OK,
I have to ask is this (CMS) for clients to be able to go in and edit certain parts of their websites? (you know, the clients that couldn't build their own sites because they don't have a clue about how to even get started).

Or, is this for us so we can make quick changes to a clients site?

Sorry, I can't wrap my brain around this concept. It looks like we would tell a client for $X a month you can change anything on your website when you want. If that's what this is for I can see a client saying what am I paying you a monthly maintenance fee for.

Please explain why adding CMS to an html website is a plus.

Thanks.

You pretty much have it Ernie. It allows you to setup areas that can be edited by who ever logs in. It allows a designer to offer another option.

Eric,

Thanks for the reply. I guess this would be for clients who have some understanding about websites and not for the clueless.

Ernie, the idea behind a CMS is that it makes editing easy for "the clueless". No coding required.
Most have a simple dashboard with familiar word-processing like toolbars (fonts, insert picture, etc...).

It makes it easy for clients to update their own sites so you don't have to work late on the special offer they forgot they needed to have up and running the next day. <<< Been there!

I have one client who just needs to change their listed business hours a few times a year. That's not worth holding them to some sort of maintenance contract. Better to just make that list easily editable for them and it's one less thing I need to think about.

I am loving a recommendation from this site called Unify. Don't remember which thread I saw it on.
http://unify.unitinteractive.com/

I have implemented it on a few sites and absolutely love the simplicity and effectiveness of it. I'm going to start promoting it unless I find something just crazy better. The price is cheap and it just works great with a lot of good features. Very nice.

Thank you again to whoever posted that originally!
- John

Recently stumbled across this one which looks very interesting: http://statamic.com/

Havent had a chance to play with it as yet ....

I posted earlier
and indeed great, yet I also hope on a cms of CoffeeCup but on their own hosting as Unify

Paintbrush,

Thanks for your reply and I agree with everything you said. I think I'll 'train' a couple of my clients.

Like Adam I have used Sitegrinder, I still do even though the company has gone belly up. The simplicity for clients who wish to change just about anything on a page is down to a server side cms based on TinyMCE. If only I was clever enough I would be able to implement this with RSD. Sadly I am not so I never purchased RSD and went down the route of using the very expensive (ripoff) Adobe Muse as it has a CMS. The problem with Muse is that its CMS is a browser editor so you have to use an Adobe site in order for a customer to change anything. Basically not fit for purpose as first of all a customer can see the software you are using and the editor doesn't even allow the customer to change fonts or their attributes. If ever Coffee Cup came up with a Sitegrinder like cms for RSD I would have no hesitation in purchasing it. I can dream.............