A Content Management System (CMS) is a suite of software tools for creating, editing, storing, publishing, and collaborating on digital content.
CMS systems are important because they provide more control over website content and give companies the ability to make necessary edits or changes so that content stays updated and relevant for a great web experience.
The top CMS features include:
- Content Creation
- Content Editing
- Workflows and Organization Tools
- Role-Based User Permissions
- Personalization
- Reporting & Analytics
- Security & Compliance
- Flexibility
- Scalability
- Multilingual Content Tools
The benefits of a Content Management System (CMS) are:
- Employees spend less time tracking down necessary documents and information.
- Paper documents can be converted to digital documents, allowing easy access on your network. This may allow businesses to save resources on file storage.
- Because file sharing is now easier, collaboration among employees in different departments or locations is facilitated.
- Relationships with long-term customers improve thanks to Case Management Software that closely tracks all customer interactions.
- Online and social media presence is improved with W-CMS tools that make content creation and sharing easier.
- Compliance with legal regulations is easier to ensure and document.
- Customizable Content
- Simple Content Collaboration
- Seamless Scheduling of Content
- Mobility & Accessibility
- Quick, Easy Installation
There are several types of CMS solutions including W-CMS and DMS.
- Web CMS solutions are used primarily for creating, managing, and publishing content online. W-CMS tools and features are designed to help enhance your company’s web presence through social media, blogs, online storefronts, and websites. A CMS website can help promote successful ecommerce and offer the opportunity to gather and organize feedback gained through customer interaction with your website or social media sources.
- DMS solutions, on the other hand, are designed to aid in the storage, organization, and management of internal documents or materials that are not intended for sharing outside of your organization. A DMS solution best benefits companies that rely upon large amounts of internal data or documents and can also help streamline internal business processes as well.
Open-source CMS deployment is becoming increasingly popular, especially for web content management. An open-source CMS is an easily accessible system for managing and publishing online content with ease. The open-source nature of this type of solution is typically much more cost effective and is constantly being enhanced, upgraded, and improved through a community of developers.
If your business revolves around large amounts of highly sensitive content and data, then you may opt for a proprietary CMS solution instead. A proprietary solution will likely cost more to implement, but will offer increased levels of customization and security for internal document management.
CMS system pricing varies depending on the type of solution you choose for your business, and providers offer subscription and licensing pricing models. In a subscription based pricing model, you will pay a monthly fee based on the number of users and specific tools and features you’ll need. However, in a licensing model, you will pay a larger, one-time fee to license the software and manage it inside your company.
Choosing the perfect CMS solution that will serve your business content needs for years to come may seem a complex task. However, if you plan and prepare properly with these key tips for selecting your CMS, you’ll likely choose a solution that will serve your business well into the future.