DO-IT-YOURSELF projects aren’t always as DIY as first expected, often requiring the input of a second party. Be it mechanical repairs, renovating a house or updating content on a web site, there’s always someone with a little more know-how.
DO-IT-YOURSELF projects aren’t always as DIY as first expected, often requiring the input of a second party. Be it mechanical repairs, renovating a house or updating content on a web site, there’s always someone with a little more know-how.
Local web site development company Power Creations has realised that, for many small and medium sized businesses, employing a consultant to update web site content is costly and time consuming.
Power Creations was formed from new media creative company JAZ Creative about a year ago to develop and market the company’s Sitebox product, technology that allows business owners to easily and cost effectively update their website.
According to Power Creations managing director Tim Langford Smith, Sitebox differs from other content management tools because of its simple application base and no-frills approach.
“Ours differs [from other content management tools] be-cause it doesn’t require any software or hardware. You only need a web browser and a connection to the web,” Mr Langford Smith said.
“Most content management solutions today are regarded as ‘consulting-ware’. That is, while they are rich in functionality, in most cases, they will require external consulting resources to implement, activate, and maintain.”
He said Sitebox was easy to access and could be utilised by anyone in the business.
“You don’t have to load software and the training is no more than an hour. We haven’t come across a comparable product,” Mr Langford Smith said.
“You log on to our file servers and there are two levels to go through. The first step identifies what company you are from and allows you only to look at your website.
“The second level is entering a password. That determines what level in the company you are. It may be the receptionist can make changes but can’t publish those.
“It must be checked and the MD can then allow the changes.”
He said while bigger companies would most likely want software that did more than manage content, there was a demand from SMEs for a quality product. Companies, and the government, did not need to spend a six-figure sum on obtaining content management solutions, according to Mr Lang-ford Smith.
“Bigger companies can charge upwards of $40,000 for content management software,” he said.
Sitebox has an initial $3950 payment, which also covers the design of a website, and a monthly fee ranging from $40 to $150 to have access to Sitebox.
“The price depends on the number of sections the website has. The $150 is the deluxe version that enables you to have a new media manager,” Mr Langford Smith said.
“This manages the press releases and builds up an archive. There is an e-newsletter. That helps people build and maintain a database.”
Initial feedback on the product had been good, he said, and clients ranged from naturopaths to mining companies.
