PublishSync
PublishSync is a website design paradigm I use to build sites for small- to medium-sized companies and organizations. It is premised on the following foundations: (a) websites should be dynamic, (b) data integration does not have to be expensive or painful, (c) data should be easy to update and supplement, and (d) you — not a techie in Bangor, Bangalor or the Bronx — should control your website. PublishSync takes advantage of new media and technologies as enablers, not as flash and glitz.
Cold Fusion, MySQL and CSS-based HTML are my basic tools, along, of course, with Photoshop, Acrobat and a range of other assorted media authoring software for the Mac that allow me to do loads of stuff with images, sound, movies, whatever. And of course the CFWebstore ecommerce package. The result is powerful, open-source relational databases married to smoothly professional presentation, rooted in style standards and user-friendly design. In practical terms, it means fast, intelligent websites with dynamic elements like events calendars, photo archives, stores, music downloads and movies. That's the front end.
But what really sets PublishSync apart is its back end: a customized browser-based content management system. Accessible from anywhere in the world through your web browser, it is designed to be fast, easy to learn and a breeze to use. It allows you full control over all the dynamic elements of your site — from events calendars to contacts, from photos to links — so that changes are made on your schedule.
Some of the dynamic systems I have put in place are: an advertising management system, client and advertising database, concert listings, recordings listings with dynamic links to ecommerce and reviews, visitor-driven feedback sites, customer review databases, an editorial planning calendar, e-commerce integration, report printing, online marketing, links databases, events databases, company databases, and an editorial archive. Some samples of my work are shown below (click on the image to pull up a larger image, follow the site link to see the live site. At right are image links to screen shots of what a customized back end looks like. If you like what you see, contact me to find out how to put PublishSync to work for you. (Sites are listed below from newest to oldest.)
Carlo Ponti
The
challenge: To create a fast, clean, professional site for this world-class conductor. Pages for recordings, press acclaim, biography and conducting schedule. Interfaces with database for conducting events and features dynamically rotating text quotes without the use of Flash. site
Sarah Munro
The challenge: Turn an out of date, poorly organized display site into a clean, crisp, dynamically updateable ecommerce site for this Montpelier artist's popular Silk Scapes, notecards and paintings. Built in CFWebstore, ver. 6. Show schedule and stores carrying Sarah's work managed by PublishSync backend. site
Langdon Street Cafe
The challenge: To create a fast, data-driven website for a local cafe which needs to update performance information on a daily basis. Requires easy-to-understand navigation and an edgy look that properly represent's the cafe's progressive ethic. Events, links and customer photo uploading all managed by PublishSync backend. Flash-based slide-show on front page. site
Napa Bella Notte
The challenge: Create a simple, easy to navigate, yet elegant site for a benefit auction and musical event. Have pleasant presentation of photos and auction lots, plus ability to order tickets online and capture query information into a database for future use. site
Mark LeGrand
The
challenge: Develop a musical artist site that is content-rich and conveys
a professional image. Database handles events calendar and photo upload capability.
Nested pages and selective use of widgets make this a dynamic, easy-to-update
site. Includes Flash elements for listening to song samples. site
Russian National Orchestra
The challenge: To create a strong, extensible and fast database-driven website to present a huge web of information about Russia's premier symphony orchestra. Features deep integration between appearances, people, music, reviews, recordings and links offsite. Over 300 static pages and hundreds of dynamically generated ones. Flash elements for video viewing and music sampling. All managed by a custom-built backend. site
Vodkaphiles
The challenge: To create a dynamic, web 2.0, user-driven site. Every page must be dynamically generated to integrate the latest additions by thousands of daily users. Includes vodka rankings and user reviews and ratings, links to offsite info and brand websites, news, recipes and ecommerce. site
Russian Life
The
challenge: To create a dynamic website to fit the growing needs of a niche magazine, integrating a vast online archive, very active ecommerce, as well as a very rich database back end that is used to manage content, advertising, commerce, events and more. A recent addition includes dynamic advertorial buyers' guides with user reviews, a national map based on Google widgets for showing Russian-related locations, and a Flash-enabled gallery for the magazine's 90+ covers. site