subject: Content management system – the best way of determining its ability and cost effectiveness [print this page] Finding the content management system that suits your company's needs basically boils down to one question, "what is a good content management system?". The brand may have an edge because you're running the same program that carries it. Consider the following before making a decision:
It should cater to your web content management needs
Your IT department, especially those in the non-technical department, should understand and learn the system quickly
It should be available and accessible to the whole enterprise as soon as possible
It should provide a return of investment which is quantifiable
Content management system is used in the maintenance of websites instead of having the company's IT does the job. This saves time and money for the company but it wouldn't be possible if the system is complex that the IT have a hard time in learning about it and won't use it.
Characteristics of an easy to use content management system
An easy to use web content management system should have an easy-to-read and easy-to-use documentation, online videos and effective training provided by the developer. It has WYSIWG editors for easy editing and creating contents, and creates page templates by copying the current pages or templates. It should have automatic versioning upon update and the content manager could copy it or return to the previous version. The content manager should experience a feature rich with images, videos, audios, calendars, news feed and blogs. The whole website could also be translated into different local languages.
Specific features that a content management system should have
The security of the "granular system model" should be integrated into the current security of the company and ensure that the correct people have access to a specific content.
The components that go with the system should be specified and those that have extra charge should be stated clearly. Built-in navigation components for creating horizontal, vertical and category specific menus and bread crumbs, social media type components and company-wide tools like news release manager and Frequently Asked Questions should be included.
Document management that's included in the system and doesn't require a new set of license, purchase orders, and sales agreement is a plus.
Cheaper and fast deployment should be considered and your own IT personnel should be able to install it without any manual.
In buying a web content management system, you should have it tested by your personnel and don't rely on demo. The majority, if not all, of the components that your company is looking for in a content management system should be present, with minimal additional cost for added components.
Content management system the best way of determining its ability and cost effectiveness
