Content Management Systems Resources

What is a content management system or CMS?

A content management system is effectively a software system that can be used to manage, publish, create and edit a variety of electronic text or digital media directly onto a website without the need to know any prior technical or programming knowledge. A website platform has two elements: CDA or content delivery application and CMA or content management application. CMS systems are used for versioning, storing, controlling and publishing documentations such as technical manuals, news articles, marketing brochures, sales guide and operators’ manuals. The actual content that is managed may include electronic documents, web content, audio files, computer files, image media and video files.

The content management application allows the content author or manager, who has no prior knowledge of HTML, to manage the removal, modification and creation of content from a website without the use of an expert webmaster. Content delivery application is a system that allows the management and distribution through login areas that are permission based and ensures that the structure and the design of the website remains true to form.

How does an organisation know if they require a content management system?

If an organisation wants to publish and create important information relating to their organisation, then the use of a content management system or website platform is required. This is especially important if the organisation uses various persons to create and edit information, or if they use a lot of information. Content management system software gives a company the flexibility within a website to distribute and manage a lot of content based on certain permissions, and allows the company the abilities to assign the restricted information to a group of people who can view it and edit. Commercial websites, intranets and informational web pages are a few advantages that an organisation will automatically gain access to when they invest in a content management system. If an organisation needs to inform users of their business, use their website as an information tool and also keep their website up to date, a content management system would be highly beneficial.

What are the benefits of a investing in a content management system?

Money will be saved because the website will not acquire the services of a professional webmaster because, in effect, the site is maintained by your individual company. The relevant data is always kept up to date on the site, and you can save time by using forms, FAQs and all of the other relevant information that is contained on a site, to help clients understand your business better. This can save money, because if all the question and answers are incorporated into a website, then customers will not need to acquire help of any sort as the site provides everything they need. Other benefits of CMS include:

Supports RSS feeds, event calendars, polls, newsletter management, wrappers and rotating banners.
Allows the access for staff to update the relevant content, depending on permissions.
Companies can have an internal intranet as well as a public website for their customers.
Visitors can gain access to relevant information and communicate it to other people via email, print and PDFs.
Content management systems support links, blogging, news feeds, wrapping and static content.
The software allows an organisation to add expiration dates, publishing dates and to archive all content.
The site can be searchable by phrases and words and the search results can be displayed by alphabetical, section and category, most popular, newest first and oldest first.
Based on permissions, visitors can login to see their private content.
The use of forums, permission based content and polls can allow a visitor to interact with their chosen website.

Why are permission levels beneficial?

They limit access and control the permission levels to information and author capabilities and ensure that the information that is contained on the site is being authored by the appropriate individuals who have the knowledge and permission to do so. They give different levels of access to the content of the website through a password and username that is required to be able to publish, edit, update or view the content. The levels of permission are assigned by the content management system administrator based on the content that the administrator allows certain people to access. This allows the content management system administrator to assign the relevant content tasks to members of their staff. Logins can also be assigned to visitors who are able to view private content. This can save time and money and also helps to ensure the accuracy of the website. For the customer, the use of a content management system allows a number of people access to various portions of the website, therefore saving the organisation the cost of having to purchase multiple websites. In reality, the possibilities of content management systems can be endless.

What is the administration area used for?

The administration area can be used to create and manage all of an organisation’s content, and manage the users and their levels of permission. The administrator can add, create and delete users. The administrator’s area also allows control over every function of the content management system. The area can also be used to view authored information and choose whether to deny or allow the posting of this information.

Is technical knowledge required to use the administration area?

No, because the content management system software gives full control to the administrator and doesn’t require any prior programming knowledge. It only requires the basic knowledge of skills, like MS Word.

How long does it take to launch the CMS website from the sign up date?

This depends on the information that is received from each client. The turnaround time can normally be one or two months. The process heavily involves the client and requires them to make changes and approve the content of the website.

Does the content management system website belong to the organisation?

Yes.