Content Management Systems

(CMS for short) are systems designed to allow the site owner the ability to add, edit, and delete content without technical knowledge. These systems are used to power the largest sites on the internet, and are ideal where content is regularly changing and updating.

Systems come in many flavours from simple programmes allowing for news updates, through blog software, to high end systems which we use to power sites such as this one.  Our CMS’s have been developed by careful consideration of what actually is required by clients, be they an independent escort or a large agency or parlour. Custom module allow the systems to expand as the site grows, without burdening clients with paying for functions they made not initially need.

A System to fit Your Needs

69Design has developed several specific CMS programmes. each designed to meet specific needs, be they blogging, text changes, agency management or image gallery control. No one size fits all solutions here, each clients needs are assessed and the solution developed to meet it put in place, just some of the features and benefits are listed below.

• Add or edit your own content.
• Easy to use backend administration systems.
• Member areas for private content
• Allows members to submit reviews and rating.
• Availability schedules and rotas
• Interactive location maps.
• Automatic thumbnail creation and watermarking.
• Keyword control over individual pages
• Integrated link management
• Details search and categorisation options
• Integrate a blog or news section
• Additional SEO tools also available..

Hand Scripted to Perfection

XHTML is an acronym for (e)Xtensible Hypertext Markup Language the basic language used to create websites including this one, and is the next generation of the older but still widely used HTML4.

It is characterised by the concept of seperating content from the information used to format it, which is often held in a seperate file.

So what are the advantages of it and why do 69Design make such a big thing about it?

Well firstly it produces sites which will display correctly on any modern browser. Secondly it complies with the W3C guidelines on correct coding practices, and secton 508 accessibility for the disabled.

Potentially a non-compliant site leaves the owner open to possible legal action for discrimination against disabled site visitors who may need a screen reader or other visual aid.

XHTML also produces leaner and cleaner code, no bloated pages full of tables and in-line formatting, this means faster loading pages, and less bandwidth usage, a distinct advantage to both the site owner and the visitor.

Finally by seperating content from formatting allows for much easier updates and alterations, as changing one parameter can change items site wide.

XHTML simply is the future of coding websites, and should be already adopted by any competent designer.

The future is HTML5

So what have you written this site in because it is not XHTML?

OK it is not actually XHTML but the new and still experimental HTML5, the reasons for this were simple, firstly we wanted to prove we could create a complex site layout using the new HTML5 elements such as article, section, navigation, footer, canvas etc, while still making it accessible to all modern browsers.

While we believe that the animation elements and the clearer markup language of HTML5 will be the future, experimenting on client sites did not seem good business sense, hence the decision to create this site and utilise the experimental elements. Hopefully the results have produced a good result, we will let you decide

So what has happened to Flash?

Once our favourite means of creating a high impact site, it is currently suffering a decline in popularity, although we still believe it has a place when used correctly. To sum up our reasons for reducing our use of Flash we would have to say “Mobile Content”. The all pervading iPhone and other smart phones do not support Flash, which means that a flash site will not be viewable on a mobile phone, while this is not a problem for image galleries where javascript fallbacks can be put in place, for a full site we believe this is now a deal breaker.

Additionally the massive improvements in javascript libraries in recent years means that many of the effects such as fading and scrolling can now be duplicated in pure HTML controlled with a small piece of javascript code, previously the preserve of Flash these effects can now be produced using accessible and searchable code.

Popular Myths

Flash loads slowly, not if it’s done correctly, older versions required all the content to be included in one file including images slowing it down. Modern flash sites can and should call in external content as needed. The slow loading myth is based on old information.

Flash does not show to search engines, true, if its taken in isolation, however if text is pulled in from external text files (see above) it is easy to ensure those text file are found by the search engines.

What Flash does do very very well is to produce eye catching designs elements such as image galleries which areideal for the escort industry. This coupled with its advanced scripting language allows for complex effects and a level of interactivity not possible with standard (X)HTML.

So to sum up, Flash has a place and needs to be used with care, but done correctly it can produce visually stunning effects guaranteed to catch a clients eye.