What is a Content Management System (CMS)?

December 30th, 2014

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A Content Management System, or CMS, puts you in control of the content on your website. This software is integrated into your website and offers a collection of tools that save you time and money.

A website with a CMS has many advantages, the most obvious of which is the ability to keep your site up to date, any time of day or night, without a programmer or any programming skills. You can update and change your site, publish new content, and organize your content through the menu system. This flexibility also wins you points with search engines as they want to know that you can, and do, update your content on a regular basis.

Understanding Web CMS

There are a variety of content management systems available and each varies somewhat in its functionality and possibilities. Each may have unique procedures to manage workflow, but here are some of the common facilities available to make your life easy and your website always shiny and new:

Pre-set templates and tools make it easy and convenient for users to set up new pages, add content, format, publish, update, and make changes to the website on their own. This can be done in a simple non-technical way, whenever you want or need changes, mostly through a web-based interface, without depending on web designers or programmers.

Assign permission to users on individual basis, to view or edit the content on various sections of the website and dynamically publish new information. You not only control your site’s content, you control who has access to it.

Apply the same layout consistently through your site, including navigation menus, components and design. The specific information within each page will change, but your brand and key navigational elements remain the same throughout. Your visitors will have an easier time touring your site and it will be easy for you to build your site.

Store data in the content management system, including documents, scientific data, pictures, movies etc. Make this information readily available to your clients and potential clients with download options.

There is reduction in duplication of information, increase in flexibility of the website, improvement in navigation, strengthened security, and less time and money required for site maintenance.

A CMS helps to manage the site structure, provide increased cross-linking of internal pages, and some offer simple drag and drop options to restructure the site as per individual choices and requirements.

Authorized users can perform in-context editing by clicking on hidden or special buttons on the web pages even while browsing normally and switch the page into editing mode, and immediately view the changes made.

Incorporation of WYSIWYG controls makes it easier for non-technical people to work on the site, without having to work with or understand HTML code.

Content management systems includes various helpful built-in features like online surveys and polls, which can collect data for marketing initiatives and other projects. RSS feeds offer a steady stream of new information, which can help bring traffic to the website.

CMS keep design and the content separate, facilitating change in design of the website without any change in the content layout.

Content management systems can support your business by helping you to communicate with your clients through your website with updated information. It can improve the user experience of your website, increasing their satisfaction by helping them to find what they are looking for with a well-structured information system. You can also improve sales by improving coordination between various departments, to better serve your business goals and strategies.

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