Content Management Systems

CMS allows users to edit/upload content without needing to have any prior coding knowledge. It requires a much easier learning curve than coding which is beneficial for people who want a fast way to create content on the web. CMS are primarily for people who want to make a website but don’t want to invest time into learning how to code or investing in a developer.

[Figure 1] When building a website using a Content Management System, all of your content is saved on one place. This makes it easier to edit and maintain your website because all of your content is stored together.

Background info on CMS

File net was said to be the first CMS that was put out by IBM in 1985, a decade later Vignette was what really coined the term content management systems though, coming onto the scene a decade later then file net the software had a goal of making web publishing more personalised for its users as well as being assessable. After 1995 is when other CMS's really started to crop up with FutureTense (1996), FatWire (1996), Inso (1996). To name a few.

Examples of CMS

There are reasons that large organisations use CMS and a huge one is uniformity. For example, university sites need to maintain consistency because they need to present themselves in a professional manner to the public. My current university switched from HTML to using a CMS because different departments' web pages looked completely different. There was no constancy, and this led to the site looking tacky and outdated.

The most widely used CMS is currently WordPress. They provide a wide range of plugins, themes and add-ons.

Another example is Google Sites, which has been claimed to be the most user-friendly CMS out there, with people comparing it to be as easy to use as Microsoft Word. So, this could be a good CMS for anyone to get started on. It might lack a few developer tools compared to other CMS but it is an easy one to get started with.

The last CMS I want to mention is SquareSpace, with a range of templates that have a minimalistic and profession style. They also offer live chat support if you are having any trouble. SquareSpace is an up-and-coming CMS.

How are CMS used and what do they offer?

Different CMS can vary on the things that they have to offer, but all of them allow users to create and format content. With content creation comes content storage. For example, WordPress allows you to create a blog and then individual blog posts are kept online and are stored on the cloud.

Author: Callum Eaton

Editor: Ruby Osborne

references:

[1]Optimizely, "Content Management Systems". [Online]. Available: https://www.optimizely.com/optimization-glossary/content-management-system/ [Accessed 01 03 2019].

[Figure 1] Free From Wix Images. "Website on laptop" CC0. 2019.