How To Choose The Right CMS?

Work on algorithm in the vintage computer lab

How To Choose The Right CMS?

 

If you decide that a content management system is a tool you need for managing your web-site content, you should take some time to investigate the different options that are available to you. Like any other software, not all CMS systems are created equal.

 

When you begin to look for the right CMS, the first thing you should do is consider what budget you have for the system. Your budget will narrow your field some. Then you can begin considering dif- ferent factors about each company that will help you narrow the field even more:

 

 

■Look first at the history of the company. Companies that are new to the market are risky, especially if they are drastically different from existing companies. The length of time that a company has been in business is a good indicator of its strength. This is not foolproof, but you can generally have more trust in companies that have been in busi- ness longer.

 

 

■Look at workflow and collaboration features. You know what you need to accomplish with a content management system. Whether it is plugging in content from vendors out- side your company, or allowing for collaboration within your organization, make sure that the services that you are considering can meet all of your needs now and as your organiza- tion grows. It’s difficult to migrate from one content management system to another, so think long-term as you’re making your decision.

■Consider how the software will integrate with your

 

organization. Do you need software that you install and manage from your own machines or will a web-based program serve your needs better? Also, how will the system you choose work with the technology that you already have in place? If you have to invest in additional technology to support the CMS, the actual cost of the system will be higher than originally thought.

 

 

■ Consider elements of personalization, too. How much personalization do you need? Will multiple people need different capabilities? And what about dealing with archived content? Personalization reaches to more than just defining how many users will use the CMS for different jobs. It also means looking deeper into all the situations in which a dif- ferent element of CMS may be needed.

 

 

As with any technology, there are many other factors to consider. But these questions will get you started. Then, as you narrow the field you can request references from organizations that currently use the CMS software you’re considering. Remember, though, that a vendor isn’t going to supply a customer reference that will speak badly of them, so also check Internet forums and software reviews to round out your picture of the company that you’re considering. A great resource to compare CMS software is http://www.cmsmatrix.org/

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