The tools I need for my online business

I started in 1996 and I've used various HTML editors and later various CMS and directory scripts, but always looking for the one that will give me the webmaster and business tools I need in my online business.

Which tools do I want for my business web sites? What must the system I use provide?

As I own and run over 200 web sites so it is vital that the system I use:

- is easy and quick to set up (I need to get my sites up and running within a few days
- has a professional look (especially as I am not the best designer on the block)
- has a variety of templates available for me, and my clients, to choose from
- has a layout that can easily be manipulated
- has a support system for when I run into problems

I feel an online business need a number of basic business tools. These can be either incorporated into the basic system or must be easy to add. I do not want these to be outside the system.

The basic business tools I want are:

- an administration system that's easy to use
- a SEO facility to optimise the site as well as every page
- a database where people can subscribe to my newsletter or digest
- a mass mailing system to easily send newsletters and notices to subscribers

Additional tools I want are:

- an advertising system to run banners and adverts for the affiliate programs I promote
- a system of providing access to certain parts of the site to specified groups of people
- a comprehensive shopping cart system for site that need to be ecommerce enabled
- a directory system as many of my sites are business directories
- a photo gallery
- a custom form tool
- a forum

For my clients I also need

- a system with enough users to give continuity and that my clients can fall back should something happen to me
- a system that grows and keeps pace with new developments
- a system where my clients can easily administer the site themselves, with a bit of training
- a system with a large and growing number of templates so that my clients have a choice, now and in the future of the look the want
- a system with a large variety of tools and extensions to develop a site to suite a client's needs
- a system that will allow the web site to grow with the client's business

and this I found with Joomla!

With Joomla! I can start a client new to the Internet with a small, inexpensive web site that can grow as they client gains confidence and start seeing the returns. Or I can start with a larger web site if that is the client's requirement. The choice is there.

And the clients gain confidence with the administration they can grow the site themselves while I can focus on providing them with marketing tools and assistance.

If you are looking to start your first web site for your business, or if you want to move your web site to a Joomla site, take a look at the options at DirectoriesPro Marketing