subject: Content Management Tools - What To Look For [print this page] Software as a ServiceSoftware programs that are developed to manipulate, create and optimize a website are called content management tools. This will bring traffic to your site, and create a fun and hassle free experience.
Larger companies with their own IT department normally create their own content management tools to meet their needs. This tends to be more cost efficient than buying a pre-made package. It is more time consuming when all is considered. The software has to be developed, then the employees have to be trained to use the program. There is also more room for mistakes and no guarantee that the program will perform correctly.
There are several ready-made packages of content management tools that can be uploaded and used straight away, all have varying strengths and weaknesses but all share the same basic model. They all have to be purchased, licensed - which can be more expensive depending on how many employees are required to access the software, and also time intensive in the training required for the users but you are backed up by a guarantee should anything not work out quite how you planned it to.
Here are the features of strong content management tools packages:
* Editing is a very important feature to look for. Most programs will use either XML or HTML. This is a language of codes that is used to edit material behind the screen and will make the changes to your website automatically. Each of these programs has pros and cons and your IT department should choose which is bested suited for your company's needs.
* Content creation is also important because this will be what is used to create, edit and change text that is on your site.
* By using a clear, tree view navigation you will be able to see your links and where your traffic is being directed. This will allow all your users to move around your website easily and have a positive experience.
* You will also need to consider online team working, because you will want all the employees to be able to work at the same time, so that you will be as productive as possible.
* Think about digital asset management; this is what will allow you to do external things like links, audio and flash-based items and videos.
* Being able to change the language on your website is something else that you need to think about. A multi-lingual option may be something that you will need.
* Personalization is also very important; you want the traffic that clicks to your site to come back again. So the more comfortable that they are the more likely they are to return again.
Content management tools can be daunting when first considered but after doing careful research and experimenting with one or two good candidates, you will soon realize that they are no more mysterious or difficult to implement and use as a simple word processor!
