Last week, I told you about a clever little CMS I’d found via my my web design partner (yeah, he’s got my back!). It’s GetSimple CMS by Chris Cagle. It is designed to serve a niche market for the small web site that doesn’t need all the bells and whistles of WordPress, Drupal, Joomla! or any other full blown content management system. And it doesn’t need a database. It runs completely on XML. And, the best thing about it? It’s a snap to design for. We ended up designing our first GS web site on Friday afternoon. It was a fluke, actually. Client called and needed a site up ASAP. Within less than an hour after the domain was purchased, GS was up and running and within another hour, the site had a spanking new design. But enough about us. Along with this new GS-powered web site, I want to feature four other small business/professional web sites that are running GetSimple.

Gus Wortham Conservancy

DESIGN STUDIO: Pixelita Designs
This was our first foray into setting up and designing a GetSimple site for a client. I spoke about the sandbox we have up and running where we plan to develop some GS Themes and poke around under the GS hood a bit. But this was a bit different. The challenge was the time frame. They needed the site up and running right away. Once we realized the Conservancy just needed a web presence, a place to disseminate information about the golf course’s conservancy efforts and to solicit volunteers and donations, we knew it was perfect for GetSimple. The client also wanted a slightly customized contact page, but there are a few nits there that need to be ironed out, so for the time being, the default Contact page (using the contact.php template that ships with GS) is being used. Once the issues with the dropdown box and extra field for telephone are ironed out, we’ll implement that. The best thing is that the client will have no trouble updating the site on their own.

Jack Wise, Magician

DESIGN STUDIO: DigiMute
This is a very nice example of how GetSimple can drive an entrepreneur’s site. There is plenty of content here, and even though I’m not a huge fan of black backgrounds and light text, this one is very well done, and really, with the photograph chosen, the design had to travel down that road. Still the typography is well done and it’s very easy to read.

The Bart Project

DESIGN STUDIO: Edwin Vermaas
This is a site that the web designer “whipped up for a friend.” It’s loosely based on the GS Theme “Simple” (which, incidentally he also designed), and cleverly adds playfulness with the use of image replacement. It’s a very clean site, but has lots of visual interest. Well done, Eddy.

Otto’s GardenBahn

DESIGN STUDIO: Bad Cat
This is a very well done small business web site. It has a lot of visual interest, not only in the lovely design, but the sidebar photo gallery. Flash headers class it up even further. GetSimple can power a business web site, depending on the needs of the business. Otto’s is a very informative site and I came away wanting to know more about this fascinating venue.

Write Advice

DESIGN STUDIO: Cagintranet
This web site was created by Chris Cagle, the creator of GetSimple, and according to Chris, it “is exactly the type of site I originally made GetSimple for.” Another fine example of an entrepreneur’s site. This one is that of a copywriter and resume writer Emily Kavanagh. Notice how the contact form is on the sidebar, rather than a page of its own. I’d also love to pick Chris’ brain to see how he pulled off that trick with the About page. Notice the “more” link, which takes you to the full blown “About” page. Yet only an excerpt appears on the sidebar. And overall, a neat and elegant, almost minimalist design. Typography choices are spot on. Well done, Chris.