What is content management?

Web content management is software, usually implemented on an Internet server which is used for creating and managing website (HTML) content. A web content management system can be used to quickly and easily update a website, without the use of specialized tools and without special technical skills.

Every new website should have content management capabilities. Whenever planning the design of a new site, content management should always be considered as a key requirement.

Some benefits of content management are:

• Your website can be updated in a timely fashion, usually from anywhere with an Internet connection.
• Most content management systems are platform independent, meaning whether you have a Mac, PC, or are using some else’s computer, you will be able to use your content management system. This differs from traditional systems such as Dreamweaver or FrontPage, where actual installed software is required.
• With a content management system your content is often stored in a database, easily separated from the visual presentation of your site.  This means migrating to a new website design is usually a lot easier and less expensive.

Choosing a content management system

There are literally dozens of options for Web content management. Your decision should be based on a number of factors:

• The complexity of your website: Content management systems like WordPress can be used to easily manage content for small to medium-sized websites.  For larger websites with rich functionality, or thousands of pages of differing types of content, a higher level system such as Joomla or Drupal may be appropriate.
• The type of business: For many organizations, a generic system like WordPress will meet most content management needs. However, depending on the nature of your organization, there may be a custom content management system designed specifically for your industry. For example, there are custom content management systems for real estate agents and other professions.
• Technical ability: Regardless of your choice, a content management system will require a level of technical expertise to implement. Some systems are definitely easier than others, although a professional consultant is usually recommended for initial implementation. Of course, once you’re up and running, minimal consultation and professional services are required.