Control Your Web Site Content
Web site content management is the buzz
word lately. What is content management
and how can a business use it to add value
to their existing web site?
Content management can take on many forms.
A web site can use online forms using a
browser and update information or images
to a predefined template that is controlled
by the design team or webmaster. Software
can be used to update the web site content
and add and remove pages. Software can
come in a variety of faces from web based
using only a browser to windows based using
a program that is installed on each user’s
workstation.
The cost of content management can vary
based on the solution that is chosen by
a business. Software that is purchased
and installed on the workstation can be
the least expensive of all types. Forms
based content management is the next step
up and cost is based on the amount of programming
the web team or webmaster will have to
perform. An online content management system
is the most expensive of all forms of content
management offering a full range of features
and cost to operate.
The benefits of each type of system will
depend on the solution that a business
desires. While an online content management
system is the most expensive it can offer
the biggest variety of features, flexibility
and security for a team or organization
of users. Online content management systems
are tailored to the needs of each organization
and users are given restricted access to
the areas of the site that they are allowed
to update and modify. Another benefit of
online content management is it allows
users to log in anywhere internet access
can be found to manage the content.
Software that an organization purchases
and installed on each workstation can be
a viable solution and a less expensive
alternative to a full online content management
system. Smaller organizations can benefit
from the lower cost of software when only
a few employees are going to use the system
to manage content. One drawback to software
is the learning curve can be higher than
the online versions of content management.
An employee must learn the interface of
a software program whereas almost anyone
uses a browser in their daily lives.
The last form on content management is
forms based. Forms based content management
allows the use of a browser to update content
on the web site. A user would log in and
navigate to the administration page for
a particular page or section of a site
and update the content using text boxes,
drop down list and many other controls.
For an organization needing to control
the exact format of the content forms based
management is the way to go. The look and
feel of the content is maintained by the
web team or webmaster and others are allowed
to change sections of the site based on
need. A good example of using forms is
an online store that adds product to the
site and wants to control the cost, description,
images and other aspects of a product while
maintaining the design of the site and
display of the products.
Whatever type of content management your
organization needs is available. Content
management is what companies are demanding
from web firms today and designers and
programmers have answered the call with
a variety of solutions tailored to the
needs of any type of business.
Brian Simmons
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