So what is a content management system?
A content management system (CMS) is a mini website within your normal website. The CMS is not made visible to the public; you are given a web address, username and password enabling you (or your staff) to login from any computer with an internet connection. The CMS lets you quickly and easily edit the text and images that appear on your website. The CMS is driven by a database which ensures any changes you make are instantly updated throughout your website.
What about commercial content management systems?
In most cases ‘template’ websites backed by a commercial CMS systems are the wrong choice. Don’t be fooled by the claims of commercial Content Management Systems (CMS); we use the open source (free) content management system called WordPress. They give you far too many options and little or no tuition on actually using the necessary features. They also require payment of a yearly fee. We don’t agree with charging recurring fees for your website build – you enlist us to build your site, so we’ll build it and then the code is completely yours. That’s not to say there aren’t ongoing fees to a website, but those are optional and linked to hosting, domain registration, search engine optimisation and search engine marketing.
Example: “Changing the ‘contact information’ page on your website”
- Simply login using your username and password at: www.yoursite.com.au/wp-admin.
- Choose the ‘contact’ page from the pages list. The current information is displayed text boxes with tools like Microsoft Word.
- Edit the text you wish to change and then hit ‘Update’.
- Your website has been instantly updated at no cost.
