Why Umbraco? Why this is my CMS of Choice

     Umbraco Cert Developer
 

Levels 1 & 2

Since commencing my web career in 2002 I have gained exposure to numerous content management systems and even took a crack at developing one myself! I have always had the mindset that a CMS should be enjoyable to use and should (as much as possible) remove the technical aspects of web design so that the ongoing content management is an enjoyable experience. 

It was in 2009 that I first experienced Umbraco, and since then it has been the solution of choice, both within my full time employment and also for my freelance development work. In August 2011 I became a certified developer after attending the training courses run by Umbraco HQ.

Some of the main features that make Umbraco my Content Management System of choice:

Administration Area

Umbraco has the nicest and most intuitive administration area of the Content Management Systems I have been exposed to. The admin area enables clients without technical web experience to manage their own sites. Also, I never tire of using the administration area which again is critical as clients will be more likely to undertake ongoing changes if it is enjoyable to use.

Site Design

There are absolutely no limitations to the design of a website.

Technical Setup

To use building a home as a comparison, Umbraco is like having all the resources and equipment necessary to build a new home and is only limited by your imagination - you can build a cottage, a 4 bedroom townhouse, or even a mansion. Your website will be developed as you require it - there are no compromises. 

In addition, the way the site is setup can also keep the ongoing management extremely simple and remove an extensive amount of web oriented knowledge.

Modular Design

The Umbraco development community is very active and there are a huge number of pre-built custom modules for Umbraco, e.g. Blog, Event Calendar, etc. So this assists in the setup of a new site - if a module has been developed, it is a simple case of adding to the site and then altering the look / feel to match the design. 

Website Hosting

Umbraco is developed in ASP.NET which requires a Microsoft Windows hosting solution. Historically the cost to host websites using Windows was prohibitive for small sites, however thankfully this is a thing of the past and prices are now very competitive.