A content management system (CMS) allows people to maintain their websites without the need for IT skills such as HTML or database knowledge.
Content management systems come in all shapes and sizes but the end result is always the same, they allow clients to cost effectively and quickly update their website content in-house.
How does a CMS work?
Typically, content management systems are web-based, meaning that they can be accessed from any computer with internet access. Content is mostly edited by using forms, so if you’ve ever filled in an enquiry form on a website you are already qualified to use a CMS!
We have developed our own CMS, an example of a standard setup is:
- Login
Using a username and password, users can login to make changes. It is possible to have many different users, with access to different parts of the CMS. - Standard Web Pages
From here users can add, edit, remove and reorganise the pages of their website. Most of the page content can be changed using a rich-text editor (similar to Microsoft Word) that allows control over text-formatting, web links, email links, images and files. All changes are immediate, though an approval process can be used if necessary. - News and Events
These are article-based items that can be added, edited, removed like web pages. They are still edited with the rich-text editor, the main difference is that they can be dated and the system automatically organises and archives articles where appropriate. News items can also be post-dated so it will not display until a set day.
What else can a CMS do?
The above example is suitable for most small websites but there are many more applications for content management systems, some examples that we have developed are:
- Heroes Fitness
This website uses our ecommerce content management system to control products details, prices, delivery rates as well as standard web pages. - Targetfollow Arts
Content management is used to show artists and galleries of their works, as well as details of current exhibitions and projects. - MLM
As well as controlling standard web pages and news articles, the CMS on MLM’s website allows them to cross-reference products and services without having to enter the same information twice as well as choosing which items to feature on the home page.
If you are interested in a demonstration of our system or would like a content managed website developed, please contact us.