A CMS — or Content Management System — is a system to setup and maintain content. And this articles focuses on systems to support the content of your website. The system provides you with standard functionality to setup a site, to use a database, to standardize new web pages, al by means of some prefabricated routines, modules and tables. As any other standardized system, a CMS delivers some standard functions which can be parameterized; you are flexible up to the space left from these parameters.
But when should you use such a system? There are some advantages and disadvantages to consider.
Standardized systems get build because many users face familiar (design) issues. We all need a Web Site, like most companies need some kind of a ERP (enterprise resource planning) system. First these systems are designed in house, like people build their own web applications. Then, specialized companies dedicate their time and focus on building a standard solution for common problems.
The solution a CMS provides is a default design and easy maintenance of a common Web Site. As many people require a space on the virtual world, a CMS could help them.
But first you need to know whether your case really requires a CMS. Although such a decision is not that hard, there are many advantages and disadvantages. If you take these into account your step to implement a Web Site with (if the advantages match your situation) or without a CMS is just one further down the road.
A good example of the environment where the CMS is used is the news agency. The journalist writes either content on a PC (workstation) at the office or off side on a PDA and through an interface this content is transferred to the CMS and merged with the rest of the content flow; some content takes only the webroad, other only the printed version and yet other takes both.
Related Links:
Is Jhoomla the Best Open Source CMS? - Profitimo Articles
Reason why you need CMS in your Site?
Have Complete Control over your Website’s content with CMS! - Thumbshots Articles
FAQ’s - Content Management System (CMS) - Profitimo Articles
When should you Use CMS in your website? - By Hans Bool
How to use Open Source CMS to control your website?
Recommended Books:
Content Management Systems (Tools of the Trade) - by Dave Addey , James Ellis , Phil Suh , David Thiemecke
Real World ASP.NET: Building a Content Management System - by Stephen R.G. Fraser
Contributed By:
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Hans Bool
Hans Bool is the owner of Astor White, a consulting company that provides both traditional consulting services as more innovative online management tools. In either way, we help companies with the translation of their strategy into operational management guidelines. The use of tools can accelerate this process. The tools are also useful for team alignments and support the process to increase organizational productivity.
3 responses so far ↓
Robert G. // January 21, 2008 at 3:07 pm
A clean layout that uses a lot of white space enhances a site’s looks. Try to keep the focus on your content.
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