Why your friends won’t shut up about Content Management Systems (CMS)
A more recent addition to the web development world is the concept of a Content Management System or CMS. It does exactly as the title implies, but opens up a whole new world to managing your website.
Traditionally, any time a site needed to alter content, a person would need to write to an HTML file on the web server. This created an arduous task for whoever was in charge of maintaining site design and consistency. Not to mention navigation could easily be corrupted.
The latest solution, and one that many companies are switching to, is a web based application (of some sort, any sort) to control that content and separate it from the structure and design of the website. They come in many forms, but these web applications are generally referred to as “Content Management Systems”. So why would so many of your peers be switching?
- Prior technical experience to use a CMS: not much
- The average person with basic computer skills can modify the entire structure of their website and control the content within that structure. You don’t even need to have attended a Treky convention, although it could help when you start hanging out with the pocket protector carrying geeks on your block. Most text formatting is similar to using a word processor. However, the flexibility is available to customize even the deepest functions of your website, if you have the skills.
- The content can be fresh and inexpensive to maintain
- Using a web based tool to update your content makes it as easy as checking your emails. The flip side is your customers on your website feel like you’re still in business and getting things done. The bonus is that if you, or someone in your office, is making a change, you don’t have to worry about how many hours your web developer is clocking on simple data entry.
- The best cure for insomnia
- Awake at 3am with a great idea for your website. Since your content management system is web based, you can use it anytime from any computer. Versions for mobile phones allow you to update your content from the Treky convention too!
- Searching your site is built in!
- One of the greatest benefits my clients find from their content managers is the search function. Traditionally, building a search function for a website was expensive and flaky at best. Since content managers are all database driven, the option to let your customer search your content is available at no extra charge.
- Website content can run in sync with traditional marketing
- Since your marketing team isn’t usually your geek crew, it can be hard to find consistency between their work. Once a content management system is in place, your marketing materials can be timed to execute with your website to support them. In fact, marketing people can even be taught how to use the CMS to coordinate everything internally. It’s a great world!
Like all new technologies, expense can be a limiting factor. And with content management systems, the upfront expense is usually higher than a traditional static HTML website. However, as open source solutions (that generally means FREE) are popping up, the upfront costs are going down while the benefits are rising fast. Ask your web developers about a CMS solution for your site, you’ll be glad you did. Enjoy!
Tags: CMS, content, design, development, fresh, management, Marketing, open source, search, website