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4th December 2013

5 benefits of using a Content Management System (CMS)

We are looking at just some (5 to be precise) of the advantages of using a content management system in your business. We base our findings on the fantastic open source CMS, WordPress.

What is a content management system (CMS)?

Simply put, a CMS is an application (usually accessed via a web browser) that allows a user to update their website without the need to any technical programming knowledge.

5 advantages

1. Empowering the non-techie

A CMS empowers those with no programming knowledge to create and edit content online instantly. Many CMS systems come with a visual editor similar to what you would expect to find in your standard word processor. The familiarity of this interface results in little to no learning curve to hinder creativity.

2. Instant turn-around

In days gone by, a company would have to rely on a web design company to maintain their website. When content needed changing or adding, you would send the information, and then wait for them schedule the update in. Your update would probably have been low down on their priority list compared to new site builds, and then even when the update was done, you could expect an invoice for the pleasure.

Using a CMS cuts out this process. You or your team members can instantly create content online and once proofed, publish it for all to see. What could take hours, days, weeks can be achieved in mere minutes.

3. Extra features*

Many content management systems adopt a modular approach. This means you can add extra applications that will enable new features on your website. For example e-commerce, social media integration, polls and much more. By simply activating one of these applications, you can enhance your website without involving time and cost having a third party develop further required features.

4. Search engine friendly*

Relevant code to enhance your site’s SEO rating can be automatically generated in most CMS systems, including hidden descriptive tags for images, as well as meta keywords, both for the site, and on a page by page basis.

Friendly URLs are generated which help search engines find their way through your site. For example if your page title is, “Event Management” the url generated could be, http://www.domain.com/event-management. Your title keywords in the URL and in the content of your page not only enhance SEO but also provides an easy to remember and logical URL as opposed to the old fashioned structures such as: http://www.domain.com/index.php?page_id=425.

5. Design consistency

Unlike hand coded websites, all of the content of a website in a CMS is stored in a database. The design and layout is then controlled by a template or theme. When the site is accessed, the template/theme is loaded, and the relevant content is delivered from the database dependent upon which area is being accessed. Whilst browsing, the website visitor will therefore see the same clean, consistent design.

* Be sure to check this option is available to you in the CMS you decide upon.

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