How to Make the Most out of Content Management Systems

In the world of website management, the acronym “CMS” refers to a Content Management System; a piece of software which provides a simpler way to managing and organizing web-based content. Once, businesses that wanted to show off an effective, and updated website had to pass their content through to a programmer who would then translate it into computer language, sometimes twisting some of the finer points when it came to layout and style. The process was painful, and slow for most of the people involved, but it had to be done for a beneficial online presence.

Fortunately, content management systems arrived to change the online world for everyone. CMS’ can provide fantastic solutions for organizations and small businesses that do not have a huge budget for technology and marketing, by simplifying the online process. A CMS puts a website back into the hands of the people who create the content, allowing more focus to be concentrated on getting that content out there, and gathering traffic. So how do you make the most out of your CMS? First, ask yourself a few important questions:

How do you want your content to be managed?

Think about how you want your content to be presented on your website – do you want the text to be updated every couple of days, or do you want to be able to add extra pages, images, and even videos to your site? Making a list of the features that you want your website to be capable of will help you to match your requirements up against different CMS providers for the best correlation.

You should always choose a CMS solution that is best suited for your specific needs, and make sure that you know how easy it will be to transfer your website to another host, while still retaining the ability to control your content and design features. Many CMS products depend on your ability to host your website with a particular company, and if you need to move your site, then you may have to start your design all over again.

Is Your CMS website protected?

One important thing to work out before you commit to any CMS is whether you're choosing a solution that protects you should a problem occur with the server hosting your website. Does the company that you have selected provide automatic backups? Will they cover the full restoration of your site if something goes wrong? Some CMS providers only restore the CMS itself but do not offer any protection for your content.

Is your CMS functional and easy to navigate?

An essential part of getting the most out of your CMS is making sure that the required functionality of your website matches up perfectly with the scope of the CMS product. It’s no good using a CMS which doesn’t allow your website to function the way that it needs to for your company, and your customers. Beyond this, you will also have to be sure that your website design encourages a clear path of navigation, with concise links to every page of the site. Make sure that your main pages have text links at the bottom of each page to make navigation simpler, or use a site map if necessary.

A CMS is useful because…

It removes the barriers between the content writer and the website, making it easier than ever for individuals to launch their own website, keep it updated and get the most out of their online presence. Furthermore, a lot of CMS software offers multiple users, which allows you to engage with a wide community of people who can help you fix problems in a pinch if you’re having issues.