The best open source CMS system can truly revolutionise your website. Gone are the days where specialised technical teams created page after page of html by hand, painstakingly linking it all together to finally publish a static website that was probably already out of date before it came online!

No, the modern webmaster needs to use a free content management system to make their life much easier. With the right software package you will be able to get a site up and running and maintain it with ease, allowing you to concentrate on the one thing that really matters – creating content! The website package that you need must be able to provide a number of key features:

• Disconnected content and theme: you will be able to completely redesign your site by changing a limited number of theme files. If you were building a site with HTML you would need to update 100s of files!
• Easy content input: new pages can be created at the click of a button, all you need to do is get typing and the software does the rest.
• Provide Interactivity: Static websites are so 1990s, in the 21^st century users expect interactive web pages, we need forums, comments, ratings and all the rest
• Expandability: The top packages have thriving communities that offer a large range of plugins to meet every possible need you could think of. This means that you don’t need to know how to code, and you don’t need to hire anyone either. The best CMS software packages will provide every option you will ever need, and many that you don’t!

Choosing the right CMS Package

There are many different types of open source CMS systems available and it is important you select the right type that meets your needs. Later in this article we will look at the two leaders in their field but which one you chose will depend on what type of website you are building.

If you are planning to simply post up regular articles then you will want to look at a “Blogging” package. This setup will allow you to build a site around the idea of posting up one or more articles every day. Alternatively, you might be wanting to build a more comprehensive site, perhaps include file downloads, a forum, events and much more. If this is the case you need to look at a more well rounded content management system.

The Leading CMS Systems

When it comes to blogging software there is no doubt that WordPress is the best. This is the easiest choice you will ever make and it is unlikely you will regret picking WordPress any time soon. Thousands of users around the world will agree when we say this is by far the market leader, offering everything that the would be blogger could ever need. The fantastic back end administration system makes it so easy to post up articles, create site pages, manage comments and control design. Even the novice webmaster will be able to get going quicker and as you learn more you will be able to explore the advanced features. The beauty of this CMS is that it is easy to begin with but will keep advanced users tweaking away until the early hours of the morning!

As expected from such a popular package, there is a strong community providing themes and plugins for every possible occasion. You will have no trouble customising your installation and getting it setup just as you desire. Wordpress is a great choice for search engine optimization, this means that it will perform well in search results without requiring specialized knowledge. The software is continuously maintained with regular releases and additional functionality appearing frequently. And fortunately it is also very easy to install and upgrade!

The Best Complete CMS Suite

Although WordPress can be used to build more traditional sites alongside blogs sometimes you need to make sure you have the right tool for the job. If you need your site to manage other forms of content, drive a community, or manage file downloads then an alternative installation will be the best open source CMS choice for you. In this section I suggest looking at the e107 system, secondary choices include Joomla and Drupal, but if you are looking for ease of use then the less well known e107 wins every time.

This package provides all the functionality most webmasters will need right out of the box. Unlike other systems you do not need to work out which key modules to install and there is therefore no worry of making the wrong choice. If you need to push things a little further then there is active community providing top quality design themes and plugins to meet almost every need, including affiliate tracking, ecommerce systems, computer game leagues and much more!

Out of the box e107 offers an integrated forum, news posting, user tracking, class management, a detailed content application, download management, banner placement, a variety of themes and everything else you will initially need in one simple install package.

Conclusion

Determining the best open source CMS is a tricky task and is ultimately subjective and dependent on your individual needs. We suggest that you download and try several different systems and pick the one that works best for you! Good luck with your site.