Content Management System(CMS)
What is a CMS? What are the features and purposes of CMS? Discussed below are the attributes of CMS, common misconceptions and renowned CMS vendors.
Understanding CMS
CMS is actually a software application which simplifies the generation, publishing, organization and editing of content. CMSs are utilized in creation and management of digital content. They are often used in website and enterprise content management (WCM & ECM).The renowned word press is actually a CMS. It allows the user an opportunity to generate and publish web content. CMS is often used for website publications but it can also be useful in content management on a computer or on internet platforms.
The enterprise CMS is used in facilitating workplace collaboration through integration of document management, management of digital assets and retention of records, and offering access to end users for the digital assets of an organization. The web CMS software incorporates come publication functions although the enterprise CMS web pages are held behind the firewall of an organization. An amazing CMS should allow users to generate and manage their own content with or without technical capabilities.
Only recently SMEs depended on HTML websites to carry out their online duties because they couldn’t afford a CMS. CMSs were expensive. The problem is no longer with us. Word Press is a free open source CMS for everyone. There are a number of creative ways through which CMSs like Word Press can be used. Word Press has, for instance, been used to run blogs, portfolios, SMEs websites, university websites, movie databases, arcade sites, companies’ internal systems of communication, web directories etc.
WCM and ECM
Both the web and enterprise CMS detail two components i.e. the content management and delivery applications (CMA and CDA). CMA can be defined as the GUI (Graphical User Interface). GUI makes it possible for users to regulate the generation, adjustment and deletion of website content without having any prior knowledge of HTML. CDA on the other hand are components that offer back end support. CDA is responsible for the administration and delivery of web content upon generation in CMA.
CMS features
CMS characteristics may differ depending on the CMS offering. There are, however, some primary functions such as search, retrieval, indexing, revision control, publishing and format management that are considered universal. Some of these features are discussed below.
- Intuitive search, indexing and retrieval. These characteristics index the entire set of data in order to allow for its easy retrieval through the searching function. Users are allowed to search information using features like author name, keywords and publication dates etc.
- The management of format enables the conversion of scanned and electronic documents into PDF files or HTML documents.
- The publishing attribute makes it possible for users to utilize organization approved templates, wizards and other applications for creation and modification of content.
- The revision attribute allows for editing and updating of content after its publication. The control feature of revision allows for tracking of modifications made on files by users.
CMS also make one to one marketing possible through the provision of necessary tools. This type of marketing is one in which a website has capacity to customize adverts and content to the specific characteristics of a user by utilizing the provided information from user or through acquiring relevant user information from website.
CMS purpose
The primary role of CMS in relation to a website is the provision of capacity for many users, who have different levels of permission, to run or manage sections of web content. For instance you could be having a website that has press releases, blogs, articles, events, store etc. and allocate each of these sections to a user with an ability to generate, edit and publish content there.
Misconceptions and downsides of CMS
It is commonly misconstrued that CMS is the primary web success ingredient. The allegation is untrue. CMSs are intended to administer and disseminate web content for web owners. The success or failure of a website is not pegged on CMS. It has everything to do with content quality, service quality, marketing and other significant factors.
CMSs do not abolish the need to hire a programmer or web developer to modify a website. Such an idea is totally misplaced.
A good number of CMS particularly those that are open source and overstuffed to encompass many functions require skilled programmers to execute any customization. It is only through such a medium that such CMS can be tailored to handle a person’s business goals and for maintenance of projects that are large scale.
CMS Vendors
There are a number of open source and subscription CMSs available today both for enterprise and personal use. Some of the renowned CMS include:
- WordPress
- Joomla
- Megento
- Zen cart
- Open Cart
- PrestaShop
- Drupal
- Php Fusion
- OpenText
- Pulse CMS
CMS has minimised the need for coding, has made it easier to generate a unified feel and look, allows web owner to manage permissions and control version. CMS requires special skills and training in order to run efficiently. It might be hard to introduce functions not envisioned beforehand in CMS. For assistance with all CMS needs please contact our service team.