migrate static site to CMS; add user-upload feature?

[benbaggins]

Hi all-

I have an existing website that has 5 html files and 1 CSS file. Wondering what is the easiest CMS platform to convert my site into and retain the exact look (wordpress, joomla, modx?).

One other feature that I would like to add is a section where readers can upload a story and a few photos. All the stories would available in a list/directory that people can search through and read the stories. Wondering the best way to do this (a blog with multiple authors? a module that exists for a CMS platform?).

Thanks!

 

[sysgenmedia]

Hi Ben,

As for migrating a fairly simple website onto a CMS, a developer with experience in any CMS shouldn't have difficulty doing so regardless of the CMS. As for doing it yourself, I'm not sure that any one is easier than any other across the board. It would really come down to finding one with documentation you're comfortable with. I expect you'll find the largest communities behind Wordpress and Joomla.

As for allowing users to upload photos and stories, almost any CMS should be able to handle this, but again I'd lean towards Wordpress or Joomla. I tend to work in Joomla mostly, but Wordpress is generally more user friendly in the admin area.

One thing to be aware of: This is the internet. Any time you freely allow users to put content on your site, you simply -must- moderate it to some degree, or you'll end up with more spam, porn, viagra, etc on your website than you know what to do with.

That said, what you described may be best found pre-built in the form of a Forum, which has a lot of moderation ability built in.

I'm not sure about Wordpress, but I know there are multiple forums that work as plugins to Joomla, and that may be worth investigating for your purposes.

Hope this answered your questions! Best of luck!

~ Nathan