Need suggestions on CMS

Hi,

When a client uses the mis-uses the CMS on their website abd ends up making the whole site 'ugly', what can the designer do especially if his/her name is listed on the site credits?

Even when the designer suggests that the client should hire him to do the maintenance, they refuse!

Need suggestions please.

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http://www.mauconline.net

It's a tricky one this. Some would say that the designer should have locked the CMS down more effectively so that the client couldn't destroy the work, but that's bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted, so to speak.

So, other than prevention, as I see it you have a few options:

1) Try to make the client see they're making it ugly, and make suggestions to improve it. Tact and diplomacy needed here, along with understanding on your part about what they're trying to do and why.

2) Persuade them to pay for training so that you can teach them the basics of how the site works and how it should look.

3) Let them destroy it and take your name off the site.

Any other suggestions, anyone?

Simon




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http://www.PageKits.com
Professional Website Templates

Hi Simon,

Thanks for your suggestions.

Options 1 & 2 have been tried, only for the client to think the designer was only out to get more money from them!

Is it wise for web developers to offer CMS sites to clients and what would be the best way to offer same so as to avoid this type of messy situation?

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http://www.mauconline.net

So what's happening? Have they got access to the actual templates, or are they managing to break it solely through adding inappropriate images and type styles to content?

I think you have to give clients a CMS if they want it, but I would try to avoid giving them access to the templates. Also, when you hand the site over, it's worth giving them a style guide to go with it I think, so that they can refer to it when making changes.

Simon

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ELATED : )
http://www.PageKits.com
Professional Website Templates

I like the idea of giving them a style guide.

Yes they are breaking the whole thing up and the actual person doing the update has no regard for page length, just keeps the articles going forever!!

Fortunately they don't have access to the actual template.

At this point one tends to wonder if its the duty of the web developer to train the client for 'free' on same! What's the benefit to the developer here?

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http://www.mauconline.net

I don't think it's a "duty" as such, but if the site's central to your portfolio and the client's actions are damaging it it might be worth some free time just to keep it looking nice.

It might also be worth hacking the CMS to introduce pagination to those long articles!

Simon

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ELATED : )
http://www.PageKits.com
Professional Website Templates