Content Management Systems
A content management system, or CMS, is a term used to describe a set of tools used to allow an end user to control the content of their site, without needing to make changes directly to the HTML/CSS (or code). Clients who frequently update websites and publish complex documents to the web will usually require a more robust content management system. Using a CMS allows many different users to author, edit, and post content. Permissions can be controlled, versions tracked, and archiving is done automatically. A good content management system will greatly help the actual content production process as well as simplify posting the results to the web.
For clients who prefer to do updates to specified sections of their website in-house, Stratecomm will configure the site and set up the client on a well-known, industry-standard updating system. With a minimal amount of training, the client can make routine changes to designated text areas and images.
Typically, content management systems are divided into two camps: custom and 'out of the box'. Each choice of a CMS methodology has positive and negative attributes that we will be glad to review with you as we create a proposal for your content management development project.
Custom Content Management Solutions
If the needs of your site or your users are very specialized, then a custom content management solution might be the right choice. The benefit of creating a custom CMS application is that you can create a system that fits your workflow, rather than fitting your workflow to the system. Custom content management development is also a good choice when your needs are simple: you might not need all the functionality that an out of the box solution could provide. Instead, we would create a tool that does the task you need it do, without slowing you down with unnecessary choices.
Out of the Box Content Management Solutions
If your content management needs are more flexible, or you have a short development window, it is often useful to consider an 'out of the box' solution for your needs. SWS uses an open source platform like Joomla and Drupal as a base to build a content management solution that can be as solid as an enterprise level system.
Whatever is the solution implemented on your project, we provide full training before the final deployment. We also replicate your website on a staging server so that you can practice and familiarize yourself with the CMS before trying out the changes on the live website.
