Considering Wordpress platform for a project

[Joff]

I'm investigating the suitability of Wordpress as a CMS for an upcoming project. This was going to be an email or PM to Brian as I know he's a fan of WP but I thought it would make sense and benefit from input from the Internet Business forums.

Background info:
The project is a social-network style review website, with the general public reviewing Blue Widgets.
Each user will create an account and once authorised, will be able to add their review.

Sounds simple, but I'm just concerned that the general "Wordpressiness" of it all will put people off. I want them to know they're still on my BlueWidgetReviews website, with a branded backend to their profile details, create new review page, etc.

Obviously Wordpress is superbly geared up to the publishing of content from a journalistic point of view, where people are given access by the powers that be, but my site won't really have any input from me other than occasionally screening content to make sure they're not discussing rival products (nasty Red Widgets) so I want them to feel at home.

I've looked into Drupal and it feels like a step back from the suitability of Wordpress. DotNetNuke was a non starter as it doesn't like MySQL much. The other option is to go bespoke but I don't know if I can put that much effort into it at the moment.

[bumfluff]

I don't quite understand.. What do you mean by the "wordpressiness" of it? If you customise the layout and stuff, there's no real reason a viewer would know what CMS you're using.. or do you mean the tools they'll be using to add and review?

[Brian Turner]

I've got to admit, I've not yet set up a Wordpress install encouraging submissions from unknown third-parties - though I'm planning to implement something like this soon o a blog.

Main concern would be spam problems - but no idea how these would be addressed.

[Joff]

Originally Posted by bumfluff

I don't quite understand.. What do you mean by the "wordpressiness" of it? If you customise the layout and stuff, there's no real reason a viewer would know what CMS you're using.. or do you mean the tools they'll be using to add and review?

It's not that I want to hide that I'm using Wordpress, I just don't think the CMS interface (out of the box) is user friendly for the mass public. It's fine for bloggers but not so good for those adding content to a social network site.

I've tried the Tiger Style Admin plugin which is a wicked revamp of the standard wordpress admin so I really should look into knocking up my own version!

I'm not ruling out Wordpress, I'm just concerned there's going to be a fair bit of an overhaul needed to get it as I want.

[F1seo]

Wordpress is the daddy when it comes to publishing content but it doesn't suit every purpose. Like you mention Drupal is more designed for a community but the complexity of the system can be offputting. MODX is an alternative. There's also expression engine but that's a fairly new one on the scene.

Wordpress you can add Gravatars, which add an avatar to the side of a post - good if you've got a lot of contributors.

[Joff]

Cheers F1, I'll have a gander at MODX and Expression Engine.

I've got a gravatar myself but this project is aimed at the general public, so people that will just post a comment and then fade into obscurity. Even though it's sort of a social network, it won't be what drives the site.

[Joff]

Oooh MODx... like what I've seen so far and it's only been what, 4 minutes?
http://modxcms.com/

[TWD-Tony]

You might want to also add Joomla to your list of "possibles".

The thing you have to keep in mind is that you need to get a software that does as close to what you need it to do "out of the box" - sure you can 'hack' wordpress into doing most things a CMS can, but it ISN'T a CMS and you are just trying to re-invent the wheel by hacking it.

As a blogging platform it is probably the best, but for other uses stick to software designed for the purpose - I have learnt this lesson the hard way. A heavily modded / hacked solution will only fall down in the end

[Joff]

Cheers Tony, however I tried Joomla a couple of years ago and didn't get on with it. It's a great system but just not for me.

There won't be any CMS out there that does everything I'm after out of the box so I'm aware I will need to butcher the odd bit of code here and there, but MODx just seems very malleable so hopefully I can shape it to what I need it to do.