I need simple CMS for newbies

I sometimes build sites for people that are small organization types. They aren't web savvy kind of people. I would like to create a site for these people using some sort of CMS where I can make a basic template/theme for the site and they can add their own text and images. What CMS would you think would be good for my application?

I've messed with Joomla a little bit, but I want something more simple than that for the end user.

Thanks,

 

Wordpress
http://www.wordpress.org

 

I like Word Press as far as the admin, but I want the site to like a plain site that is more wide than long, if you know what I'm saying, and not a blog looking. Do you have any examples of people using word press for CMS for like a 6-8 page site?

What plugins can be used so there aren't the bread crumbs that say next article etc?

 

take a look at http://www.opensourcecms.com/
they have a demo for every cms there.
i've never used them but heard good things about etomite, cms made simple, website baker and a couple of others.

 

I'm thinking this answers your question exactly as you asked it.
It's very easy for your client, IMO.

Hope it helps

 

I know there is a tiny functional CMS around, it's called sNews (solucija.com).
It only contain 1 php file.

May be you want to take a look at it.

 

website baker?
http://www.websitebaker.org/

 

Have you considered Drupal? I've heard it's one of the better (and simpler) CMS's available.

 

I've been searching around. I checked out all the cms that you guys mentioned.

So far the best one I found was this one:

http://www.cmsmadesimple.org/

I actually downloaded and installed it on my server. It has it's flaws. This is what I need.

1. I want a CMS that allows the end user to upload images from the admin. I'm dealing with people who don't know how to upload images via ftp.

2. I need a CMS that will allow me to take my own template and just add their place holders into certain sections. I don't want to have to butcher a bunch of code to get what I'm looking for.

3. I need a CMS that has a simple admin that the most computer illiterate will not get lost in.

4. the ability for the end user to put images almost anywhere they want on their page.

That's about it. Does anyone know of a CMS that has all these. I'm trying to get around installing every CMS that I find to test it out.

 

i suggest you to look wordpress . you can also choose one cms from opensourcematters.org

 

What do you guys opinion about sNews?

I think it is very simple and contain only one file. You can also use an alternative text file as a database instead of mySQL.

 

best option is to use Word Press as your first CMS to have some hands on and get basic idea what a CMS actually is!

 

could always look for custom ones

 

The easiest and the simplest that i have seen would be etomite and sNews..

easy installation and easy options, etomite is my personal favourite and i have a couple of site running on it
http://www.opensourcecms.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=549

http://www.opensourcecms.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2170

 

I actually ended up trying out Wordpress. It was a lot easier than I thought to use Wordpress as a CMS. You can see the site that I made into a CMS site here:

www.actsgospel.org

 

good. wordpress is wonderful. I have made hundreds of thousands with sites that have wordpress on them.

 

I've used CMS Made Simple (mentioned above) and can recommend it.

 

This thread has really really helped me out. I checked out the site and CMS mad simple is the thing I have been looking for for so long.
Thanks

 

Lots of CMSs seem to be obsessed with a billion features and being everything to everyone!

Cant post URLs yet, but do a google for "sNews". It is a small little PHP based CMS that does all of the basics and is pretty easy to use and REALLY easy to setup.

 

Superblogging is a client side CMS so it's really easy and it's free for up to 5 pages.