The last five years has seen a seismic shift in consciousness within the online domain. No longer just a general source of information, the internet now empowers individual users with the ability to upload and manage their own information, 24/7. This shift has witnessed an explosion in popularity of DIY websites and blog-centric content. Previously the domain of web designers with expensive equipment and programming expertise, it’s never been easier to create and manage your own content online. Indeed these days, it appears everyone’s having a go themselves.
This growth in popularity has brought with it a flood of CMS (content management system) applications onto the market. For newcomers the choice can literally be overwhelming, making choosing the right CMS for your needs an arduous task. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the key features to look out for when choosing your content management system – it could mean the difference between success and failure.
So, whether you opt for current favourites such as Joomla or WordPress or decide on something entirely different, ensure your choice matches these basic requirements and you’ll be off to a great start.
A clear, accessible interface
An absolute pre-requisite for any CMS – users should be able to navigate menus and locate basic functions with ease. Impenetrable front-end design is entirely counter-productive in terms of your time, effort and motivation. A good CMS will guide you fluidly, making micro-management of content and categories a breeze.
Admin
For those working in small teams or allowing external freelancers to contribute content, a clear admin system is vital. The ability to retain tight control over who can and who can’t access certain areas of the system will ultimately prevent any unwanted interference or nasty surprises.
Support
It’s important to choose a popular platform that features a strong community. There are plenty of innovative independent programmers out there creating innovative, invaluable plug ins and modifications designed to compliment and augment your CMS experience. Much of the time these ‘mods’ are designed with one thing in mind – to make life simpler.
Meta-data
SEO has come a long way during the last few years and, whilst no longer the be all and end all, metas still have a vital part to play. Ideally a good content management system will offer full control over each individual page instead of offering a blanket meta description. Try to avoid sites offering default meta-data.
HTML editing
A basic component of most modern CMSs is a WYSIWYG editor. A CMS that offers this facility offers users the best of both worlds. Those who aren’t familiar with HTML coding can create content quickly and easily, whilst more advanced users can tweak down to the finest detail. For users somewhere in between the two, such an editor enables them to switch between the two – thus catering to coders of all levels. WordPress is a great example of this kind of flexibility.
Statistics and logs
Knowing who changed what and when is essential when it comes to running a tight ship. It will also assist in preventing problems before they occur. Overlooked by many amateur administrators, statistics also provide a useful method of gauging a site’s performance and identifying areas for improvement. Google analytics is a free tool well worth checking out.
Whilst it’s highly unlikely you’ll find a CMS offering every single feature mentioned in this article, the best advice is to decide which are the most relevant to the type of site you intend to create and go from there. Happy hunting!
