Content Management Systems

Content Management Systems give you the flexibility to manage your site’s content without needing to know HTML.

What to Look For in a Content Management System.

Documentation. Any software package you buy should be well documented – this is especially true of your content management system. Without documentation, future upgrades and updates are going to virtually impossible to implement.

Support. Many companies have developed proprietary content management systems that offer little or no support. This locks you into a single source for information, support and future upgrades. Buying a content management system with a broad support network ensures that no matter what happens, your investment is secure.

Cost. The software components of content management systems can range from Free to thousands of dollars. More important than this is keeping an eye on the full cost of your project. A free solution that comes with thousands of dollars of consulting costs to implement doesn’t do you any good. Any solution that’s handed off to you without detailed documentation of the type of customization work that’s been done could cost you thousands of dollars down the road if you need to find a new devloper. Don’t lose site of the whole board when you’re looking at cost.

Extensibility. Your content management system should include a plug-in architecture that makes it possible to add features that aren’t part of the core functionality. Even if you don’t need this architecture immediately, it may be necessary in the future in order to implement some new functionality.

Content management systems give you -- not your designer -- control over your site. Using one as the basis of your site is the first step in taking control of your online communications.