What is a Content Management System?

A Content Management System, or CMS, is what many web managers use to manage, create and alter content on a website. In many instances, Content Management Systems are designed to be used by website administrators who don’t necessarily have software development skills to build and manage a website by themselves. 

One of the many advantages of a CMS is that different users can be assigned different roles within the Content Management System. This makes it easier for people to collaborate while working on a webpage. It also means that it should be quite easy if something needs to be changed in a hurry. Another way this is beneficial is that if you are a company that employs someone to work only on your blogs (for example), then their permissions can be assigned that they only have access to that section (post section) and can’t access the landing pages of the site. 

Digital Content Managers & CMS

The internet is full of amazing websites and behind many of these is a Content Management System or CMS. You’ll often find that the marketing site for many companies is built with a Content Management System for Digital Content Managers to use. A CMS allows these managers to add and alter content on a website without having to write any code for the page. 

Often, a Digital Content Manager will not have the necessary skills to build a website from scratch. Therefore, having an intuitive CMS in place allows them to focus on creating excellent content for the marketing site. 

Blogging & CMS

As you may have guessed, not all bloggers are software developers. Often, you will find that bloggers use CMS platforms like WordPress, Blogger or Wix. These systems, which we will describe below, are the most popular Content Management Systems that allow people worldwide to share their stories, opinions, fashions, online shops, and much more. 

Other places where a CMS is used

Content Management Systems are very popular among websites, but it’s not just websites that these systems are used for; a CMS can be used in other ways. For example, different types of CMS structures can be used in Document Management (DMS) and Enterprise Content Management (ECM). Administrators can use content Management Systems in other realms too. 

DMS

Document Management Systems are effectively replacing paper. Now that many companies invoice, etc., using paperless methods, a good DMS allows you to store and manage documents in the cloud. They will also offer a system for uploading and tracking documents as they come into your business.  

ECM

Companies use Enterprise Content Management Systems to allow access to files to employees, and if needs be, customers too. In addition, it allows for easy access to relevant documentation when it is needed. 

Content Management System Examples

1. WordPress
2. Joomla
3. Wix
4. Magento

• WordPress
  WordPress is the most popular Content Management System. According to WordPress, “42% of the web runs on WordPress”. Navigating this CMS is relatively simple, which is why so many bloggers, e-Commerce sites and more have chosen it as their management system. It’s easy to ensure that these sites are responsive on different devices, and there is a range of free and paid-for plugins available depending on your needs for your website. A free version of WordPress is available. However, the free version is limited. The more money you pay, the better the choice of possibilities you get.  

• Joomla
  According to Joomla’s website, more than 2 million websites use this CMS, and it supports 76 different languages. Joomla is free and open-source, and there are many free and paid-for plugins/tools/extensions available for it. 

• Wix
  Founded in 2006, Wix is growing in popularity, and they claim that they have more than 200 million users. There is a range of payment options to use Wix, and according to their website, users can get a 14-day free trial, and if cancelled within that period, they are entitled to a full refund. 

• Magento
  Magento belongs to Adobe, and its principal focus is e-Commerce websites. According to users, Magento integrates easily with the likes of PayPal. However, PHP knowledge and some coding knowledge are required for Magento users. 

Build your own web page

Through its Full Stack Software Development programme, Code Institute teaches its students the skills needed to build their own websites from scratch – without the use of a CMS. However, knowing these skills are beneficial for modern Content Management Systems. If you’d like to build your first web page for free, without the use of a CMS, register now for our free 5 Day Coding Challenge. With it, you will learn the basics of HTML, CSS and JavaScript after just one hour a day over five days. Register now through the form below.