Content management system (CMS)

A content management system (CMS) is a software application that permits users to collaborate, edit, create, edit on digital/automated content, store and publish it. CMSs are used for Enterprise Content Management (ECM) and Web Content Management (WCM). 

In the early days of the web, you needed to know HTML in order to code a website and publish your content online. Earlier this used to be challenging, but CMS has made it much easier. Think of it like driving a car. You don't need to understand the mechanics of how it all works. 

With a powerful CMS platform like WordPress, you can log into your web dashboard and use a simplified interface to create websites, add content, and customize the design. Then the CMS will do the hard work of generating the code for you. With the right CMS, you can start a blog, open an e-commerce store, create a tutorial website, create portfolios, and more.

How does CMS work and how is it used?

A CMS provides a graphical user interface with tools for creating, editing, and publishing web content without having to write code from scratch.

A CMS consists of two elements: a content delivery application (CDA) and a content management application (CMA) 

CMA is a graphical user representation that let on users edit, delete, design, and create content from a web page without knowledge of HTML. 

The CDA component provides backend services that support the management and delivery of content once a user has created it in CMA.  

Important features in a content management solution include:

Content Management: How and how easily can you create, edit, publish and manage web content (including text, images, video, and audio)?

Presentation: Customers jump from device to device, and no marketing organization can put in the human effort to optimize every blog post or catalog page for laptops, tablets, and high-end smartphone formats. You want to create it once and let the CMS automate the presentation to suit the device.

Integration: Is the solution holistic, like Sitecore’s Experience Platform, or does it rely on APIs to connect your content to other applications like CRM and ERP tools, and to key external platforms like Facebook? Are the APIs you'll need available?

Commerce: A key integration is the ability to connect a personalized marketing presentation to your digital commerce systems. If you leave this destination on the map, you cannot deal with the "customer journey".  

Personalization: Can you target relevant content to unique visitors, by personality, location, or even individually based on past interactions with your brand?

Analytics: Providing content, but is anyone reading it? And what do they do next? Demand performance insights to optimize your efforts and define ROI.

Management: Can you find things after you post them? Can you strictly control who can approve, change, publish, or take it down? Can you tell when content has declined in versatility?  

Scalability/Performance/Stability: Is the solution reliable from an underlying technology perspective and will it grow with the needs of your organization? You may want to look into cloud content management.

Vendor training/support: WCM solutions are becoming more complex, with more and more promise, but most teams need help getting up and running beyond the basic level.

What is the differentiation between CMS, ECM, and WCMS?

CMS, ECM, and WCMS manage content, but there are a few differences among them : 

A CMS (Content Management System) is the predecessor of the ECM system. A CMS is a place in which we can manage our digital content and also create, manage and store it. which works best with structured or organized content – such as databases and document records.

An ECM (Enterprise Content Management) system operates both unstructured and structured content. It includes strategies, security, and software planning for effective content management.

A WCMS(Web Content Management System) is similar to an ECM system, but the differentiating factor is that WCMS is designed for web content – such as product pages on e-commerce websites. It includes a publishing tool and facilitates co-creation.  

What to consider before evaluating whether a CMS is right for your business? 

A CMS makes content more discoverable by addressing six key areas of content management. Content management are there enforced policies and procedures for content creation and management? 

Information architecture for tagging -

Is current and new content categorized and labeled in a way that everyone understands?

Business process for content management -

Are workflows standardized and automated?

User experience with content - 

How do key stakeholders—from employees to customers—find the information they need?

Technology and applications - 

Is existing technology being used correctly? What improvements or new systems would streamline the flow of information with optimal security? Do you have a cloud-based content management system? 

CMS business value - 

Can your content and data be managed more securely and efficiently? Are applicable regulatory guidelines followed?

Why Golden Eagle for Content Management?

Golden Eagle Content Management manages digital assets and structured content to create digital experiences across any channel or touchpoint. With a centralized asset vault at its origin, a Content-as-a-Service (CaaS) API, and an active site builder and you can also drag and drop the WYSIWYG site editor and quickly design the right experience for any audience.