Archive for content management systems
Important Features of Content Management Systems
Posted by: | CommentsAlthough well organized and informative content has always been vitally important to the success of a website, it is now even more important in terms of search engine optimization (SEO) because of Google’s new algorithms. Unfortunately, writing and then manually uploading content to a website can be extremely time consuming and tedious. As a result, many web hosting companies also provide access to automated content management systems for their customers to utilize.
The Benefits of Content Management Systems
One of the main boons of a content management system (CMS) is the ability to add content daily without being tied to a computer. Since a constant influx of well crafted and informative content is vital to page rank a good CMS can help automate the process. The webmaster can simply schedule when and how much content to upload and then go on about his or her business.
Establishing and Maintaining User Accounts
A good CMS will allow for the website owner to establish and maintain multiple user accounts so that a number of authors and content providers can also schedule content to be easily uploaded as needed. Each user can be assigned a unique user name, password and level of access so that the task of uploading content can be delegated out. This is perhaps one of the most useful features to websites that will be accessed by more than one user.
Flexibility and Creativity
Another important feature of a content management system is the flexibility needed for creativity. Since it is possible to preview what the content will look like prior to hitting ‘submit’ or ‘update,’ each user can view various templates and layouts before scheduling submission. Keep in mind that Google is cracking down on content so creativity is more important than ever before.
Local and Server Side Access to Content
Many times a website owner may be working with scheduling topics for content creation at home or on a laptop that for one reason or another isn’t connected to the internet. Since content management systems store everything on a hard drive as well as on the server side, it is possible to access content to see what has already been written and what still needs to be created. Once the content has been written the CMS can be scheduled to upload at some point in the future when a connection is made.
Automation Is the Key
It should be apparent by now that automation is the key to any good content management system. In order to be most beneficial to the user it is vital to automate as many tasks as possible. There is an old adage that says “Time is money” and that is never truer than in terms of providing a constant stream of content to a website. In the past webmasters spent hours manually uploading files but with the advent of content management systems they are now free to spend their time seeking other ventures while their website is virtually on autopilot!
When comparing web hosting plans make sure to check out whether or not they provide a content management system and what features their system has. Since the point of a CMS is to streamline tasks you will want as many features as possible and good web hosting companies provide the best content management systems available.
Vdeck – Robust Features, Simplified Functionality
Posted by: | CommentsA powerful control panel should facilitate the completion of complex Web hosting tasks within a simplified user interface. Vdeck does this successfully while also providing a robust feature set that is unmatched by equivalent competitors. This control panel is perhaps one of the most versatile on the market, having compatibility with virtual private servers, shared hosting configurations, and dedicated servers. All of the actions that webmasters are expected to perform on a daily basis can easily be completed within the Vdeck administrative interface, which is neatly categorized and organized into efficient modules that centralize various web hosting duties. The following review briefly discusses some of the most appealing aspects of the Vdeck control panel.
Flexibility and Compatibility
Although popular control panels such as cPanel are mostly known for their ease-of-use, and are therefore commonly used by novice webmasters, Vdeck differs in this respect because it is flexible enough to be a perfect solution for nearly any size business. Whether you’re a small business owner or the CEO of a large corporation, Vdeck can accommodate your needs and preferences effectively. Vdeck includes all the tools and resources needed to efficiently manage an entire online store, or a small business portfolio site, without the need for any additional modifications or plug-ins. Vdeck is also compatible with a variety of operating systems, and can be used in nearly every hosting configuration . Since Vdeck can be used with any hosting type, it is possible to carry it with you throughout the years as you progress in your online business endeavors.
Traffic Analysis and Promotion
Vdeck improves webmasters’ ability to thoroughly analyze traffic statistics and trends, by providing several integrated traffic analytics software that can easily be installed on websites within the control panel. By having the ability to analyze and monitor web traffic in real-time, and generate monthly, weekly, and daily reports, it is possible to maximize the efficiency of a marketing campaign and improve overall promotion efforts. Vdeck includes a simplified script installation utility that can be used to quickly and easily install web hosting scripts, such as content management systems, with a single click of the mouse. Many of these scripts will aid in administrative tasks such as performing search engine optimization duties and organizing website content.
Expandable Functionality
Although Vdeck is considered to be a control panel, it has the open-source expandability that is commonly seen in content management systems such as WordPress, Joomla!, and Drupal. The functionality and features of Vdeck can be expounded upon using custom scripts and extensions, many of which are already available for free through Vdeck developer’s forums. Vdeck makes it easy to add custom Cron jobs that automate repetitive server and site administration tasks such as posting content, clearing comments, and creating site backups. Vdeck is also easy to learn how to use, because there are a lot of helpful tutorials and videos posted online by experienced Vdeck users. By networking within the Vdeck community you can gain access to programmers that are capable of creating custom modules within Vdeck for specific website and server management purposes.
Helpful Content Management Tools
Posted by: | CommentsMany online businesses develop their own content management tools which meet their specific needs. However, over the past few years, there are a few companies that have released excellent content management software. This allows businesses to spend less money by hiring professionals to create proprietary content management systems. The commercial software can be tweaked to fit the needs of most organizations.
There are six exceptional content management tools that have been released by third-party software vendors. These include:
- DynaBase
- Egrail
- Interwoven TeamSite
- RedDot Web Content Management System
- Typo3
- Vignette Content Management
DynaBase is an advanced XML content management system featuring a user-friendly and file-based environment. The indexing is lightning fast and search capabilities are endless. DynaBase allows you to manage, use and reuse large amounts of new and old content from all areas of your organization. The software is designed to the specific needs of you company in an affordable manner.
Egrail is a server-side content management system that interacts with automated data delivery software such as news feeds. Also, this solution will allow you to write the HTML for improved flexibility. The best aspect of the Egrail software is it is open-source and thus free to use.
TeamSite by Interwoven is a formidable enterprise content management system. As a result, the software is extremely expensive. This is considered to be one of the top content management tools due to the many features offered and the overall price.
RedDot Web Content Management System is an innovative tool as it allows you to edit documents directly to the internet. Therefore, no difficult coding of HTML or other web languages is needed. The program is excellent for access control.
Typo3 is another open-source program that is free but powerful. It offers many of the same features as TeamSite without the cost. Typo3 offers extendibility and full flexibility packed with a plethora of premade functions, interfaces and modules.
Finally, Vignette Content Management system is enterprise software created for the organization of large companies. The software engages the capabilities of website content contributors as well as administrators regardless of skill level.
Each of these tools provides various features, some at a price; others are open-source mainly for large organizations. However, due to the cost, anyone can use the open-source software to complement their business. If you are considering improving your business, look to one of these six content management solutions.
CMS’s Programs Worthy of Your Consideration
Posted by: | CommentsThere are content management systems (CMS) appearing across the Internet to help website owners remain organized and keep their content efficient. Most web owners have their favorite CMS but are always on the lookout for the next innovative program. The following are some of the newest and best CMS that have recently come to market and are worth checking out:
- Bildy
- Firerift
- Get Simple CMS
- Typeroom
- Lemonstand
Bildy has been designed to feature a horizontal navigation similar to iTunes which is completely different than most CMS software. This allows for an easy method of creating and organizing content. There is even a “custom” field that allows you to customize the exact time of content you are searching for to collect from different pages.
Firerift features a sleek and shiny interface allowing for easy blog posting, uploading of files and various other modules that streamline content management. Within the “data” panel, there is an area to define custom fields to add or search for content. This is considered a new type of CMS in that the program stores the information in a database but pulls it and places it on a page using JavaScript.
The Get Simple CMS software does not provide anything new and innovative but it does offer a straightforward interface that manages content tremendously well. Once logged in, the main menu presents four options: Files, Themes, Pages and Backup. The CMS also offers a WYSIWYG editor for easy visualization of webpages.
Typeroom is available in two versions: Typeroom Professional and Typeroom Lite. Each offer effective inline editing that is growing in popularity among CMS’s. You simply must login to your website and add content directly onto the site as opposed to a backend administrative interface.
Finally, Lemonstand is not a CMS in the traditional sense, the program is actually a shopping cart with features like the ability to add pages and other content. The premise behind the design is to build websites that allow you to sell any type of product or service. The interface is simple and split by Dashboard, CMS and Shop.
These five CMS programs are some of the most innovative and advanced currently in the industry. CMS programmers are moving away from backend interface toward creating, modifying and deleting content directly from the webpage, which update instantly. This feature will continue to improve and grow with the release of new CMS’s in the future.
Reasons to Choose Open Source CMS Software
Posted by: | CommentsAs content management systems (CMS) continue to grow in popularity, many webmasters and website owners are moving toward open-source software. This type of software offers a great deal of opportunity for improvement, expansion and customization. The CMS world is no different and this should be taken full advantage of by the open-source CMS community, especially in these financially difficult times.
There are many reasons to choose open source CMS software over competing business systems. These advantages include:
- Cost
- Stability/performance
- Safety
- Support
The main reason user’s switch to open-source software of any kind is cost. Open-source is a free version of code created by a community of programmers and developers. In these difficult times, the most economical type of software is those that are free. To cut costs, many businesses are transferring to open source solutions while continuing to maintain the same quality and consistency offered by commercial systems.
The second advantage is the stability and performance provided by this type of software. Since open source CMS solutions tend to have a broader installation, they are more extensively tested and improved through those experiences in a professional environment. There are no target ship dates for open source CMS software because it is constantly being updated and expanded to ensure consistency and robustness.
The third benefit is safety in the code. Commercial software systems are all closed source meaning the code is hidden. Therefore, gaps, bugs and harmful code cannot be identified in advance, thus it cannot be corrected upstream. Finally, support is always a major factor in all software systems. With open source CMS solutions, there are extensive forums and emailing lists to contact experts for support, all of which is free.
When searching for a CMS, it is important to find one that is right for the needs of your business, be it commercial or open source. Each offer their own advantages and disadvantages, however, if it comes down to cost, open source may turn out to be the most efficient solution.
Although commercial systems will never replace open-source alternatives, they do provide excellent competition will their many appealing advantages, especially cost. The software industry as a whole is turning more toward extensively supported software compared to commercial options. Companies continue to switch to open source CMS solutions each day because it fits their business model best and improves their online presence.
Content Management Systems and Business Collaborations
Posted by: | CommentsContent management systems are robust server side web applications that facilitate the quick and easy management of web sites. However, many people overlook some of the benefits that content management systems have to offer. A good CMS can be used for many purposes, including but not limited to uploading, organizing, editing, and publishing content. Aside from the content management aspects of a CMS, there are also features that allow you to change the design of your site as well. Within the past few years a new type of content management system has been born; one that expands the boundaries of a conventional CMS and allows for business networking that is unprecedented.
Instant Collaborations
Some content management systems, such as Alfresco, let multiple people use the same interface simultaneously in order to work together on business projects. Traditionally, such software has been known as project management software, but as developers continue to expand open source content management systems, the line between project management and content management is being blurred. With the ability to conduct instant collaborations with multiple workers lets business owners and project managers boost productivity and get more done in less time.
Setting Permissions
One of the most appealing aspects of a content management system pertaining to the management of projects and business collaborations is the ability to set restrictions, permissions and limitations for each user of the CMS. For example, you can create user accounts for each employee and assign a specific task to each persons. When your employees log in they will only be able to execute the functions that you have set in the preferences panel of your content management system. By setting permissions you have the ability to oversee and supervise the project efficiently by ensuring that no one is overstepping their boundaries.
Project Reports
During any project it is important to monitor the progress of your team’s actions. With a good content management system you can create a report of the actions that occurred during the last 24 hours in order to get a clear picture of what needs to be done. You can also receive traffic reports within the content management system, which is extremely helpful when your project involves increasing web site traffic. With the ability to monitor, regulate and control every task and duty performed by your employees, you’ll be able to keep every project operating smoothly, without unnecessary disagreements or lack of productivity. You can even assign new tasks to people within the content management system as an administrator.
Conclusion
If you are serious about the success of your business, and the projects that are crucial to its success, then you may want to consider the aforementioned benefits of a modern content management system for your next endeavor. With proper organization and the right administrative tools you can accomplish almost anything in a timely and efficient manner. If you do not have access to the right resources, you may find project management to be one of the most difficult aspects of managing a business.