What is a Content Management System?

A Content Management System, or CMS, is typically a web application that is driven by a database that affords nontechnical users that ability to facilitate content within a website.

With a CMS, a user with very limited knowledge of HTML could upload and store documents, create photo galleries, and publish web pages or blog entries. Obviously, with every application there is a little learning curve, but the idea is to make it easier for the average user to maintain a website.

What content do you have?

Think for a moment about all the content assets that you need to manage. On your site, you might have:

• Your products' specifications, prices and benefits
• Production information
• Special promotions
• Terms and Conditions
• Availability
• Support information
• Press releases
• Jobs
• Office addresses, maps and directions.
• Logos, photographs and diagrams

What are the benefits?

When you have a CMS, you suddenly have a tremendous advantage in the time it takes to react to market intelligence; you can write, edit and publish updates in a matter of minutes.

Also, this means that you know, and can control, what content is supposed to be live today, what is sitting ready to go live next week, and what is being prepared by your team for the week after, and keep them separate on an piece-by-piece basis.

It also means that you can have one version of a news story live now, one being written to update it in an hour's time, and one incorporating the press release which is embargoed until tonight.

Do I need a CMS?

If you have a large site that needs updated frequently, then it would be almost mandatory that you utilize a CMS. If you have a small site that does not require regular updates, then you would be fine without a CMS; however, updating your site would necessitate a maintenance fee.