Contribute CS3 - A review
Contribute CS3 is an Adobe product. Contribute is a program that installs on your computer and enables even somewhat computer illiterate people to update their own website, simply by opening Contribute, it takes away the need to understand FTP and you don’t need Dreamweaver to update your website. Want to know the pros of cons of using Contribute, keep reading…
I started using Contribute for clients when the small business clients I had started asking for an affordable way to update their own website. Many of my clients are in the equine industry, which are even more behind the times than many other small businesses. Contribute make it as simple and easy for them as possible.
Easy Setup
Contribute has many advantages. Set up is by far the easiest I have seen. The user simply downloads Contribute on their computer; the designer can easily add a user to the website. Doing so simply emails the user a connection key – this key includes FTP information for the website, passwords and usernames. The user simply clicks on the connection key that comes as a attachment in an email and after a few simple steps – Voila, the user is all set up to start updating their website in Contribute.
On page editing
One of my biggest pet peeves is the content management systems (CMS) site structure setup. In many CMS’, to edit a page you have to go to first go to the site structure, which is basically your website’s site map, then choose the page you would like to edit. The problem with this is that it can be difficult to figure out when page is which. Contribute eliminates that whole problem. All you have to do to edit any page in your website is either paste the whole website address in the address bar in Contribute or use the left hand pages menu, which shows all your pages, its easy just click thru them.
Easy to publish pages
So your page is complete, you have made all of your changes, now you need to put it on the website, right? It’s easy. Simply save the page to your computer (Ctrl + S) then click the publish button at top and your new page is live on your website.
Keeps the design intact
From a designer’s perspective, it’s an excellent tool. It makes it very easy for the design to remain the same. As a designer all you have to do is create a template in Dreamweaver (Contribute works seamlessly with Dreamweaver) and create editable areas on the website. This makes it easy for the client to keep your design but also have fresh content. The best way to do this when designing is to design knowing people will be edit the content and other pages might be longer than others and some shorter. Just keep that in mind.
Multiple user capability
Contribute works well for both small businesses and medium size business’ which may have different departments who in turn maybe responsible for their section of the company’s website. Contribute enables multiple users, with 4 different levels of editing rights. Contribute automatically checks whether the pages a user is trying edit is already being edited by others, in order to prevent conflicts.
Difficult to add pages to main navigation
One of the downfalls of Contribute is, if you have locked navigation for design reasons, it is difficult to have edited by other users, who may not be so web savvy add pages to main navigation. This is something I usually do, to keep the design consistent – I lock the navigation and allow only text and images to be edited by other users. It is however simple to create a new page, but users won’t be able to find it unless you link to it from another page.
Dynamic Websites, not so fun
If you have a website that is database driven, don’t use Contribute. Contribute outputs static pages. It is best suited for brochure ware type websites. If you have a dynamic website, you either need a dynamic CMS or a webmaster.
Works only on your computer
The only way you are going to be able to update your website from anywhere is if you have Contribute installed on your laptop. A down fall of Contribute is that you can only update your website, from the computer in which Contribute is installed.
Who Contribute is made for
Contribute is made for small business owners with a static brochure type website in mind. These websites may have content that changes on a daily basis. This saves the small business owner the hassle of having a webmaster or paying a design firm to simply make small changes. Also, if different departments of a small-medium size business are responsible for their area of the website, Contribute is perfect.
Over the past few weeks, I have been reviewing many content management systems including Marqui, Ektron, IMIS CMS and others. After looking at many of those Contribute is a breath of fresh air, for the small business website. However, Contribute does have its limitations. It is simply an FTP program and page editor. It is not a complex CMS.
Micah Choquette:
“A down fall of Contribute is that you can only update your website, from the computer in which Contribute is installed.”
This is exactly the reason I use a web-based CMS to build my sites with. This sounds harsh, but if you don’t have the know-how to build a website without this kind of software, you shouldn’t build websites. It looks bad for the rest of us.
Alicia Harper:
Micah,
This is a review. No one said that anyone needed Contribute to build a site. Contribute is not used to build a website, it is used to edit it. And it is a great solution for small business owners, you don’t have the higher cost of a web based CMS. And if you only have a few editors in your company for $150 a pop. It’s quite a bit cheaper than the 50,000 price tag that comes with a complex CMS like Ektron. Possibly you should re-read my post and see its not a suggestion for designers to use, its a tool in which they can give their clients.
Alicia
Micah Choquette:
Alicia, You’re completely right, and I’m sorry. I have a tendency to scan what I read on the web, and I should have read it more thoroughly before submitting any comments. I’ve had limited experience with Contribute, and I should’ve trusted your judgment of it, since you’ve been using it for awhile.
Alicia Harper:
Thank you and apology accepted.
brandonrichards:
Word of advice… stear clear of Ektron CMS. It’s not worth it. There are numerous freely available CMS such as Joomla, and Wordpress that can do the job without paying a ton of money.
Nice review of Contribute, it works for some who need the hands on and can’t afford the CMS and to pay for full time developer designer.
Alicia Harper:
Yes Contribute is great for smaller type websites. Although I don’t totally agree with the fact that you said steer clear of Ektron. I have fully reviewed Ektron as well and you are correct in saying, that there are cheaper CMS software out there. As it is much more expensive and is probably not very suitable for many small to medium size business’ but if recall correctly Kodak is using Ektron as well as Intrawest and they were very successful with it. Ektron is for organizations which either have an Inhouse IT department or a very skilled webmaster. It is not for non technical. It’s is a huge complicated and capable content management system not for the faint of heart. There is not much out there that compares when you are trying to manage over 10,000 page websites.
brandonrichards:
I’ve used it once, it totally stinks. Just my 10 years of experience talking nevermind me.
Alicia Harper:
Well I appreciate your comment. And totally agree with some of what you have said. I just believe that it could work well in some instances.
Faraaz:
Any Comments on Contribute CS4!? Is it better than what you guys have “contributed” here!?
What Do You Think?