This is an example of our own content management system.
I spend a lot of my time as senior web developer at KGBTexas managing content on websites. Some of that content is static, which means it lives as part of a physical Web page while a lot of it is dynamic, which means it lives in a database on Web server.
Nowadays managing content is not some techie kind of activity that only programmers do. In fact we all manage content to some extent. If you have ever posted a status update on Facebook or shared a recent find on Twitter then you have managed that content.
Managing content on a website is more complex than a status update but the basic functions are the same – you enter some text or images in a box on a Web page and click a button to save it. Today there are many tools one can use to manage content on a website. Some tools are free and can be downloaded and installed on any server, while others require fees and must be run as a service. Choosing the right tool can be an overwhelming undertaking because of the many choices and requirements. Here are six guidelines when choosing a content management system (CMS):
1. Requirement
The first step towards choosing a CMS is to determine your current content management needs. For example how often will the content be updated? Will you need to manage media such as images and video? Will you need to sell items on the website or have granular control of content publishing? By defining your needs for the website, it will help you make better choices about what CMS is a good fit.
2. Technology
The next consideration should be related to what kind of technology will be needed. If your company runs many of your internal systems using Windows-based products then it might make sense to leverage the in-house knowledge and invest in a Windows-based CMS. On the other hand using open-source tools that are based on stable platforms such as Linux and Apache can keep costs down while providing tools that can scale as your needs change.
3. People Friendly
Updating content was once relegated to the techie HTML programmers that understood what the many acronyms such as FTP, HTTP and SSl mean. Nowadays content management tools make website management accessible to many people with varying skill levels. Choosing the right tool involves understanding who will be making the additions and changes to the website on a regular basis. If it will be Mary from accounting or Bob from marketing, it is important to select a tool that will promote its use not an aversion to it.
4. Search Engine Ready
Search engine optimization is the act of placing strategic words and combinations of words on websites to ensure the search engines understand what your website is about. Selecting a CMS that makes it easy to finely tune all those areas and content is important because it can mean the difference between being found or overlooked for specific searches. When selecting a tool make sure you have full control over the page titles, URLs, page descriptions, and structure of the content. These are all important factors when it comes to how search engine companies store and retrieve your website in search results.
5. Design Flexible
Extending your brand to the Web is a critical component to any business development initiative. This is why having full control over the look and feel of your website becomes very important when choosing a CMS. Being able to implement a design that is fully customized to your business needs and goals will ensure that it does not look like a template-based website. Having granular control of the HTML and CSS, the positioning of elements and the ability to implement multimedia are all important factors when selecting a CMS.
6.Extensibility
Being able to extend the CMS by creating new functionality or adding new modules should be a major consideration in the selection process. Your business needs will change over time so having a cms that can accommodate that change is important as well.
Selecting a content management system can be an overwhelming task. At KGBTexas we spend a lot of time managing content in a variety of tools that run on many different technologies. Each has its benefits and advantages that are specific to the goals of the websites we manage. We can also help your business make the right choice by evaluating your needs and goals then making recommendations that are the right fit now and as your business grows. Let us know how we can help.
