Content Managment

Content Management Systems (CMS) is the generic name used to describe the ability to edit pages on your website.
This process will often be called web editing, and the two terms are often used to refer to the same process.
Because this is the case, there are a couple of differences that you should know.

• Content Management Systems and webpage editors allow you to update your website whenever you wish, this removes the necessity of waiting for a web developer to carry out changes for you.
  
• Web Editors allow changes to made to your website using an editor that has a familiar feel to a word processor. The user is not required to understand website code in order to operate the editor.
  
• Content Management Systems allow a far greater level of control than webeditors which restrict changes to specific pages or areas of a page.
  
• If you operate a website, it is advantageous to have the ability to edit the website content, in particular regularly updated pages will benefit on search engines like Google.
  

 

We recommend that Content Management Systems are included on all new web developments.

There are two main methods for allowing website owners to edit their own websites;

By integrating a web editor into the code (HTML) on a website. This may be during the development of a new website or by adding to an exisiting website. In this instance, the web editor will normally provide the user with the ability to edit certain areas of each page. There may also be the possibility to create new pages. Normally changes to menu's or the additon of new menu options or major changes to page layout are restricted.

By using a Content Management System. Content Management Systems are integral to a websites operation. It is not possible to add a content management system to an existing website.

A content management system stores the page information in a database. In simple terms, the website consists of a blank design (or designs) with the page content 'fetched' from the database and displayed when a website user visits a page. The content management system 'knows' what content 'belongs' to that page and it collects it from the database. Changing the page content is still conducted using a page editor, but as the information is stored in a database and not on the actual page dramatic changes can easily be made to the overall look and feel of the website. Changes are quick and easy to implement. Handy if you operate a 'Latest News' section or want to add another set of menu links and much more.
Your website could look dramatically different in minutes. And all acheivable without the need for further development.

What website editing method is best?

For new developments, it is important to establish what the website owner will want from their website (now and in the foreseeable future).

In many instances the choice will be obvious.
For example; if you wish to run an online shop, you will need to be able to manage the contents of that shop and a content management system will be essential. If your website is relatively small or has a specific need, there may be instances where we suggest that your website incoporates a webpage editor rather than a Content Management System, but where the method of updating a website is required (there are few instances where it would not be advantageous), we normally recommend that a Content management System is used.

Website editing has come a long way in a short space of time. If you do not have a website editor or you wish to see what we can offer,  please contact us for a free trial.