• Plum CMS
• Features
• Approach
• Services
• Support
• Pricing
• Demos
• Plum Evolution

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Plum CMS?
2. Why is Plum CMS priced so low?
3. How do I purchase Plum CMS?
4. What happens after I purchase Plum CMS?
5. Do you outsource design or development work?
6. Is Plum CMS adaptable to my business?
7. How do upgrades and updates work?
8. How do the Plum CMS modules work?
9. What modules are planned for release in the near future?
10. What are the future plans for Plum CMS?
11. I want to see a demo first, what do I do?
12. I want to see an assisted demo, what do I do?
13. What happens if I cancel my Plum CMS License?
14. How long will it take for my website to be designed after I purchase Plum CMS?
15. We are interested in purchasing Plum CMS, customizing it and installing it on our own servers.  How can we do this?

1. What is Plum CMS?

Plum CMS is a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) website editing and Content Management tool which allows you to add pages, pictures, documents, blogs, newsfeeds, eCommerce and other functionality to your website at the touch of a button.  No technical knowledge of website design or programming is required to use Plum CMS and it comes with extensive documentation and online support to help you manage your website.

2. Why is Plum CMS priced so low?

Plum CMS is priced with small and medium size businesses in mind. When developing Plum CMS, we had the option of seeking third party funding from investment firms or venture capitalists.  Instead, we've chosen to release an introductory version of Plum CMS at even lower than normal introductory price.

We're also aware of the current economic climate and know that all businesses are trying to save money where possible.  That's why we've released also Plum CMS sooner than planned. You don't need to pay a webmaster or web developer on a monthly basis to manage the content on your website. If you can use Microsoft Office, you can use Plum CMS. It's easy to use, won't break your bank, and we're always here to answer questions.

3.  How do I Purchase Plum CMS?

You can purchase Plum CMS online by visiting the VAFTA Solutions Store on http://www.vafta.com/store or over the phone by calling +44 (0) 20 8133 3550.

When ordering online, you can pay via PayPal or Credit Card (through PayPal).  When ordering over the phone, you can send us a payment via PayPal, Cheque or Telegraphic Transfer or setup a Standing Order if you choose to pay monthly.

4. What happens after I purchase Plum CMS?

After you order Plum CMS online or over the phone, we'll send you a questionaire to get a better understanding of what you or your business does.  This will help us get a better understanding of what kind of a site design you need.

In addition, you can let us know using the questionaire whether you need email addresses, a domain name, or other information relating to your website and Plum CMS. Once you submit this information, we'll custom design your website, setup the appropriate email accounts, configure Plum CMS, and send you an email with the information you need to log in and start updating your website.  It's that simple!

5. Do you outsource design or development work?

No. All work done on Plum CMS or one the design of your website is completed in the United Kingdom or United States of America.

6. Is Plum CMS adaptable to my business?

Yes! Plum CMS is adaptable to any business and any website.  If you have a business that requires a specific function that is not currently offered by Plum, we can code that separately (for an additional price) and add that on to your website. Since Plum is installed on custom designed websites, it is adaptable to your business, your look and your style.

The future plans for Plum CMS include adding modules for function specific businesses real estate agents and brokers and Travel agents.  These functions will be provided as modules (in addition to the ones listed on this website), which means that with one website and one Plum CMS license you could run multiple business endeavours. 

7. How is the Introductory Release different from what will be the full release?

Updates and upgrades become available on a monthly basis and are automatically applied to your website at scheduled times. Except for cases of emergency or security updates or patches, you will be notified of any updates, additional module releases and subsequent down-time in advance.

8. How do the Plum CMS modules work?

Once Plum CMS modules are available, they become visible in the Modules Section of your Plum CMS Interface. To enable a module, you simply press the Enable Module button, after which you can start using the module. It's free and simple and literally works at the touch of a button.

9. What modules are planned for release in the near future?

Modules planned for release within the next 6 months are:

• Blog - Gives you the ability to add a blog to your website
• Photo Gallery - Allows you to add a full album based photo gallery to your website
• Linksroll - Allows you to create a directory of related links or partner websites
• Portfolio - Allows you to add a list of completed works, clients or testimonials to your website
• eCommerce - This module will allow you to add an online store to sell products or services and collect payment from your customers using PayPal or Google Checkout 

10. What are the future plans for Plum CMS?

Plum CMS is here to stay.  We already have a concept design for the Plum CMS version 2 interface and functionality. This includes the enhanced ability to define different editable areas of your website with different pages, which would basically make for a completely dynamically editable page that can be mixed and match with various dynamic areas on the website. It's a new concept, and we're already working on putting it into practice.

In addition to the future concept, we're also adding new features, functionality and modules to Plum CMS. As we get more feedback from you, the customer, we are working round the clock to make Plum CMS a more user-friendly product. It's one of the few Content Management Systems that is built with the end user, not the webmaster, in mind. You get to have a say in what Plum CMS evolves into. It's your website editing tool, and it's going to do what's best for you.

11. I want to see a demo first, what do I do?

To see and use a demo version of Plum CMS, simply fill out the form on the Demo page, choose "Demo" from the Type of Demo options we'll send you the information and URL to a demo Plum CMS installation where you can log-in and see what Plum CMS looks like and what it does.

12. I want to see an assisted demo, what do I do?

All demos are now automated. Please visit the Demo page to try the software for free.

13. What happens if I cancel my Plum CMS License?

If you cancel Plum CMS, your website, emails etc. simply gets removed from the internet and deleted from our hosting servers.

- You will get upto 24 hours (or longer depending on the notice period given to us) to back-up all the content you have put up on the website and back-up or save down all your emails
- If we have registered your domain name for you, we can simply transfer the domain name upon your initiation of a domain transfer request to a registrar of your choice at your cost
- You will get an original static design copy of your website in a Photoshop (PSD) or equivalent format which was used to design your website
- You will be given any flash banners that you purchased or which were designed by VAFTA Solutions for your website
- You will NOT get a copy of the database or FTP access to the server or host where your files reside, as all the code and database design are property of VAFTA Solutions Limited
- If you chose to pay monthly at the time of purchase of Plum CMS, the remainder of the monthly payments from yout 12-month committment become payable in full upon the termination of your Plum CMS license.

14. How long will it take for my website to be designed after I purchase Plum CMS?

Unless you add a flash banner or have other specific requirements, turnaround for a Plum CMS based website is typically 5-7 working days but it may take upto 3 weeks to get your website ready.

If you have ordered additional services, we will inform you of the additional time it will take to get your website designed and launched.

15. We are interested in purchasing Plum CMS, customizing it and installing it on our own servers.  How can we do this?

Unfortunately, you cannot yet do this. Plum CMS is currently only available as a managed and hosted solution from VAFTA Solutions Limited.