Content Management
Tools or Systems.
What do they do?
Data Management
The primarly job of most Content Management Systems or CMTs is data
management. On most static websites the data or content is built
into the page or code. In order to change the content, knowledge of HTML
is necessary. With many websites basic HTML is not enough. CMTs enable
users to efficiently administer websites. Changes will go into effect
immediately. Content managment tools can vary in complexity. Some allow
the user to make changes as you would in a text document, whiile other,
more complex CMTs allow the user to build page structures, add photos,
give text style and placement options, and apply more complex HTML or
javascript functions at the push of a button. A Content Managment System
can be a powerful tool--giving users instant publishing capability.
Data and Design
Most Content Managment Tools store the content in a database, which is
seperate from the design or page structure. (Note: Some CMTs even manage
page structure.) The database can be backed-up and the
back-up copies can be viewed as simple text or in other pre-specified
formats.
Editorial Control and Web Life-Cycle Management
Content Managment Tools allow web managers to alter content without HTML
or knowledge of another computer language. This allows flexibility for
web managment and easy task division and organization. CMTs can allow
for editors or managers to approve content before it goes live.
Content can be stored and even organized and edited prior to publication.
This can allow for information to be archived without publication and
for the life span of content to be extended and adapted with easy
updating capability.
Maintain an online archive
A CMT allows a user to catalogue and preserve a database of past content
easily. Your archive may be online or offline (accessible or inaccessible
to website visitors). Archives can help you track patterns and successes
in past content.
Virtual Office
A Content Management System can serve you as a virtual office.
Users and user access can be created and monitored. Authors can write
content and submit it for approval.
Monitor Traffic
Tracking visitor responces can be a simple process. You can monitor
traffic to your individual web pages and have them ranked in
order or popularity. The Content Management Tool can track website use
and present usage breakdowns in terms of visitor operating system.
Searchable
Content Managment Systems can allow websites to have searchable caches
of information. Visitors to your site will be able to perform
searches and get results instantly! These search
queries can also be logging and monitored int he CMT. This will allow
you to understand what your customers and visitors are looking for when
they come to your site. Are you meeting visitors' expectations?
This will be a determining factor whether they come back.
Newsletter
In order to have a successful website you need to form a relationship
with your visitors. One very useful tool is to maintain a newsletter
or mailing-list. Content Management Tools can allow you to manage
mail-lists and create the newsletter and event send it to specific groups.
How do visitors contact your organization?
Is the contact
process simple and inviting? Is there an input form or just an email address
listed? A well planned responce system can be a vital mechanism for a
successful website.
Back-end systems or content management tools can have many such functions
and many more.
Successful websites are well planned, optimized for appropriate
marketing, designed to engage target customers and visitors, and functional
to suit the needs of the parent organization. Remember, a website is a
tool and a presentation which will generate an emotional response. The
response that you need is a positive one--a response in favor of your
goals. A content management tool is a tool to enable you to reach your
goal.
Ironpaper will work with your organization to find the most suitable
means to reach and surpass your potential.
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Ironpaper web design would like to answer your questions about the web design and development process. These journal pages are here to address specific questions about web design.
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