What platform/CMS is best to use for a niche information site?

Hi all. I am looking to build a large information site with at least a few hundred articles about 5-6 diverse topics. The site will be about finance and investing. I also want a forum component. Also on the main page I would like some sort of blog component where I can post the newest updates and articles. Now I have limited knowledge in HTML/CSS/PHP. I am asking for advice on what CMS or software will let me launch such a site and maintain it with as little pain as possible.


Thanks in advance.

 

I do a similar thing and do it all with Wordpress which wioll accomplish all you ask easily. If you want to have a look at a sample of what yopu can accomplish go to bloggingempires.com

Quentin

 

Try Joomla - I have a site like what you describe and have found Joomla to be a great CMS. Wordpress will also work fine if all you need is to blog.

 

.. I didnt know that Wordpress could do forums .. ?

Anyway, i do pretty much exactly what you describe with Drupal.. it's pretty easy, very powerful and expandable, and most importantly, VERY SEO friendly when used as directed..

 

Yeah there is a plugin that will allow you to have a forum on your wordpress blog it can be found at http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins

 

You can also check out ExpressionEngine. It is paid software but there are advantages. The forum module was built by the EE developers and integrates perfectly into the rest of the CMS. EE is very powerful and I have found it to be the easiest system to build a site with. There is also a dedicated support team to answer your questions in the forums.

 

I've put together a demo of using wordpress as a CMS:

http://www.simplywordpresscms.com

I've left the theme based on standard Kubrick so you know that it's WP - just with some modifications.

 

WP and Joomla both are good option but Joomla can be better for a bigger site not having blogging look! you will have to give it some time to get used to Joomla but once you are gone through thats amazing

 

I guess you are referring to my site that I quickly knocked up. You only have to look at the dudes blogging empires to see one that's been customised to fit inside a normal website template, if you could see that far.