Tips for Choosing the Best Content Management System to Manage Your Website
What is the Best Content Management System CMS?
A CMS, or Content Management System, allows users to log in and manage specific website areas from anywhere. All they need is a computer and an internet connection.
Almost every CMS uses a modular, dashboard-type interface to identify and access images, files, and pages quickly. In every case, pages or content are edited through an interface known as a text editor, also known as a WYSIWYG, an acronym meaning (What You See Is What You Get).
But nothing could be further from the truth. Some editors will strip out the code formatting most commonly found in Microsoft Word documents, while others do not. Most text editors offer an HTML view, so users can view the HTML in code view to troubleshoot formatting and spacing problems.
No CMS system is better than the other.
If someone tries to convince you otherwise, they lack exposure and development experience. Sometimes, a web company will push its preferred CMS on a client because it is the one it’s most familiar with, or because it lets them bang out quick websites at a profit.
Other companies will use an ‘open source’ or a ‘proprietary CMS system’ for web development. Open-source CMS is okay, but avoid Proprietary CMS systems. A proprietary CMS system may ‘join you at the hip’ to a particular company and pose problems if you part ways down the road.
Popular CMS frameworks for websites
We develop CMS-based websites for Linux ( PHP) and Windows (ASPX)—for example, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, Magento, Dot Net Nuke, and many others.
Specifically, a CMS works over a web-based connection and is slower than editing over FTP or Remote Desktop, which is much faster.
In both situations, the preparation for editing is always the same. For example, assume you will update a product page with new photos and text.
A. Obtain the new product photo and description.
B. Crop the photo for best viewing and format your text.
C. Log in to your CMS system.
D. Navigate to your products section
E. Upload your new photo, then verify the upload.
F. Open your text editor; then format your text (size, colors, links, bolding)
G. Save ALL, then open another browser and verify your changes.
H. Make adjustments based on what you see on the live website.
Managing your CMS website
Many people don’t have the patience to manage a website, given the steps and concentration required. We support many business clients throughout the U.S. who have hired us for regular web maintenance on their CMS-based websites.
We perform web maintenance regularly for CMS and *non-CMS websites.
Also, see: Be Careful When You Edit Your Website.
* In most cases, we can perform edits much quicker in a non-CMS environment with direct FTP access than in a slower web-based environment, but this requires an in-depth knowledge of HTML and CSS.
Proper website editing requires many different skills and talents: grammar, layout, an eye for good flow, and page aesthetics. There is a BIG difference between a web page thrown together by a hack and one built by a professional with a discerning, creative eye.
Ask yourself, “Does your website/webpages reflect the look and feel of a slick Fortune 500 magazine, or does it look more like a Clip-and-Save rag sheet found in the local pizza shop?”
This is why Fast Company, Vogue, Time, and thousands of other high-end magazines employ an army of artists, photographers, and writers to produce great-looking magazines.
Proper Grammar is Essential.
Many highly educated people will stop contacting you when they find elementary grammatical errors on your website. Ask yourself, “How many visitors have left your website and moved on to a competitor due to grammatical errors?” Moreover, online content can be the most significant SEO piece.
No matter whether you, your staff, or your web company are editing your website. Take time to do it right. Your website is your 24-hour, seven-days-a-week open storefront. Keep your ‘WELCOME’ mat nice and clean, and don’t forget to spell-check!
About VISIONEFX
VISIONEFX is a professional web design agency that strives for excellence. Our best-in-class web development team crafts complete online branding and a unique digital experience for your custom website.
Please read our Google Reviews. See what our customers have to say about VISIONEFX.
For more information about Web Design Services, contact us at (757) 619-6456.
You may also reach us by email at rick@visionefx.net.
Also, see
Drupal Website Maintenance
WordPress Design
Joomla Website Development
Popular Website Content Management Systems