Some basics to know about CMS
A content management system, called “CMS”, is software that allows its owner to design and update an internet portal. It is easy to create dynamic and collaborative digital content (text, videos, images) automatically, from data that will be stored on a server.
The main characteristic of a computer CMS tool is to separate the content from the container. That is to say, it is possible to modify a text or an image without having to touch the graphic structure of the website. This aspect is valid in both directions.
What are the best content management systems?
There are many platforms on the market today for managing web content.
We offer you here an overview of the best known and most used at the present time.
The most popular software is without a doubt WordPress. It owns 69% of the market with over seventy million websites. Outside of hobbyist bloggers, there are many large companies that use WordPress. This solution is user-friendly, quick to install and affordable for everyone. With a very active community, it is easy to personalize your internet portal according to your needs or desires and to get help in case of difficulty. It’s plus: it’s free. If you are new to the field, WordPress is the perfect solution. It is very easy to set up. Article writing is intuitive. And if you want more features, there are millions of plugins to install within minutes. It does not require any knowledge in web design or development. Basic, it provides excellent SEO. For a simple personal or professional website, it is the best possible choice.
If you are looking to build a social media or e-commerce web portal, your choice will end with Joomla. It makes it possible to form a community to collect traffic easily. Joomla is a collaborative Internet and intranet CMS project using a free programming language (PHP example is AnimeSprout). Requiring less customization, it’s not as easy to use as WordPress. However, if you have little computer knowledge, it is possible to create a Joomla website without much difficulty. Not having such a large community as WordPress, it is however always ready to help.
The third-largest content management system is Drupal. It is recognized as the best of the three, but complex to use. It is mainly aimed at professional webmasters and people with web development skills. Beginners will have a harder time learning it. Drupal has a wider range of options (plugins, themes) and settings without any programming. It’s free. What sets it apart from its competition is its ability to be able to edit root files and make larger changes to your site.
In general, for entrepreneurs and small businesses, we will rather choose WordPress as we did in Kissanime. The Drupal, SilverStripe and Modx CMS are aimed, however, at medium-sized companies. More complex, they also offer more advanced functions. But when it comes to purely “e-commerce” sites, Prestashop, Magento and Shopify CMS will be by far the most suitable.
The criteria for choosing your content management system
Communicating on the web requires having a good system and mastering it perfectly. Depending on the nature of your project, the selection criteria will differ.
There are generally two main categories of web projects. On the one hand, the so-called “tactical” projects which consist in quickly and inexpensively implementing a website according to a specific need. Most often, these are turnkey software packages for intranet, institutional or event projects. They are open-source and accessible to people with no computer knowledge.
On the other hand, so-called “infrastructure” projects which aim to build a common project for a set of enterprise content management. Technical skills are needed to develop these tailor-made solutions.
There are CMS developed and adapted to all types of fields. There are specific ones for:
– E-commerce sites – Showcase sites (instant updates, direct interaction with Internet users)
– Photo or portfolio galleries
– Collaborative work platforms (intranet, project management)
– Private or public forums
– Blogs
– Community portals and social networks
The main functionalities expected from an IT CMS system are:
– Content creation: interface, ease of use, the possibility of simultaneous and multiple access
– Customization of the editorial structure
– Content management: security, backup, archiving
– Publication: “draft”, “approved”, “Online”
– Document accessibility
– Localization: management of several languages
– Deployment: storage of information on multiple and delocalized servers
– Several platforms and navigation media
– Choice of database and format export
– The ability to handle a massive influx of visitors over a short period
– The cost of creation: server, backup, license, development
The advantages of a content creation system
Updating its website regularly tells search engines and visitors that the information it contains is relevant and up to date. On the one hand, this makes it possible to improve natural referencing, but also to encourage readers to come back to the site and therefore to retain them.
The main advantages of a CMS are:
– The absence of a paid open-source license
– Relatively simple management
– Quick adaptation to new needs
– Multiple and remote access: collaborative work and decentralization of information
– A assignment of the role and access codes for each user
– Compatibility with all types of browsers and mobile devices
– Reduction of maintenance costs
– Easy handling thanks to intuitive interfaces
– Frequent updating of the site to maintain regular and relevant contact with their audience
