We’ll tell them “Oh, that’s a pretty site - let’s see what we can do to improve it,” when really we’re thinking “Eww... I hope you didn’t pay anything for that... I’d better run to the bathroom before I loose my lunch.” Ultimately, if our client had done it right the first time, they would have stuck to something simple like a static html/css website, or they would have gone with a Content Management System (CMS).

What is a CMS?

It is a collection of code (the scary stuff you don’t want to touch), that all works together to create the foundation for a website. Ultimately, it is a tool that makes website a whole ton easier. It normally needs to be installed/setup/tweaked by a web guru who has some skills with server management, web design, and web development. After that initial setup, however, a website built on a CMS can be edited and maintained by anyone with even the slightest proficiency with computers. If you can edit a word document, surf the web and check your email, you probably have what it takes to be a CMS ‘Webmaster’.

Do I Need A CMS For My Website?

Most websites are designed to be updated frequently, in hopes of bringing in some website traffic that will stimulate business marketing and new leads for customers. Sites that will be updated even once or twice a year would benefit from a CMS. If you just need a place holder website (one with a single page that describes your business and gives a phone number) then you could go with something really simple that doesn’t have a CMS. If the site you’re looking to create falls into one of the following categories, you need a CMS:

• An eCommerce web store to sell online
• A lead generation site to find new customers
• An online portfolio to showcase images, designs, graphics, etc.
• A site for a city specific business (such as ‘Chicago’s Best Burgers’)
• A site with a lot of information that changes regularly
• A site that will change it’s look and feel seasonaly
• A site utilizing regularly updated content (blog, catalog, etc.)

Conclusion

Websites that have a CMS built in are the latest rave in the online world - and there’s good reason why. They generally cost less to build, are easier to maintain, and add extra functionality that wouldn’t be possible in a non CMS utilizing site. I could easily write a 40 page paper, covering all the benefits, need for and inner workings of Content Management Systems... but so that you can get started on building your own website, I won’t bore you with all that. Not now at least.