Content Management Systems
Services Offered
With extensive experience of developing websites, online databases and intranet applications for commercial clients, the charity sector and central government I have a wide range of web skills. I specialise in adapting Open Source Content Management Systems and building bespoke database driven websites for both charities and commercial clients. I also build static sites for clients where appropriate.
About Content Management Systems (CMS)
Content Management Systems are essentially "database driven" websites that enable non technical staff to manage a range of content on your site. Content can include web pages, documents, media files or other resources. A CMS will enable you to add or update content and remove existing pages. Content is stored at the 'back end' in a database and website editors log in to a password protected management interface to update the site.
There are huge benefits to having a content management system over a static site. It is far easier to keep everything up to date and relevant as you no longer need to outsource changes to a web designer. This enables you to take full control of your site and ensure that content remains relevant and meets the needs of your audience. A regularly updated website can also improve your rankings in search engine results.
Typical features of a Content Management System include:
- Easy to manage web pages
- Administration - You can easily upload documents, media files and new web pages
- Lead generation - You can capture information from potential customers via web forms
- Integrated workflow - pages or content can be passed along an editorial process or you could be notified by email when someone completes a form on your site. In addition more complex applications are possible that manage business processes or procedures online.
- Powerful search facilities
- You can understand how your site is being used and where traffic is coming from by integrating the site with a Web Analytics package
- Search engine optimisation - Regularly updated content and CMS features should help your site perform better in search engine results pages
- Automatic updates to pages, site maps or content via RSS Feeds
- Optional secure areas or password protected online databases that your staff, suppliers or customers can log into
- Open Source Content Management Systems typically have a huge range of additional extentions that can be added on either at the outset or at a later date offering huge flexibility in terms of funcionality and enable your site to take advantage of new features over time.
Bespoke versus Open Source Content Management Systems
Depending upon the requirements of your organisation you may be better suited to either a "bespoke" or "Open Source" Content Management System. With the rapid development and popularity of Open Source CMS systems for many organisations the balance is very much in the Open Source solutions favour. Bespoke systems, ie custom built Content Management Systems, remain useful in certain scenarios but with the reliability and huge flexibility offered by leading Open Source systems such as Joomla, Drupal or WordPress, Open Source solutions are likely to better suit most smaller organisations.
