Web Tech

Joomla CMS

Joomla is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) for publishing web content, developed using the PHP programming language and the MySQL database management system. It is a popular choice for creating and managing dynamic websites, as it provides a wide range of features and tools for creating and managing content and a large community of developers and users who contribute to the platform.

Joomla is a level above WordPress - which is an excellent platform - and is our preferred CMS for many reasons:

1. Advanced CMS: Joomla offers a more robust content management system, allowing for more complex organization and categorization of content.
2. Flexibility: Joomla is a more flexible platform, allowing the creation of custom extensions and modules that extend the site's functionality.
3. Advanced UM: Joomla offers a more advanced user management system, allowing more granular control over user access and permissions.
4. Multi-language: Joomla has built-in support for multiple languages, making it easier to create multilingual websites.
5. Advanced SEO: Joomla includes several advanced SEO features, such as built-in support for meta tags and search-engine-friendly URLs.
6. Security: Joomla has a built-in layer that helps prevent common security vulnerabilities, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
7. Less Overhead: As a package, Joomla's backend is much smaller than WordPress's, making it potentially quicker (Speed is an essential criterion for Google SEO.
8. Accessibility: Joomla is designed to be accessible to users with disabilities, with built-in support for keyboard navigation and screen readers.
9. Scalability: Joomla can handle a large amount of traffic and content, making it a good choice for large and complex websites.
10. Cost-effective: Joomla is open-source and free, which makes it a cost-effective option for small to medium-sized businesses.

Squarespace

SquareSpace, a SAAS application, is a website building and hosting platform that allows users to create and manage their websites without coding or technical skills. It offers a variety of templates and design tools to help users create a professional-looking website and includes features such as e-commerce functionality, analytics, and integrations with social media and other third-party platforms. It is often used by small businesses, artists, and creatives to build a web presence.

Advantages of SquareSpace over WordPress:

1. Ease of use: SquareSpace is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy for anyone to create a website without any coding or technical skills.
2. Design flexibility: SquareSpace offers a wide range of customizable templates and design options, allowing users to create a unique and professional-looking website.
3. Built-in e-commerce: SquareSpace includes a built-in e-commerce platform, making it easy for users to set up an online store and sell products or services directly from their website.
4. Hosting and maintenance: SquareSpace takes care of hosting and maintenance, meaning users don't need to worry about updates, backups, or security issues.
5. SEO: SquareSpace has built-in SEO tools and analytics, making it easy for users to optimize their website for search engines and track their website's performance.
6. Mobile-responsive: SquareSpace websites are automatically mobile-responsive, ensuring the website looks great on any device.
7. Customizable: SquareSpace allows users to customize their website's layout, design, and functionality, making it easy to create a website tailored to their needs.

Shopify (SAAS)

Shopify (SAAS) is an e-commerce platform that allows individuals and businesses to create and manage an online store. It provides users with tools and features to design, customize, and manage their store, including managing inventory, processing payments, and tracking orders. Shopify also offers integrations with popular payment providers, shipping providers, and marketing tools to help businesses grow and succeed online. It is a subscription-based service, with plans starting at $29 per month.

Shopify has many advantages over self-hosted e-commerce stores:

1. Ease of setup and use: Shopify is a fully hosted platform that requires no technical knowledge or coding skills to set up and use, making it accessible for anyone to create an online store, regardless of their technical abilities.
2. Hosting and security: Shopify takes care of hosting and protection for your store, meaning you don't have to worry about maintaining servers or protecting against hacking attempts.
3. Scalability: Shopify can handle high traffic and large orders, making it an excellent option for businesses that expect to grow quickly.
4. Built-in features and integrations: Shopify offers a wide range of built-in features and integrations with popular payment gateways, shipping providers, and marketing tools, making it easy to manage all aspects of your store in one place.
5. Mobile optimization: Shopify stores are optimized for mobile devices, ensuring that customers can easily shop on the go.
6. Affordable pricing: Shopify offers various pricing plans tailored to different business needs, making it a cost-effective option for businesses of all sizes.
7. 24/7 support: Shopify offers 24/7 customer support, which can be especially helpful for global businesses.

Ecwid E-commerce(Saas)

ECWID is a SAAS e-commerce platform that allows businesses to create and manage an online store. It offers various features such as inventory management, payment and shipping options, and customizable templates for building and designing a store. ECWID also integrates with various marketplaces and social media platforms, making it easy for businesses to expand their reach and increase sales. Ecwid can be a stand-alone online store (utilising your domain name or custom subdomain) or integrated into an existing website. For Vie Media, that integration is very easy with Joomla CMS.

Ecwids advantages include the following:

1. Easy to use: Ecwid is user-friendly, with a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to set up and manage an online store.
2. Customizable: Ecwid offers various design options, allowing businesses to create a unique and professional-looking online store that reflects their brand.
3. Affordable: Ecwid offers a range of pricing plans, including a free option, which makes it accessible for businesses of all sizes.
4. Integrations: Ecwid integrates with various popular website builders, such as Joomla and Squarespace, making adding an online store to an existing website easy.
5. Mobile-friendly: Ecwid is optimized for mobile devices, ensuring that customers can easily browse and purchase products on their smartphones and tablets.
6. Multi-Language and Currency: Ecwid supports multiple languages and currencies, making it easy to sell to customers worldwide.
7. SEO friendly: Ecwid stores are optimized for search engines, which helps customers find your products more efficiently.
8. Secure: Ecwid uses industry-standard encryption to protect sensitive customer information, such as credit card numbers and personal details.

Google Cloud

Google Cloud is a suite of cloud computing services provided by Google that includes infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and software as a service (SaaS) offerings. It allows users to run their applications and store data on Google's infrastructure. Google Cloud services include computing power, storage, networking, data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. It also provides collaboration, security, and management services designed for businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprise companies.

Cloudways

Cloudways is a managed cloud hosting platform that allows users to quickly deploy and manage their websites and applications on various cloud infrastructure providers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), DigitalOcean, Vultr, and Linode. It offers a user-friendly interface, automatic backups, and 24/7 technical support. Cloudways also provides automatic scaling, monitoring, and security features to help users optimize their website performance and protect their data.

Linode

Linode is a hosting company that provides virtual private servers (VPS) in the cloud. They offer a variety of Linux-based operating systems and the ability to customize server configurations with various amounts of memory, storage, and CPU power. Linode provides additional services such as load balancing, DNS management, and backups. Customers can use their servers for various tasks, including web hosting, game servers, and hosting applications.

Cloudflare

Cloudflare is a web performance and security company providing a range of services to protect and optimize websites, including a content delivery network (CDN), distributed domain name system (DNS) services, and web application firewall (WAF) to help protect against cyber threats. Cloudflare also provides tools for website optimization, such as image compression, JavaScript and CSS minification, and caching. Cloudflare's services improve website performance, security, and accessibility for website owners and users.

SAAS & Self-Hosted Explained

Service As A Subscription (SAAS) & Self-Hosted

A CMS, or Content Management System, is a software application that allows users to create, manage, and publish digital content on a website or other digital platform.

There are two main types of CMS:

1. Self-hosted CMS: A self-hosted Content Management System is an installed software program hosted on a user's server space. This type of CMS gives users complete control over their website and its content, including the ability to customize and modify the software as needed. Examples of self-hosted CMS include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
2. SAAS CMS, on the other hand, is a software program hosted and managed by a third-party provider. This type of CMS is popular with businesses that want to take advantage of a cloud-based solution's scalability and ease of use. With a SAAS CMS, users do not need to worry about managing their servers or maintaining the software, as the provider takes care of this. Examples of SAAS CMS include Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly.

In summary, a CMS is a tool that allows users to create, manage, and publish digital content on a website or other digital platform. It can be self-hosted or hosted by a third-party provider. The latter is preferred by businesses that want to take advantage of the scalability and ease of use that comes with a cloud-based solution.