petehall - 2:07 pm on Nov 3, 2012 (gmt 0)

@backdraft7 - All my sites are essentially CMS based but they are 100% bespoke. I do all of the development myself, from a very basic shell which I then build on depending on my clients requirements.

The architecture of each site is essentially very similar as they are built with the same theory / methods, however the html output (code and content) which Google sees is always different across each site.

I am able to re-optimise and re-structure the sites very easily because I'm not running on a platform I haven't written / do not understand fully.

I've never been a believer in buying an off the shelf package to then try to manipulate it to rank, although I know this can be done and it does work well for people. I do feel more so in emerging markets where searches aren't as competitive.

Instead I've always constructed websites using my own knowledge of what I believe works in search engines, a thought process which evolved since late 90's and is still continuing to evolve... I never seem to stop learning.

I think if you do move to a CMS system it will be a good move, providing you pay extra special attention to 301 redirecting before you launch the new site.