The background
Content management software (CMS) is what you use to change and manage the content on your website.
Why does CMS matter?
Demand by users to be able to manage and alter their websites whenever they please, without the need to go to a third party, led to many off-the-shelf CMS software packages being made easy to use. Therefore there are plenty of packages on the market which anyone who can master most office systems will be able to cope with. However, there is also a demand for more innovative websites and this means that there has been been a push for more complex CMS systems which only people with good HTML programming skills will be able to use. It is important to ascertain which type you are looking for.
CMS pitfalls
Although you might be up to the technical side of your site, CMS systems still contain certain pitfalls that if not managed could cause major trouble. These are:
Security It is essential to ensure that your company’s website doesn’t get hacked or damaged by viruses.
Quality control CMS software is designed to be used by numerous people but access should be restricted to those who are qualified and competent.
Legal issues Your website is a form of publishing and is therefore subject to both criminal and civil law.
Types of CMS
There are a number of different types of CMS. Open source CMS software are very popular with a lot of users although many businesses are unlikely to use these free to download packages as they don’t offer great security. Businesses like yours will typically be looking to go through a third party that will host the website for you.
Getting the right deal
As your company grows so will your website and your needs will change. Therefore you need to ensure that your CMS provider is up to the job and that your site can grow unbounded. Here’s a CMS checklist to tick off:
Service levels Do they offer 24-hour support? Will your company have a dedicated person assigned to your account?
Training Do they offer training as a part of the package and how is this conducted? As you increase in size you are likely to require more operatives. Security How well prepared to deal with cyber-threats are they? What are the extent of their firewalls?
Back-up How well backed-up are their servers?
Clients Do they already host companies like yours and how well do they meet their needs
Commercial clients Advertising is key to many websites so you need to be sure that you can meet your clients needs with the package you are buying
