Selecting a CMS - How to Narrow Down a Chasm of Selections
By: Riley Jones
Submitted: 2010-08-05 02:27:48 | Word Count: 787
It's beginning to feel like there are more CMS systems than there are neighborhood pizza joints. I figured, when my own experience with CMS building, implementing, and consulting, that when somebody asked me which CMS they ought to use, it would be a no-brainer. However it's not. And every day it seems like there's nevertheless another CMS available creating traction. Long story short: there are merely too several CMS options. And, when it comes to doing the fundamentals (creating and publishing content), there are free open supply and cheap choices that attract the masses, watering down the industry.
Thus how does one go regarding choosing the appropriate CMS for a lot of advanced comes?
Here are some suggestions for those formidable enough to head off in the correct direction:
1. Budget
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The first sensible means to slender down the CMS field is to work out what your budget is, and then respect it. Remember to incorporate all costs, like implementation and support. Additionally, keep in mind that an open source solution is not really free; it can cost cash to implement your website and maintain it.
2. Audit Your Content Load
There are many CMS systems that work great and have a slick user interface, however they were never designed to handle vast amounts of content. This can affect publishing and editing performance, and may have an effect on overall website performance if content is dynamically served. Therefore, define how a lot of content you've got today and how much you'll have tomorrow. Then, match that with case studies of what your target CMS system will handle. It is vital to sample real-life case studies as opposed to theoretical estimates.
3. Take into account Scalability
There are various systems that are great for single users or tiny teams; but as soon as you add larger teams, things will fall apart. Choose a system that will support your most projected users for the subsequent 5 years. Then examine how the system allows them to collaborate, being attentive to options such as file locking, workflow, previewing, drafting, approvals etc.
4. Format Flexibility
How several completely different formats will you utilize to share your content (internet, mobile, social, audio, video, XML, alternative system integration)? Assume 5 years into the future. Can or not it's helpful to serve content in other formats? If your organization is solely centered on net and social content, for instance, and you do not see a modification coming anytime soon, evaluate your CMS accordingly. However if you will be publishing in multiple formats, make sure that content can be re-purposed easily.
5. Publishing Flexibility
If there is one lesson I've learned over the years, it's that web technology and websites thrive on change. If your web site content is not tweaked or even totally retooled at least every 12 months or so, you will lose to your a lot of net-savvy competitors. Take a good observe how easily you can revamp a web site design, add some new technology, or add a micro website to the mix. If your CMS limits your ability to make changes, you're at a important disadvantage.
6. Usability
CMS usability is vital but don't let it mask alternative necessary features. I've seen many easy-to-use, sleek interfaces that lack real guts. Once you've identified a system that meets your core needs, make certain your team offers it a rigorous check drive. If your trusted allies cannot determine a way to use it correctly, it will not be terribly useful.
In the top, selecting a CMS is not any little task. There are countless choices with many features to evaluate. The best approach is to grasp your core needs (for nowadays and, at least, the next 5 years) and then begin matching them with CMS features. Employing a CMS feature matrix, or an RFP template, will be very helpful, however if you do not truly perceive your own wants and necessities, they will not be terribly helpful. There are also lots of experts out there that may help you better understand your CMS goals. Once you're totally tuned in to what you would like from a CMS, you'll be ready to pick one that fits your needs and budget. Simply bear in mind: nothing's very free, and it's higher to speculate currently than realize expenses later.
Author Resource:-
William Hill has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Internet and Businesses Online, you can also check out his latest website about:
