Finalsite CMS

Integrations can be tricky, but this is an incredibly intuitive product + free trainings

Comments: Overall, I really do enjoy using Finalsite. The support I receive from our account manager and their training/study group team is tops. I also really appreciate how simple and easy it is for me to make changes in real-time. I can update an entire page in a matter of minutes thanks to their modules. Love Finalsite.

Pros:

I LOVE how user-friendly both our site and the back-end of Finalsite are. Honestly, it's the easiest CMS I've ever used. I also love the free training opportunities and study groups with their team. It's a quick way to get the help/info I need when making site updates.

Cons:

The integration process with Rediker was a bit funky and I had to be far more hands-on than I wanted at times, but it wasn't terrible. I also do not like some of the formatting issues I run into at times, but it's still a great product.

Lots of Bells and Whistles

Pros:

Finalsite Composer is a complete solution that works best when integrated with our Finaliste Products. While we were happy with the tools and modules available, it became overwhelming for our small school. Their webinars and training are great and offer many best practices cases.

Cons:

The software is expensive, although you do get what you pay for. For a large, international or boarding school I would highly recommend this software. However, for smaller schools, the cost can be prohibitive when working with tight budgets.

I fear their focus on expansion to the public sector has commodified their offerings

Comments: I am a bit of an oddball fan of the company and its [SENSITIVE CONTENT] and really have been impressed by their evolution. In the early 2010s, they really took a leap forward in their design capabilities and the updated composer has offered more flexibility to the management of the websites. However, I have seen them focus on expansion in the last few years and offering more and more templated products to meet a variety of budgetary options for an expanding clientele base, and during that, I would say that their ability to differentiate themselves in the designs of the websites has suffered. I can look at a site and tell you without scrolling to the bottom of the homepage and seeing their now-ubiquitous logo stamp when a site has been made by them.
Their customer service is decent, though you often have to keep them on track and make sure that they fully understand your issue otherwise you might have a solution provided that, while novel, doesn't address the actual issue you had.
If you're looking for a new website, they are a must include in the list to consider.

Pros:

The software itself is fairly intuitive and there is very little difference between Composer and others after the site has been built out.

Cons:

The overall benefit of working with Finalsite is that you get a fully built product and don't have to design, engineer, and build it yourself or have a position dedicated to purely managing the website. Because it is built around a proprietary system, you are pretty much on rails once your site has been built and delivered. The downside here is that you get locked in until the next major site overhaul.

The PERFECT Product for School Marketing

Comments: Finalsite Composer makes web marketing incredibly easy.

Pros:

Everything, but especially the user interface, customer support, website design levels, templated website designs, ease of functionality. Composer is really easy to use and makes creating compelling marketing content very easy.

Cons:

The price is a little high, especially for a school with a smaller budget, but it is 100% worth it in my opinion. We've seen an increase in enrollment overtime since using Finalsite.

Intuitive web editing interface with foolproof features

Pros:

Finalsite is easy-to-use and functionality is strong for a web editing and content management tool. I appreciate the intuitive interface and reliable availability.

Cons:

The messaging interfaces are difficult to navigate in terms of sequencing messages to an audience. There are limited options to collaborate between multiple users (at the same time).