Comments on: Post-CMS training http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/ Bits From The CMSMS Community Thu, 16 Oct 2008 02:15:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Key Things Clients Forget About When Seeking a New Website | Create Who You Are Blog http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-2935 Key Things Clients Forget About When Seeking a New Website | Create Who You Are Blog Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:24:27 +0000 http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-2935 [...] Site Maintenance. If you don’t want to have a stale site, you’re going to have to designate someone–at least once in a while–to update the site content. Will this be you, one of your employees, or your web design company? If it’s you, you’ll likely be using a content management system, or CMS. Are you trained in using these systems? Is training included in your plans and budget? Let’s be realistic: Even the easiest-to-use systems need to managed by someone, and mistakes can be made. Therefore, they will be made, unless some system is put in place to prevent this. (See Post-CMS Training.) [...] […] Site Maintenance. If you don’t want to have a stale site, you’re going to have to designate someone–at least once in a while–to update the site content. Will this be you, one of your employees, or your web design company? If it’s you, you’ll likely be using a content management system, or CMS. Are you trained in using these systems? Is training included in your plans and budget? Let’s be realistic: Even the easiest-to-use systems need to managed by someone, and mistakes can be made. Therefore, they will be made, unless some system is put in place to prevent this. (See Post-CMS Training.) […]

]]> By: Chris Burbridge http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-2934 Chris Burbridge Thu, 12 Jun 2008 17:34:01 +0000 http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-2934 This is a very, very good point. I have made the mistake of ASSUMING my clients would just "figure out" how to use a CMS before, because it was so easy for ME, and I was using the WHOLE interface, and just wanted them to learn the basics! No way! Here is another way in which undervaluing (and under-valuating!) my knowledge has cost me. The client ended up with a surprise extra task they hadn't bargained for, a learning curve--in their newbie world. Perhaps some of these should just never have been encouraged to do it themselves. Maybe I should always have the client go into a test system and try things out for a while, using REAL WORLD content--not just dummy content. Maybe I should query them on their level of technical expertise. What is their competency in Word? Have they ever used an online system? Etc. This is a very, very good point. I have made the mistake of ASSUMING my clients would just “figure out” how to use a CMS before, because it was so easy for ME, and I was using the WHOLE interface, and just wanted them to learn the basics! No way! Here is another way in which undervaluing (and under-valuating!) my knowledge has cost me. The client ended up with a surprise extra task they hadn’t bargained for, a learning curve–in their newbie world.

Perhaps some of these should just never have been encouraged to do it themselves. Maybe I should always have the client go into a test system and try things out for a while, using REAL WORLD content–not just dummy content. Maybe I should query them on their level of technical expertise. What is their competency in Word? Have they ever used an online system? Etc.

]]> By: Vin http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-527 Vin Sun, 22 Apr 2007 19:29:42 +0000 http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-527 To Tim: Tamlyn Rhodes have already posted you can simplify admin menus; or do you mean straight access to News? To Tim: Tamlyn Rhodes have already posted you can simplify admin menus; or do you mean straight access to News?

]]> By: Tim http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-457 Tim Sun, 08 Apr 2007 20:42:31 +0000 http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-457 How about a highly simplified admin menus when you log in using specific username and password. I have a client that only needs to be able to add/edit news stories and anything else seems to confuse them! How about a highly simplified admin menus when you log in using specific username and password. I have a client that only needs to be able to add/edit news stories and anything else seems to confuse them!

]]> By: Nils Brauneberger http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-445 Nils Brauneberger Sat, 07 Apr 2007 15:23:21 +0000 http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-445 We have created a very visual user-manual in German - it is more like "read & click" and works perfectly for all of our clients. It started out about 3 years ago and has been refined ever since. However I was always thinking about creating something more flexible (it is PowerPoint based), but I am not sure what format I should use then. However I think that creating a user centric manual and by customizing CMSMS to meet the users needs the whole system will become more efficient. We have created a very visual user-manual in German - it is more like “read & click” and works perfectly for all of our clients. It started out about 3 years ago and has been refined ever since. However I was always thinking about creating something more flexible (it is PowerPoint based), but I am not sure what format I should use then. However I think that creating a user centric manual and by customizing CMSMS to meet the users needs the whole system will become more efficient.

]]> By: Josh http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-404 Josh Tue, 03 Apr 2007 15:03:30 +0000 http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-404 I incorporate training on CMSMS into my project bids. I believe that it is the client's right to know how to do basic updates to their site. I have found that if my client has the knowledge that if they can edit a word doc they can update their website, it gives them peace of mind. They are somewhat in control. The big downfall is there is not currently (that I know of) a user's manual for the average joe. We work closely with my buds at www.impact-x.com and this has often been a point of discussion between us. We are very tempted to make our own user manual for the everyday person. The program is easy enough to use, people just need to learn that. I would be highly in favor of a community based user's manual. It is a must. I incorporate training on CMSMS into my project bids. I believe that it is the client’s right to know how to do basic updates to their site. I have found that if my client has the knowledge that if they can edit a word doc they can update their website, it gives them peace of mind. They are somewhat in control. The big downfall is there is not currently (that I know of) a user’s manual for the average joe. We work closely with my buds at http://www.impact-x.com and this has often been a point of discussion between us. We are very tempted to make our own user manual for the everyday person. The program is easy enough to use, people just need to learn that. I would be highly in favor of a community based user’s manual. It is a must.

]]> By: Tamlyn Rhodes http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-312 Tamlyn Rhodes Mon, 19 Mar 2007 09:51:42 +0000 http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-312 One of the things I love about CMS is that when you disable a feature it completely disappears. That makes for a much easier to use and less cluttered interface. I wrote a simple guide, much like you describe, for my clients. It's available at http://www.zenology.co.uk/articles/cms-made-simple-guide/ It's CC licensed so if anyone wants to extend/update it I'd be happy to provide the original document. One of the things I love about CMS is that when you disable a feature it completely disappears. That makes for a much easier to use and less cluttered interface. I wrote a simple guide, much like you describe, for my clients. It’s available at http://www.zenology.co.uk/articles/cms-made-simple-guide/ It’s CC licensed so if anyone wants to extend/update it I’d be happy to provide the original document.

]]> By: Vin http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-257 Vin Fri, 16 Mar 2007 22:33:20 +0000 http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-257 Yeah. The worst thing is that some hesitate to do almost ANYTHING on the computer without help, and forgetting the steps easily. But the admin panel is quite intuitive and informative - inexperienced read the menu in the centre of the screen, while experienced use the hover menu. But maybe they'll be missing that nice X button... Yeah. The worst thing is that some hesitate to do almost ANYTHING on the computer without help, and forgetting the steps easily.
But the admin panel is quite intuitive and informative - inexperienced read the menu in the centre of the screen, while experienced use the hover menu. But maybe they’ll be missing that nice X button…

]]> By: moltar http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-253 moltar Thu, 15 Mar 2007 20:58:19 +0000 http://blog.cmsmadesimple.org/2007/03/15/post-cms-training/#comment-253 Maybe we could all collaborate and write a manual in the wiki...?? Then we could just reuse the same thing for all our clients. Maybe we could all collaborate and write a manual in the wiki…?? Then we could just reuse the same thing for all our clients.

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