Web sites provide information.Whether your site is productor service based, educational orcommercial, content is KING.
Along with good design,the key to keeping yourweb site relevant, fresh, andvaluable to users — not tomention search engines — isregularly updated content.Paying a Web designer everytime you need to uploadnew photos or change textcan be expensive and timeconsuming. Fortunately,Content ManagementSystems (CMS) make it easyto manage updates yourself,even within complexdynamic sites.
Basically, content is the“stuff” on your web site:text, photographs, charts,graphics, audio/visualelements, downloadableforms or PDF documents.Content management is howyou manipulate that “stuff”:text revisions, calendarand event updates, newphotographs, forms, evennew pages on the site. ACMS is a computer programor software that allows youto add, delete, or edit thecontent, generally withoutany special knowledge ofcode, programming or Webdesign magic.
When developing a website, your designer willwant all content in advance.This is important, becausecontent influences boththe design — how the siteis composed visually —and how those elementsare structured in the codeso that everything workstogether. Ultimately,everything on the “frontend” of a given web site(the part the user sees) isthe result of programmingcode on the “back end” thattranslates into a given effect.This is what scares mostnon–developers away fromupdating their own sites:they simply don’t know thelanguage.
This is where a CMScomes in. In most cases,CMS input or editing panelslook and operate just likethe familiar programs youuse every day. Text editingis generally straightforward,using standard keyboard,copy–paste and formattingcommands typed directlyinto the panel. Someuse the familiar buttonor menu technology toupload photos, graphicsand other files. In short,they’re designed in sucha way that anyone withstandard computer skillscan accomplish basic Webediting tasks, withoutknowing html or other codinglanguages.
In an ideal world, allCMSs are programmed tointegrate smoothly withevery page and function onyour site. In reality, someCMS solutions cause asmany problems as theysolve. Off–the–shelf versionsare the most problematic.They are designed to workwith a limited number ofdo–it–yourself Web designtemplates, which placeslimitations on how muchyou can customize your siteand editing options. In someways, off–the–shelf CMSs(in conjunction with thetemplates they are designedto work with) can hold yourweb site hostage.
A customized CMS,developed by yourWeb developer to workspecifically with your website, is the best option.Alternately, there areprofessional versions availablefrom both proprietary andopen source vendors, usuallyvia Internet download orsubscription. Proprietarysoftware requires thepurchase of a license andcannot be shared or altered.“Open source”, on the otherhand, means that code canbe viewed and modified bythe public to encourage peerreview and improvementby other programmers.Professional CMSs rangein price from free to quiteexpensive, depending on thesource and what your needsare. Many of them are efficientand cost–effective. However,unless you know what you’relooking at, it may be hard totell. Some are great, whileothers can hobble your siteas much as an off–the–shelfversion.
It comes down to howmuch time and effort youcan invest in learning aboutthe technology. One of themain problems with the moresophisticated do–it–yourselfCMS programs is that theycan be tricky to integrate intoyour site. It’s always preferableto build CMS into the originalinfrastructure of your site toallow for smooth functionalityand future customization.Proprietary CMS vendorsmay offer tech support, butthere may be additional feesand “support” doesn’t tend toinclude technicians who cancome to you for installationand set–up. While a handful ofopen source CMS providersoffer excellent products andtech support, most expectyou to be knowledgeableenough to manipulate and/orcustomize the code yourself.The good news is that mostopen–source companies arecommitted to quality, broadapplicability, and are notstingy with information.Product reviews, links toother resources, and blogposts are readily available.
The simplest solution isto go with a custom CMSdeveloped by your Webdesign/development firm.This is the most direct wayto ensure that your CMSis designed to meet yourindividual needs and isintegrated with the specificconfiguration and features ofyour web site. CustomizedCMS may be more expensiveup–front, but for sites thatrequire frequent updatesor complex integrationacross various pages andfunctionalities, it may bemore cost effective in the longrun. Work with your designerto make sure both of youunderstand what your website and CMS needs are. Insome cases, custom CMS maybe less expensive than otheroptions, especially if youconsider the amount of timeand potential frustration offiguring it out on your own.
A reputable designer/developer will be able to guideyou through the decisionmaking process and answeryour questions. If you havethe interest and are feelingtech–savvy, it’s always a goodidea to do a little research onyour own, even if you leavethe job to your IT specialistor Web designer. The moreyou know, the more likely youare to get what you want andneed.
