“Open Source” may sound like a buzzword, and if you’ve done a little research into beginning or expanding your marketing, you’ve probably come across this phrase. These days, it is a buzzword, but for good reason.
Open source products on the internet can mean big things for small businesses. In short, products that are made open source are software items that have been created to be distributed and modified on the open market. To begin with, all software comes from somewhere. That seems simple, right? For most companies, though, their power is in their software. They protect it with a fierceness, and big brands do their best to ensure that competitors, people, and random companies can’t copy their intellectual intelligence.
This is exactly why open sourced software is different. The source code, which is the language that tells the software how to talk to your computer, is not only free from restrictions, but modifications and revisions are encouraged. Tons of super smart folks are encouraged to delve into the source code that makes up open source products. The idea is simple: the more minds and hands that are on the product, the better and more error-free it will become in the long-run.
Basically, the licensing for open sourced products, while belonging to the original owner, is really owned by anyone that wants to contribute to making the final product better. Many of Optimum System Online’s clients have begun to find out just how great the open source community can be. Products like Magento, Drupal, and Joomla! make amazing and professional-looking websites by utilizing the powers of open source capabilities.
How does this technology translate to benefit the clients of Optimum Systems Online and many others? It’s very simple. Since the source code is free to be modified and added on by any developer that sees fit to do so, users of the programs that are built on open source technologies are constantly receiving upgrades and changes that make their websites better. While open source technology exists in my facets of the web, the most known place that business owners will see this is in content building products.
If you’re a small business owner with a budget that can’t handle an expensive web developer, you may benefit greatly from the open source concept. You can build a website from scratch for free (often times) by utilizing existing templates. You’ll generally benefit from the knowledge of a community that knows how and why that product was built, and you’ll often be afforded with the comfort of quick fixes if you can’t find the answer you’re looking for.
While the world is filled with “I own this” and “you can’t do that”, the world of open source has taken the horse by the reigns and said, “We’re all in this together”. When you utilize open source technologies, you’re getting the best and the brightest at a price that often times equates to, well, nothing but the love that you’re willing to put into your website.
If you’re looking for ways to enhance your online presence, contact our team at Optimum Online Systems, and let us know how we can help your business succeed!
