November 10, 2018
During the past several years, content management systems (CMS) have taken the web-design world by storm.
A CMS is a collaborative web application used for managing websites and web content. It is built with scripting language and a database that enable companies to control content, navigation and documents on their public websites via secure “back-end” portals.
The benefits of having a CMS built into the backend of your company’s website are endless. CMS solutions enable companies to edit their websites without knowledge or training in HTML or CSS. With a custom CMS for your company’s website, you no longer have to wait for your website designer or a third-party webmaster to make necessary changes. Instead, you can log in from any web-connected device, at your own convenience, and update, change or add and delete content to the site in seconds without having to rely on expensive software. A CMS even enables you to add multimedia, such as podcasts, videos and photos, to your website.
With a CMS, your website will be more flexible and your communications more agile. In other words, you can add a new page or section to your website without having to hand-code the new pages or modify the entire navigation structure of the entire website to accommodate the new sections.
Moreover, CMS solutions are very cost-effective ways to manage your website’s content. At Roar Media, we rely on WordPress to manage our clients’ online content. WordPress is an open-source platform that began as a popular choice for building blogs but has since become a popular option as a full content management system for traditional websites. WordPress platforms make it easy for even the most novice users to keep all their website content up-to-date.
The Power of Content Management Systems
Open-source content management systems have thousands of plug-ins associated with them which, when properly selected and integrated into the platforms, serve to support companies’ communications needs and business operations. Some common plug-ins and applications include:
- E-commerce and check-out
- Image sliders
- Search engine optimization and meta-data applications
- Video and photo galleries
- File audit software
- Client password protected areas
- Document and image management software
- Event registration forms
- Calendar functions
In addition to WordPress, many other content management systems are available — ranging from freeware to costly software solutions requiring installation and even custom software solutions developed for enterprise-level companies. All CMS solutions are developed a little differently, have various features included, as well as pros, cons and limitations. All in all, a good CMS is critical for companies who need to control their communications and convey their messages in a timely fashion.