Hey everyone! I'm working as the solo marketing person at a small nonprofit museum and I've inherited our website built on EE (ExpressionEngine). My background in web design is pretty basic, with just a high school course and random self-teaching over the past ten years. I'm considering taking on the challenge of creating a new website myself, but I'm really unsure whether that's a smart move or not.
Here are the main points I'm pondering:
1. Is it feasible for someone with my experience to try building a new site? What risks should I be aware of?
2. Is there a way I could handle most of the project myself while getting some assistance with the more complicated aspects?
3. What steps should I follow to migrate away from EE?
4. Can anyone suggest a more user-friendly platform that meets our needs?
It's crucial that whatever solution I choose helps maintain the core functions of our site, which includes exhibit pages, event calendars, ticket sales via Stripe and Eventbrite, and potentially generates admission sales in the future. We have limited funds at the moment, and honestly, keeping the PHP server updated without disrupting the site has been a battle in itself. Any insights on how I could proceed without a big budget would be greatly appreciated!
3 Answers
Shopify could be a great option for your needs, especially with integrating your online and in-person sales systems. It seems like it could take care of a lot of what you're looking for!
Have you thought about using WordPress? It's not going to be a perfect fit, but it could cover a lot of your needs without a total rebuild. Plus, if you have a key part of the site that needs advanced features, you could set up a subdomain for that. This way, you're saving time and money compared to a complete overhaul, which might not even be necessary. If you do decide to rebuild, make sure you clearly outline the features you absolutely need and check if your chosen tech supports them. Ruby on Rails is a solid option that does a lot; Laravel is great for PHP, but I haven’t tried that myself. Just know that if you go for a JavaScript-heavy framework, it could get pretty complex!
I’ve definitely considered WordPress in the past, and I didn’t dislike it! But I’m worried about whether my team would back this choice since I feel like it might not look as polished as we’d want. Are you suggesting I totally switch from EE to WordPress? I’m still getting used to the terminology!
Ruby on Rails is intriguing! Can you point me to some resources on how it works? Is it a full-fledged CMS, or do I need to build the whole site around it?
Just to clarify, EE is ExpressionEngine, right? You shouldn’t try to fully rebuild the site yourself. DIY coding from scratch usually doesn’t yield great results and could seriously mess up your museum's digital presence. If you transition to WordPress, there are definitely risks around SEO placements and backlinks during the migration. I'd suggest getting a quote from a nice agency first before diving into any changes — it could save you a lot of headaches!
That sounds promising! I’ll look into Shopify for sure.