A Content Management System (CMS) is used for webdesign so that the content of any of the pages can be created and changed from any internet connection. The php, asp or jsp scripts call in the data from the mysql or sql database to create the content of the page.

Static webpage design is easy, but content managment is hard. To update the webpage content on a regular basis, you would require continuous support. This kind of dependency leads to continuous expenses and/or a poorly updated site. This a problem that a content management system solves.

The management of content includes creation, updating, distribution, publishing, and discovery of content. CMS also helps to generate new pages, categorize the content, manage the layout and presentation of the site, manage users and permissions for the site, manage other dynamic modules on the site, and many other things by way of a user-friendly Admin Panel which requires minimal or no technical expertise.

THOSE BENEFITS AGAIN:

CMS-based websites have a “front-end” for the public, a database which stores the vital data of your website, and an Admin Panel to manage the site. Through the Admin panel you create the content pages just as if you are creating a document in MS Word. This is a completely non-technical interface using no code, HMTL, javascript, or programming language.

You simply click to create a page and a page opens. You are then asked to define the attributes of the page; like Title of the page, Link Title for the frontend navigation menu, and page content. The page content box uses a WYSIWYG editor which helps you to improve the presentation of the page - making some text bold or colored, or creating hyperlinks. You can also upload images with your content. You can define the meta tags for the page, publish an expiration date, author information, etc. This all makes your page more meaningful. Once a page has been created you will save it in the database on the server. This stores all the content of the site, along with the other supporting details.

CMS allows you to make the content management an interactive process between you and your users. A similar page can be accessible to your users to post content like articles, news or comments. The added content pages can be accessed through the Admin Panel and then approved or disapproved for publishing on the site.

CMS-based websites can be designed wholly, or you can choose any open-source system: Drupal, Xoops, Mambo, Joomla, Typo3, etc. The question arises, ‘Won’t my site look like everybody elses’s?’ The answer is not necessarily. Many quality content management systems will allow you to apply templates and plug-ins to your site which can set the design of your website apart from others. You can do nearly anything that HTML and CSS can do. Typically, you can find templates on the main web site for the content management system that you’ve chosen - but there are a lot more custom skins that can be purchased, and most main websites let you design your own. And this makes your new website as exclusive as any site can be.

Content management systems are no longer new to the market and they are established as a very important part of the internet. Now CMS-based websites can create SEO friendly pages and be managed by users worldwide.

Rockin’ Steady,

Arthur Browning