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Blogs and Musings from the staff at Computer Scene.
Content Management System
2011-01-11 08:20:50
The hardest part of a website update for me is providing the text. Out of context writing the text using notepad or a word processor doesn't seem to help, it really doesn't work until you see it live on a website.
So, we needed a content management system for our website, and after looking at the commercial and open source options, we thought as we needed something 'lighter' that we would develop it ourselves from the ground up.
Luckily this sort of coding is right up our street and whilst we are still going through the growing pains with it, so far it has helped us get this revised site live within a matter of days. Also it means that content, (the heart of any web site) can be reviewed and changed rapidly by multiple users, and not just the web design team as was previously the case.
Websites are becoming an increasingly important tool for businesses to maintain communication with their stakeholders, existing customers as well as any potential customers. Think of it as an additional channel, on top of telephone, email, etc. you also have an almost live platform to convey on.
So how should a CMS work? It is about separating content from design, which in practice is not as easy as you would think. For example as I write this article, not only am I supplying the words, but I'm thinking about layout, can I make that bit bolder, maybe I want colour options, and so the blurring of content and design begins.
So in reality like a newspaper, a house style needs to be thought about and preferably published so that everyone can conform. Also everyone needs to be made aware of their responsibility as we turn more and more of our staff into publishers in their own right.
In conclusion though a CMS is a positive step forward in the control and flexibility of web publishing, there is still a need for good designers, and design implementers, as well as acknowledging the responsibility of being able to instantly publish.
Computer Scene Ltd. - 5 King Street Mildenhall Bury St Edmunds Suffolk IP28 7ES - Tel: 01638 583070 -
