Thinking of building a website using the Drupal CMS platform? You’ve probably got quite a few questions, particularly if you’re not a web developer yourself. Arm yourself with knowledge from these frequently asked questions.
What is Drupal?
Drupal is what is known as a CMS, or content management system. Which probably prompts another question — what is a CMS?
In the early days of the internet, building a website was a lengthy and comprehensive process. You had to learn how to code and you had to accept the fact that you were going to make a lot of mistakes along the way. Building websites on a commercial scale was nearly impossible — it just took too much time and resources.
Fast forward a decade or two and the invention of content management systems dramatically streamlined this process. A CMS is basically a type of software that allows you to build (and later edit) a website in an efficient and secure manner. While it’s still beneficial to know how to code, a CMS platform like Drupal offers you a far more user-friendly interface and requires less grunt work.
Drupal CMS is one of the oldest and most popular website building platforms.
Is Drupal all I need to build a website?
The short answer is no. While Drupal is a platform that facilitates website development, you do need a few other resources to get your site up and running.
To start with, you’ll need a domain name. This is the address that people type into the URL bar to visit your website. In addition, you (or more likely your web development services team) will need to organise web hosting. Your web hosting provider is responsible for storing and securing all of your files online.
Do all Drupal websites look the same?
Many people mistakenly assume that all websites built using the same CMS will look the same. This isn’t true, particularly if you’re using a platform as advanced as Drupal. While there are templates you can use to kickstart your design and development process, there are endless opportunities to personalise colour, font, graphics, and more.
I read Drupal is open source — what does that mean?
CMS platforms can be divided into two categories: open source and closed source. These terms are also used to describe any type of software.
The terms “open” and “closed” are used to describe the source code. Drupal CMS is open source, meaning that its source code is freely accessible to all. A broad community of developers, which anyone can join, contribute to securing and improving the software. A platform like Kentico, on the other hand, is closed source. Kentico built this platform and only they know how the software works.
Is Drupal expensive?
The advantage of using an open source CMS is that it is free. Well, at least, the CMS is free. You will still need to pay for a domain name, for web hosting, and for a web development services team to actually build the site.
You’ll most likely need to keep this team on retainer to maintain and update the site. Drupal releases major upgrades every few years. It’s important that you keep on top of these upgrades as the company will eventually stop supporting older iterations of the software. If you leave it too long, your website may be left vulnerable to cyber attacks.
All of this is to say that despite the fact that Drupal has no upfront cost, you should still calculate the gross cost of building a site and the ongoing budget required to keep it up to date.
Is Drupal good for SEO?
SEO stands for search engine optimisation and it’s a digital marketing strategy that can help you increase the quantity and quality of leads to your website.
One of the most important aspects of SEO is the technical performance of your website. Essentially, the goal of SEO is to convince Google that your website will meet user needs from a content and technical perspective. If your website is slow, complicated to navigate, or doesn’t protect user information, Google is not likely to suggest it to its own users.
When deciding on a CMS, check that it can facilitate technical and on-page SEO activities. Your web development services team will tell you that Drupal comes packed with a range of functions designed to make implementing and tracking SEO campaigns simple.
Will my Drupal website be secure?
Data security is one of the foremost concerns for all business owners and web developers. When it comes to Drupal, you don’t have to worry. The platform has a very good track record when it comes to security and comes packed with a range of features that can be easily installed and updated to keep user data safe.
