A content management system, which is more commonly known as CMS, is software that you run on your own server in order to handle and publish all your website content easily, from HTML files, images, etc.
CMS makes the process of updating and uploading your content much simpler and easier, plus it gives you the added bonus of being able to easily create a dynamic, automated website.
Choosing the right content management system to use is probably one of the best things you can do for your website, but you have to know what factors you need to take into account before making your final decision.n nThe important questionsn nIt probably sounds like a wise move to integrate a CMS into your Web management activities, but don’t make your decision based on that detail alone. You would need to figure out various things first. Ask yourselfnDo I really need a CMS?n nWhat kind of website will I be putting up/do I already have? Is it a blog, an online shop, a news website, or an image gallery?
What is the website updating and maintenance process like at the moment and how could it become more efficient?
Will further improvements and upcoming features on the site, such as interactivity tools, message boards, or even Flash movies, work well with a CMS?
What other elements of my website should my CMS be capable of handling?n nThe important thing is to know how your website can benefit from a CMS and how the CMS can streamline Web management for your group. Once you’ve established what kinds of capabilities you’re looking for, then you can start actively choosing your CMS.n nCommercial vs. open source vs. custom-maden nOne of the first issues Web developers have to face is what kind of CMS they should select, and the first question is whether to go with a commercially-produced CMS, a free open-source CMS available for downloading online, or to have in-house programmers create a CMS from scratch. Each one has its own unique set of features and advantages, but also comes with its own problematic issues.n nCommercial content management systems tend to make developers shrink back because of their thousand-dollar price tags, which is why only the biggest names in business tend to opt for a commercial CMS. The New York Times, JP Morgan Chase, ScotiaBank, and Sun Microsystems are just a few of the companies whose websites are working with a commercial CMS. The best part about a commercial CMS is that you can get regular updates, new plug-ins, and have regular tech support working for you. Unfortunately, it doesn’t lend itself easily to any modifications you might want to have done on the system.n nOpen-source CMS tend to be a heavy favorite with individual website developers because they’re easy to download, install, and run. There are open-source CMS out there that fulfill a particular function, such as those which target blog sites or online stores.
The main challenge of using open-source CMS is the fact that they don’t always tend to be very stable systems. Programmers are usually developing them on the side, and this doesn’t guarantee that the system will be regularly updated or repaired because it’s possible that software development can be halted or resumed depending on the creator’s whims.n nMany companies also choose to have their own CMS developed in-house, or they may hire a development company to build it. This is favorable because it allows for flexibility and can integrate the very specific needs of a website. You will also be able to freely access the source code, make needed changes, and integrate additions to the CMS. However, it may prove to be much more time-consuming than simply buying or installing one, plus you might also need a dedicated team to fully develop and test its functionalities and conduct the site migration.n nOther CMS factorsn nIt doesn’t stop there. Once you’ve figured out for what purpose the CMS will be used, what kind of features you need, and what kind you want for your website, you would then have to determine other factors. These factors may include how user-friendly it would be, which people in your team will be using it, its simplicity of use for the non-technical members of your team, its capability of handling your website’s load, and its capacity to provide ample support and documentation, among other considerations.n nCMS hunting groundsn nNow that you’ve figured out what kind of CMS you have in mind, it’s time for you to get out there and start looking for the perfect one for your website. There are many sites offering CMS advice, comparisons, tips, and news about upcoming products as well as updates to systems currently out in the market.
Sites like Builder.com and CMSWatch.com provide more than adequate information on the subject which The CMS Matrix (
www.cmsmatrix.org) allows you to do a search for the right CMS for your needs, and you will even get to see an exhaustive list of presently active CMS on the website.n nYou might also want to go straight to the CMS developers themselves to learn about how their system works and check out their demo pages, too. You can also look through the sites of Web design and development companies, since a lot of them also build content management systems bearing their brand and usually offer extensive how-to guides and support. n nMaking the right CMS choice in itself can be a long process, but it is undoubtedly worth it to take the time to understand everything a CMS can do for your website.