Feb
11
2016
If you’re in the market for a solid, open-source content management system, then it’s highly likely that the name DotNetNuke has come up at least once in conversations or in your research.
DotNetNuke, or DNN, is one of the leading web-based content management systems (CMSs) on the market today. Based on the Microsoft .NET platform, DNN was originally written in VB.NET although the development has now shifted to C# since version 6.0 was launched.
DNN is a highly-extensible community-built software that allows for management of websites by those individuals who have limited technical knowledge, and a large community of third-party apps provide functionality that is not available in the core modules. Skins are used to change the look of DotNetNuke, and there are a few different versions of this software available, including an Enterprise Edition that was renamed Evoq Content as recently as 2013.
When you’re looking for a content management system, you may or may not be looking for one specifically based on Microsoft .NET. DNN can be considered a competitor to WordPress, and is similar in its extensibility and community-built framework. However, there are number of benefits to going with DotNetNuke, as outlined below.
Simple Administration
One of the most beautiful features of DNN is that even administrators are not required to have extensive technical knowledge in order to monitor, create, and publish content to the web. Easy workflow setup means that once the system is set, many changes can be accomplished at the admin level instead of pulling in programmers.
Great out of the Box Functionality
Different from homegrown CMS systems, DNN contains a high level of functionality right out of the box. This powerful set of tools can be up and running quickly without custom builds. User and advertising management, email marketing and blog management are all included. Also included in the core install are pieces that are needed to keep your business integrated into the global marketplace such as innate language translation.
Controllable Security
DNN has several different levels of user security, meaning your administrator can add users to a specific workgroup so they only have access to the content that you want them to see. This is not a third-party application that you are required to purchase – instead this functionality is baked into the core.
Simple Content Creation and Editing
A robust rich text editor is the next-gen of WYSIWYG – a simple and intuitive way for users at all levels of technological skills and understanding to create and edit multimedia content. The system even includes the ability to create permission and approval workflows quickly and easily, which can then be executed across the main install as well as pushed to microsites.
Highly Extensible Platform
Whether you’re tying in current in-house .NET functionality or you need something custom-built by a development partner, DotNetNuke is highly extensible. Over 800,000 registered users on the DotNetNuke.com community means there is a massive library of different options that you or your development team can tap into. While most of these modules are available for a fee, most are very reasonable and for the most part are well-supported.
Excellent Technical Support
Not only does the DotNetNuke Corporation offer centralized support opportunities, there are hundreds of partners around the world that support the platform. Many programmers prefer one-on-one communication with others for problem-solving, and this can be accomplished through the extensive network of other users on forums and help sites.
Improved Site SEO
Content is king, and making sure your content is fully discoverable should be the goal of every content management team. Your CMS can either support this or hinder it, simply by the architecture of the data and how the web links and metadata are built. Several key fields are available in DNN out of the box that allow you to customize page titles, meta descriptions and ‘H’ (header) tags. The CSS drop-down navigation that is built into the core of the platform really helps keep the content consistent as well.
Skinning DotNetNuke is relatively straightforward, and it can be easily integrated into any .NET-based business applications to really supercharge your website’s functionality. Tie in to your inventory levels for eCommerce or intranet reporting with equal ease. Overall, DNN is one of the most flexible, cost-effective, and well-supported of the main open source web development platforms.
Sources:
http://www.clarity-ventures.com/articles/article/776/top-10-benefits-of-dotnetnuke-advantages-of-dnn-cms-for-web-clarity
http://www.cms-content-management.com/Webdesign/DotNetNuke/WhataretheadvantagesofDotNetNuke/tabid/4427/Default.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DotNetNuke
https://phpmatters.com/dotnetnuke-vs-wordpress/
http://www.dnnsoftware.com/blog/10-ways-dnn-can-improve-your-website-seo