Hey there! I'm having trouble deciding on a content management system (CMS). A couple of friends of mine have a studio that specializes in gifts and event decoration. The main features we need for the website are a product showcase, a page for services, and a news section that can be regularly updated. At the moment, we don't require a shopping cart or payment functionality, but we might consider adding it in the future once the site gains traction.

Here are the technical requirements we're looking for:
- Easy customization of design themes and additional modules
- Good performance
- Potential for future addition of an online store
- Site content search functionality with the ability to manage search results
- SEO-friendly

Naturally, WordPress comes to mind as a potential option, but my past experience with it three years ago wasn't very reassuring. Moreover, WordPress is more commonly associated with blogging rather than serving as a full-fledged e-commerce CMS. So, should I give WordPress another chance? Or should I explore other CMS options like Joomla, Drupal, or OpenCart?

I would greatly appreciate hearing the opinions of more experienced professionals. Thank you for your attention!

WordPress is a popular choice for content management systems due to its user-friendly interface, vast plugin ecosystem, and large community support. While it is commonly associated with blogging, it can also serve as a reliable CMS for your needs.

In recent years, WordPress has made significant improvements in performance and security, addressing some concerns from the past. It offers a wide range of themes and plugins that can help you customize your website and add functionality when needed. Additionally, there are many e-commerce plugins available, such as WooCommerce, that can easily turn your website into an online store in the future.

However, if you had a negative experience with WordPress in the past, it's understandable that you might be hesitant to give it another chance. In that case, exploring other options like Joomla, Drupal, or OpenCart could be beneficial.

Joomla is known for its flexibility and extensibility, offering a good balance between ease of use and advanced features. Drupal, on the other hand, is more suitable for complex and enterprise-level websites, providing powerful customization options but with a steeper learning curve.

If you're specifically looking for an e-commerce-focused CMS, OpenCart could be a viable option. It is designed specifically for online stores and offers features such as inventory management, order processing, and payment integration out of the box.

Here are my recommendations:
Simplacms
ShopScript 7
ReadyScript
HostCMS (I've heard good things about it)
Another option could be OpenCart.

However, popular platforms like Wordpress, Joomla, or Drupal may not be the best fit for an online store right away. While they can be easily customized, the online store itself requires additional development to fulfill its tasks. It is advisable to allocate the budget toward this purpose.

WordPress+WooCommerce can fulfill the main requirements, albeit not explicitly. It may not provide a complete solution right away, but there are sufficient options to address all issues in a satisfactory manner. Additionally, further enhancements can be added gradually as the project progresses, either through custom development or utilizing existing plugins or services.

Flexibility is key when working with WordPress+WooCommerce, allowing for tailored solutions that suit specific needs. With the right approach and resources, it is possible to achieve a highly individualized and effective online store.

You can use the populor WordPress cms.

Choosing the right content management system (CMS) for your website is an important decision. While WordPress is a popular choice, there are other CMS options that might better suit your needs.

If you're looking for easy customization of design themes and additional modules, along with good performance and potential for future addition of an online store, there are several CMS options worth considering. Joomla, Drupal, and OpenCart are popular choices with their own advantages and disadvantages.

Joomla is known for its flexibility and ease of use. It offers a wide range of extensions and templates for customization, making it suitable for building a product showcase, services page, and news section. However, it might require more technical expertise to fully maximize its potential.

Drupal is another powerful CMS with many advanced features. While it might have a steeper learning curve compared to WordPress and Joomla, it offers great flexibility for creating complex websites. It also has a strong community support system and is known for its security and scalability.

OpenCart, on the other hand, is specifically designed for e-commerce websites. If you anticipate adding an online store in the future, it could be a good choice. However, it might not be as suitable for a content-heavy website with a significant focus on non-e-commerce elements like news and services.

Ultimately, the choice between these CMS options depends on your specific requirements and comfort level with different platforms. It's worth exploring the features and capabilities of each CMS, and perhaps even trying out a few demos or consulting with professionals who have experience with them.

While WordPress can be a viable option, given your concerns and the specific requirements you mentioned, it may be worthwhile to explore alternatives. Consider evaluating Joomla, Drupal, and OpenCart to see if they better align with your needs for customization, performance, future expansion, SEO, and content management.

additional points to consider when choosing a CMS:

1) User-Friendliness: Evaluate the ease of use and user interface of each CMS. Consider your own technical skills and those of the people who will be managing the website regularly. A user-friendly CMS can save time and effort in the long run.

2) Community and Support: Research the size and activity of the CMS communities. A large and active community means you'll have access to support, resources, and a wide range of plugins and themes. This can be helpful in case you run into any issues or need assistance with customization.

3) Scalability: Consider the future growth of your website. Will the CMS easily accommodate new features, increased traffic, and additional content? Ensure that the CMS can handle your projected needs without requiring extensive modifications or migrations.

4) Performance: Pay attention to the speed and performance of each CMS. A fast-loading website is crucial for providing a good user experience and achieving higher search engine rankings. Look for benchmarks and performance comparisons to get an idea of how each CMS performs.

5) Security: Website security is important, especially if you plan on collecting personal information from customers in the future. Research the security features and track record of each CMS to ensure that it aligns with your security requirements.

6) SEO-Friendliness: Consider the CMS's built-in SEO features or its compatibility with popular SEO plugins. A CMS that allows easy management of page titles, meta descriptions, URLs, and other SEO elements can greatly improve your website's visibility in search engine results.

7) Cost: Evaluate the cost of using each CMS. Some CMS options, like WordPress and Joomla, are open-source and free to use. However, there may be costs associated with premium themes, plugins, hosting, and ongoing maintenance. Consider your budget and the potential costs involved in using each CMS.

Cost of the CMS System.
Business Requirements.
CMS Platform Ease of Use.
SEO Friendliness.
Integration with Backend Systems.
Level of Personalization.
CMS Hosting Options.

WordPress is overrated and can be a resource hog. Consider OpenCart if you're leaning towards e-commerce. It's lightweight and designed specifically for online stores. But if you want a CMS that's more than just a glorified blog, Joomla might be your best bet.