
>     Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     4-5 Pavilion Buildings____
> 
>     Brighton____
> 
>     BN1 1EE____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Tel: 01273 292817____
> 
>     Email: [log in to unmask]
>     <mailto:[log in to unmask]>____
> 
>     Web: http://brightonmuseums.org.uk <http://brightonmuseums.org.uk/>____
> 
>     Become a Member and help us conserve our unique cultural heritage and
>     receive some great benefits:
>     http://brightonmuseums.org.uk/discover/get-involved/join-us/____
> 
>     Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/royalpavilionandbrightonmuseums____
> 
>     | Twitter: @BrightonMuseums www.twitter.com/brightonmuseums
>     <http://www.twitter.com/brightonmuseums> |____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     *From:*Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]
>     <mailto:[log in to unmask]>] *On Behalf Of *Linda Ellis
>     *Sent:* 12 June 2018 16:19
>     *To:* [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>     *Subject:* Re: [MCG] Sharepoint vs. Wordpress____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     When I worked for Wolverhampton City Council we won the argument of why we
>     needed to have a website that wasn't on the council's cms because we
>     wanted to put our collections online, the council's cms couldn't support
>     that and so we got approval.  Had to make the case for why we wanted to
>     put collections online (widening / improving access etc, etc) but it was
>     relatively straight forward to argue the case.____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Later on we wanted to do partnership working with other museums and
>     archives nearby and having our own website made it so much easier for us.____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Linda Ellis____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     On 12 June 2018 at 16:03, Mike Ellis <[log in to unmask]
>     <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:____
> 
>     Hi ____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Don’t, whatever you do, use SharePoint in this role if you can avoid it ____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Fundamental reasons:____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     - it’s awful for editors. Absolutely awful. And if there is any point at
>     all in having a CMS’d website, it’s “to make things easier for editors”.____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     - it’ll be tragically and hugely expensive. Even if you apparently have
>     internal resource, you’ll find the normal “you’re just not a priority”
>     responses from the IT dept 6 months down the line. If you ever look to
>     outsource this, you’ll more than likely find SharePoint developers at
>     about £1500 a day.____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     - you’ll never own it - JO’s point about it not being O/S is fairly
>     critical____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     - you just can’t start small and build up. WordPress is brilliant at this,
>     and in fact you’ll probably find the same with mature made-for-purpose O/S
>     content management systems ____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     - same as above really, but there will come a day when you’ll need a shop,
>     or ticketing, or a calendar or whatever - and being in a position where
>     you can approach an open market and ask those questions is going to be
>     really important.____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Website costs: I’ll email you off-list. So much “it depends” (my facetious
>     answer is: “how much is a house?”) - but basically it’ll depend on 1)
>     complexity of design, 2) technical integration and 3) amount of (and
>     complexity of) content that needs to be migrated.____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     cheers____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Mike____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     ps { In fact, in my humble opinion, don’t use SharePoint in *any* role… if
>     you absolutely have to AND you’ve got resource AND support AND knowledge
>     internally AND budget to keep it going AND are ok with something with a
>     dogs-arse user interface…. then it’ll make an OK-ish document repository,
>     and it’s integration with Office is quite clever at times.…but really,
>     just don’t. }____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     _________________
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Mike Ellis____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Thirty8 Digital: a small but perfectly formed digital agency____
> 
>     http://thirty8.co.uk <http://thirty8.co.uk/>____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     ** NEW: http://wpformuseums.com <http://wpformuseums.com/> for people
>     using WordPress in museums **____
> 
>     ** Workshops, courses and free downloads: http://trainingdigital.co.uk
>     <http://trainingdigital.co.uk/> **____
> 
>     On 12 Jun 2018, 15:52 +0100, Jeremy Ottevanger <[log in to unmask]
>     <mailto:[log in to unmask]>>, wrote:
> 
>     ____
> 
>     Hi,____
> 
>     Tragically SharePoint was, in fact, built to be a CMS - at least,
>     Microsoft's CMS 2002 was integrated into/replaced by SharePoint 2007
>     (IIRC) which was supposed to be able to do the same job and serve as a CMS
>     as well as a document managment system. But Dee is right, it sucks at that
>     job, or it certainly did when I last looked at it. Whilst you can develop
>     your own code around it, it's not open source and that will always limit
>     what you can do. At least as importantly, but not unrelated, the community
>     of developers around it is nothing compared to that which you can call on
>     to develop the well-known open source CMSes like WordPress and Drupal. You
>     can always find a new developer to help you rather. That same community
>     also means that there is a galaxy of plugins/modules/themes/skins
>     available for free, which will give you a massive leg-up.____
> 
>     There are many open source CMS beyondWordPress and Drupal, but the former
>     would be a really sensible first stop. You will find candidate plugins for
>     all that you want to achieve, but if you want to do something different
>     you'll find plenty of people who can develop it for you, including on this
>     very list. Plus hosting is pretty cheap and again with loads of options.____
> 
>     Good luck!
> 
>     Jeremy ____
> 
>     Dr Jeremy Ottevanger____
> 
>     Director, Sesamoid Consulting Limited____
> 
>     __  __
> 
>     t: +44(0)1787 475 487____
> 
>     m: +44(0)7865 887 887____
> 
>     e:[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>____
> 
>     twitter: @jottevanger____
> 
>     LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-ottevanger
>     <http://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-ottevanger>____
> 
>     On 12/06/2018 15:17, Jones, Megan wrote:____
> 
>         Hi Dee,____
> 
>         ____
> 
>         Just Museums and Galleries! We don’t want a hugely drastic change to
>         our (pretty straightforward) site map, just looking for a much more
>         user friendly/better looking solution that allows us to integrate
>         things like an online shop, ticketing, collections online – which the
>         version of Sharepoint that the council is currently using doesn’t
>         allow us to do.____
> 
>         ____
> 
>         Desperate times!____
> 
>         ____
> 
>         Cheers,____
> 
>         ____
> 
>         Megan____
> 
>         ____
> 
>         *From:*Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On Behalf
>         Of* Nadine Ishani
>         *Sent:* 12 June 2018 15:08
>         *To:* [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>         *Subject:* Re: Sharepoint vs. Wordpress____
> 
>         ____
> 
>         Hi Megan,____
> 
>         ____
> 
>         Do you mean the whole council website or just museums and galleries?____
> 
>         ____
> 
>         Sharepoint wasn't built to be a CMS (although people do use it as
>         such) but whether Wordpress is suitable or not depends on the scale of
>         the project IMO.____
> 
>         ____
> 
>         Dee____
> 
>         Sent from my iPhone____
> 
> 
>         On 12 Jun 2018, at 14:47, Jones, Megan
>         <[log in to unmask]
>         <mailto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:____
> 
>             Hi everyone,____
> 
>             ____
> 
>             We’re currently using Sharepoint as our content management system
>             (as the council’s internal platform of choice) but we’ve been
>             building a case for a while to have our website redeveloped
>             externally in something more widely used, like Wordpress.____
> 
>             ____
> 
>             To help with our case, it would be great to have:____
> 
>             ____
> 
>             1.opinions on both platforms and which is better (in terms of ease
>             of use for admins, user experience, price etc)____
> 
>             2.anyone who has experienced the same transition or has recently
>             gone through a website redevelopment to Wordpress and feels
>             generous enough to give me a hint as to how much it cost.____
> 
>             ____
> 
>             We’ve done all the research we can do, but having opinions and
>             examples from others in the field would be great.____
> 
>             ____
> 
>             Huge thanks in advance!____
> 
>             ____
> 
>             Megan____
> 
>             ____
> 
>             Megan Jones____
> 
>             Digital Engagement Officer____
> 
>             Leeds Museums and Galleries____
> 
>             www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries
>             <http://www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries>____
> 
>             Twitter @LeedsMuseums <https://twitter.com/LeedsMuseums>/ Facebook
>             @LeedsMuseumsandGalleries
>             <https://www.facebook.com/LeedsMuseumsandGalleries/>
>             Postal Address: Leeds Discovery Centre, Carlisle Road, Leeds, LS10
>             1LB____
> 
>             **____
> 
>             ____
> 
>             ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>             The information in this email (and any attachment) may be for the
>             intended recipient only. If you know you are not the intended
>             recipient, please do not use or disclose the information in any
>             way and please delete this email (and any attachment) from your
>             system.____
> 
>             The Council does not accept service of legal documents by e-mail.____
> 
>             ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>             ____
> 
>             ____
> 
>             ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>             To unsubscribe from the MCG list, click the following link:
>             https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MCG&A=1____
> 
>         ____
> 
>         ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>         To unsubscribe from the MCG list, click the following link:
>         https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MCG&A=1____
> 
>         __ __
> 
>         ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>         To unsubscribe from the MCG list, click the following link:
>         https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MCG&A=1____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>     To unsubscribe from the MCG list, click the following link:
>     https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MCG&A=1____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>     To unsubscribe from the MCG list, click the following link:
>     https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MCG&A=1 ____
> 
> 
> 
> 
>     -- ____
> 
>     Dr Linda Ellis____
> 
>     Project Manager____
> 
>     Orangeleaf Systems Ltd
>     1 – 2 Barker Street
>     Shrewsbury
>     SY1 1SB____
> 
>     Tel:  01743 352000____
> 
>     http://www.orangeleaf.com____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     Please note I only work part time. I am generally in our Shrewsbury office
>     on Wednesdays 9am - 4pm.  I check my emails regularly throughout the week
>     and will get back to you as quickly as I can.____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     _Privacy and Confidentiality Notice_
>     The information contained in this email message is intended only for the
>     named person, firm or company to whom it is addressed.  Such information may
>     be confidential and privileged and no mistake in transmission is intended to
>     waive or compromise any such privilege. If you have received it in error
>     please destroy it and notify us on the address shown.____
> 
>     __ __
> 
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>     To unsubscribe from the MCG list, click the following link:
>     https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MCG&A=1 ____
> 
>     Notice to recipient:
>     The information contained in this electronic mail message is intended only
>     for the use of the individual to whom it is addressed
>     and may contain information which is privileged and confidential, the
>     disclosure of which is prohibited by law.
>     If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, please note
>     that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this
>     communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
>     communication in error please notify the sender immediately.
>     Thank you in anticipation of your co-operation.
> 
>     You can visit our website at http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk
> 
>     Please consider the environment, only print out this email if absolutely
>     necessary.
> 
>     Please Note:  Both incoming and outgoing Emails may be monitored and/or
>     recorded in line with current legislation
> 
> 
>     ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
>     To unsubscribe from the MCG list, click the following link:
>     https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MCG&A=1
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> To unsubscribe from the MCG list, click the following link:
> https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/webadmin?SUBED1=MCG&A=1
> 

****************************************************************
       website:  http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/
       Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg
      Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup
 [un]subscribe:  http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/
****************************************************************

Top of Message | Previous Page | Permalink

JiscMail Tools


RSS Feeds and Sharing


Advanced Options


Archives

May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998


JiscMail is a Jisc service.

View our service policies at https://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/policyandsecurity/ and Jisc's privacy policy at https://www.jisc.ac.uk/website/privacy-notice

For help and support help@jisc.ac.uk

Secured by F-Secure Anti-Virus CataList Email List Search Powered by the LISTSERV Email List Manager