What Is A Content Management System?

Posted: March 19, 2009 
Filed under: Pro Tips
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CMS Power

A CMS is a software system used for content management. Content management systems are deployed primarily for interactive use by a potentially large number of contributors. For example, the software for the website Wikipedia is based on a wiki, which is a particular type of content management system.

The idea behind a CMS is the separation of content from the design of the website (which is template-based) as opposed to the usual design of a HTML or Flash website where content is basically inseparatble form the design of the site.

With a CMS, the system provides a graphical user interfacet backend where one can manage and make revisions to existing contents, and create new ones without knowing HTML. Using such a system is similar to using a word processing application.

The good news is that you can set up a world-class content management system at little or no cost. Full-featured open source content management systems like Drupal and Mambo rival the functionality of off-the-shelf systems that may command many thousands of dollars.

There are quite a few free options for wikis, including MediaWiki, the open source software that runs Wikipedia. You can also take a quick look at Basecamp, for small workgroups and project teams for whom a full content management system or a wiki may be overkill.

Open Source Content Management

Open Source may be one of the best options as they are usually available for free (under the common GNU General Public License), as opposed to a closed technology like Microsoft’s .NET technology that can costs tens of thousands of dollars to develop on.

Many of the open source options are programmed in and require PHP, and run a MySQL database on the back end with an Apache Web server front end. Thus, having a comfort level with PHP, database, and Web server administration makes managing the systems easier.

Managing access, setting user rights, and general system administration can also be a bit time consuming, and may require a dedicated resource.

A CMS-based website may cost a little more to develop but they offer the best flexibility, scalability and functionality, which will prove cost-effective in the long run. It offers the flexibility to accommodate an unlimited number of pages and is powerful enough to run even web portals.

The following MOOPHSTUDIOS clients’ websites were developed on CMS solutions:

• Annix Associates
• Aroma Fabulous
• Avery Dennison
• Century21 CLS
• Emirates Tarian
• Expat Rentals
• Fasson
• Glitterati
• Nalanda Capital
• ONE (SINGAPORE)
• RiverLife Church
• Sony’s DSLR Resource Portal
• XL Results Foundation
• Youth Enterprise Academy

A list of CMS options is available on Wikipedia.

To find out if a CMS solution will benefit your business, please contact your web developer today.