CMS is an acronym for Content Management System.
A CMS is a piece of software which allows the owner of a website to add content, adjust the design and look of that site without having to be a computer guru. All that’s needed is a web browser which logs onto a control panel and presto. More or less.
Content Management Systems are transforming the way we engage with the World Wide Web. For some, they are the only way they have published material on the WWW.
Content Manage Systems allow site owners to easily update and manage the contents of their sites. Although there is a debate about the difference between blogging software and full scale CMS, the best known example of a CMS is probably the common ‘blog’.
This site is run using WordPress software as a CMS. The blog is just a part of the site.
Two of the better known and most widely used Content Management Systems are Drupal and WordPress. Joomla is another. They are Open Source, maintained and developed by active communities who work on the core software as well as creating ‘plug-ins’ or modules which provide added features, and ‘themes’ which change the look and style of the site.
They are the ideal solution for anyone wanting to be in control of their own site, giving the non-technical user the ability to add content by simply writing in a text editor – pretty much like you would write an email – and hitting the ‘publish’ button.
Simple, beautiful and all the rage.
Free Blogs – Yes, some of the good things in life are free…
Of course, if all you want is a simple blog, you may not need to host your own site, you can use one of the free blogging services available such as blogger.com (you can use your own URL with Blogger) or wordpress.com. And depending on what you are actually wanting to, an account with facebook, myspace or a youtube channel might be all you need. “The simplest solution is the best solution.”
But if you want outright ownership and control of a site under your own domain name, with added features if needed and the ability to customise your site as you would like it, then loading the software onto a hosted site may be the answer.
Blog or Beyond?
The next question to ask is “what do I really want my site to do for me?”
If you are wanting a traditional ‘blog’ then WordPress is a good choice. Yes, there are others out there, but WordPress is pretty much king at this point. It works well, has a significant market share, a large and enthusiastic community which means lots of people working to extend, improve and support it.
It is also renowned for its ease of set up. WordPress 2.7.1 is the latest release and it is a nice piece of work with an ever increasing resource of plug-ins to extend functionality.
If you are establishing a more complex site, Drupal or Joomla may be the answer. Once again, it is good software on the rise, which means it is being constantly updated and improved.
With the added power of Drupal comes more complexity and a steeper learning curve. Some have found Drupal to lack the intuitive flare and well organised support documentation of simpler CMSs such as WordPress. But once a site is set up, you, the proud owner, will have the ability to place, edit and update content.
Drupal is used for blogs, business and e-commerce sites, interactive community sites, political sites and a whole lot more.
Remember, if you choose to host the software on your own site, you will either need to learn how to update, maintain and troubleshoot things yourself, or hire someone to do it for you.
We can deliver a content management system which suits your needs, arrange hosting if need be, and provide training. All at a very competitive price. For more information contact us here.
» Learn more about Wordpress
» Learn more about Drupal
