Traditionally web pages had to be managed by hand. Managing web pages by hand meant constantly updating the code to change the content. Everything from main display content to sub-pages had to be updated constantly to add new content or remove existing content. Eventually an easier method was devised in which content could be managed without manually changing the code on the page, this system was deemed Content Management.
Content Management Systems are an easy and efficient way to design, deploy and continue to run and manage a webpage or an entire webpage. A content management system is versatile and often enables for different elements to be added to the system, these are typically referred to as “add-ons” or “modules”. Increasing the functionality with these “add-ons” and “modules” enables a user to add new features to a website without modifying a single line of code. Content management systems are a great solution for websites which have a lot of changing content such as news websites or large communities. Small websites benefit from a content management system because of ability to quickly add content and deploy a website without modifying tedious code.
Many different types of content management systems exist and some are even free and open source. Using a content management system typically involves download and installing the content manage system onto a web server. Some hosting companies offer automatic installation of popular content management systems. Once the content management system is installed on the web server, simply login to the content management system and begin modifying the layout and content as desired. Layouts are often point and click to modify with results displayed in real-time. Different themes can be applied to a content management system to change the design in a snap.
Many website authors and management teams find that the advantages outweigh the cons to a content management system. Typically content management systems are considered to be less useful because of the lack of the ability to customize advanced features of the web page. While this was true in the past, newer content management systems allow for advanced features to be managed as well and themes enable for full customization should a website management team want to modify the code for a more unique look. Utilizing a content management system has many pros. One example of how a content management system could be useful is the ability to allow multiple users access to modify content, permissions can be set so that certain users can only manage certain content. Changing content and themes for specific occasions and themes can be done with nothing more than a click. Content management systems take the work out of managing a website and allow for things traditional HTML management could not.
If you are looking for an effective content management solution for your business, contact us today.