Looking for Sitefinity developers in Australia?
There are many content management systems or digital experience platforms to choose from. The pricing (and pricing model) changes across all the different options. If only there was a way to simply compare apples for apples. Unfortunately, the digital world moves too fast and while the term ‘website’ seems universal it isn’t actually the case – the same way the term ‘car’ is used when not all driving vehicles are the same.
That is where we come in. Our Sitefinity development team can compare your website goals with a range of content management systems ahead of starting the project. This means if we don’t think Sitefinity is the right choice we can advise on alternatives. If we have assessed your goals and requirements and choose (or confirm) Sitefinity as the right choice, we will ensure that it is set up to ensure maximum return on investment for you.
What does that look like? We won’t over-complicate your website or customise it so heavily that no other developer can work on it. We will also ensure that you receive full training on what we build, so you can daily manage your Sitefinity website independently of us. We will also ensure the roadmap and future upgrades of your Sitefinity website has a strategy in place.
If you simply need access to a Sitefinity helpdesk, we can help with that too. Our Sitefinity developers are all local and in-house, so if you ever have a question our team is ready to help.
Why Sitefinity is a good choice as a CMS.
User-friendly interface: Sitefinity has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for non-technical users to create and manage website content.
Customisation options: Sitefinity offers a range of customization options, including the ability to create custom templates and widgets, as well as to integrate with third-party applications and services.
Mobile-friendly: Sitefinity is designed to be responsive, meaning that it automatically adjusts to display optimally on different devices, including smartphones and tablets.
SEO-friendly: Sitefinity includes features to help optimise websites for search engines, such as the ability to set custom titles and descriptions for pages, and to generate sitemaps.
Multilingual support: Sitefinity supports the creation of multilingual websites, with the ability to easily manage content in different languages.
Scalability: Sitefinity is a scalable platform that can support websites of any size, from small personal blogs to large enterprise-level websites.
Support and resources: Sitefinity provides a range of resources and support options, including documentation, forums, and professional services, to help users get the most out of the platform.
How to choose a Sitefinity development company to work on your website?
- Technology Experience - Look for a company that has a track record of working with Sitefinity and has experience building websites similar to yours. It is essential that they don't just work with one type of web platform so they can provide the best advice regardless of technology, there are pros and cons for any choice, but if one platform has an integration already ready - which is essential to your site, then wouldn't you rather not reinvent the wheel?
- Portfolio - Don't just review your potential Sitefinity developer's work portfolio from the outside. Meet with them and ask them to discuss projects they've worked on similar to yours. Get an idea of the types of projects they have worked on, the quality of their work and insight into the discussion and conversations that went on - all the things you can't necessarily read or know about from the outside looking in.
- Client testimonials - Read through client testimonials and reviews to get an idea of what it's like to work with the company and the level of satisfaction their clients have experienced. Ask your potential Sitefinity development partner to pass on testimonials if you can't find them, most development companies can even provide references for you to call (just like a job interview).
- Services offered - Make sure the company offers a range of services you need now, and what you might need later. You might just need a new website, but does the company offer 24/7 support when you need them later? Can they provide Sitefinity hosting? Other items to consider is are their development team is inhouse or off-shored (where are the people who access your customer data located?). Can they do UX/UI design, API integration and Sitefinity content training?
- Pricing - Consider the company's pricing both as a project, and as on-going hourly rates, and whether it aligns with your budget. After all, you are investing in the development partners team - they are learning and building your tools, so it makes sense to consider the cost of accessing that same team later as your Sitefinity website evolves.
- Communication and transparency - Choose a company that is open and transparent about their processes and is willing to answer your questions and keep you informed throughout the project. It is also important that they are clear about who is doing the work in your team - and where they are located. If your development partner is outsourcing the work, what guarantees and accountability do they offer?
- Cultural fit - It's important to choose a company that aligns with your values and business culture, as you'll be working closely with them on your project. Our team has often been selected purely on the basis that our clients liked the idea of working with the specific people they met when compared to a competitor offering a similar level of service. If you simply aren't feeling it - we won't be offended as your website is a partnership.
I am looking to upgrade my Sitefinity CMS - where should I start?
- Determine your goals: Before you start the upgrade process, it's important to understand why you want to upgrade and what you hope to achieve with the new version. This will help you identify the features and functionality you need and ensure that the upgrade is aligned with your business goals. If you are planning to upgrade a few Sitefinity versions in one go, it is important to consider the impacts of the change - as many add-ons might not be available in newer versions and API's might need upgrading at the same time.
- Review the upgrade process: Sitefinity provides detailed documentation on the upgrade process, including instructions for backing up your website and preparing for the upgrade. If you have an IT team (or individuals in your team) it is worth familiarising yourself with these instructions so you know what to expect. Alternatively, our developers can explain the process and the steps involved.
- Plan your upgrade: Carefully plan the timing of your upgrade to minimise disruption to your website and ensure that you have the necessary resources in place to complete the process smoothly. Typically it is worth doing a content freeze on the live site, and making sure the upgrade is tested on a UAT environment prior to switching it over to the live site. You should not apply the upgrade directly on the live instance of your website to ensure adequate testing happens.
- Test the new version: Before you go live with the new version, it is very important to thoroughly test it to ensure that all features and functionality are working as expected. This can be done through a combination of manual testing and automated testing tools.
- Communicate with your users: Depending on the features and functionality available on your website (or app / portal) it may be worth giving users (staff or customers) the heads up that you will be applying an upgrade at a certain time. It might also be worth providing them with a list of changes they will experience once the upgrade is complete, as well as a channel for them to pass back feedback if they spot anything not as it was.
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Talk to us and see how we can transform your digital projects to the next level.
