You need a CMS!
Mario is quick. He asserts that Oprah needs a Content Management System (CMS). It's a software that will give her all the required features, and he can set it up on her web site. Apart from managing site content and navigation, a CMS may also allow interactive content such as discussions, newsletters, blogs, photo galleries, and so on.
Mario explains a variety of benefits from using a CMS. They are:
- Dynamic content—changes reflect immediately
- Easily make changes—using just a browser and familiar editing tool (similar to Word)
- Manage site navigation and sections—ability to add or order pages and other content
- Control over design—tweak the entire site the way you wish from a single place
- Add interactive content such as discussions, class schedules, shopping cart, and so on.
- Add photos, links, and other rich media easily
- Get full control over the web site
- Allow multiple people to manage the site
Oprah interrupts Mario and says she appreciates these benefits, but wants to know if there are any other alternatives.
CMS alternatives
"What you need IS a content management system. We can go ahead with a readily available system, or hire someone to build one from scratch. I could write a CMS for you, but your needs are not so specific. I would rather use an open source CMS and customize it to your needs. Who wants to reinvent the wheel, you see!", Mario says.
"This makes sense." Oprah is thinking. "If I want things to be dynamic, I will need some kind of software to do that. I know that people use some web-based software to manage their sites. I can easily pick that up..."
Mario continues, "If you simply wanted to publish photos, you can use some photo management software on your machine and publish the site on a server. If you want to write regular updates on Yoga, you could start a blog. And you could use a 'hosted' blog where you don't have to do any server setup, or the like. You just write content. If you want static content, we can use some other online tools that help design web sites. What you want is manage content and site frequently, and on your own. We also want full control and our own site to be the host. That certainly is what CMSs are designed for."
Oprah is now convinced that she needs a CMS.