Maintaining the vast amount of content that accrues on a website can be a difficult task to tackle, but with the right software it is possible to get the problem under control. Website operators frequently use a type of software that’s known as a Content Management System. A CMS is a software framework that’s designed to help the operators of a website handle everyday tasks. This can range from editing the details listed on the front page to managing more robust types of content, such as a blog, support forms and social media integration. The idea behind a CMS is to fit the elements of a website that are likely to change, particularly things like on-page text, into a system that allows the user to quickly edit, add and rearrange content.
Benefits of Using a CMS
The primary benefit of employing a CMS while managing a website is speed. A good CMS should offer you instant access to all of the basic components of your website. The interface should be designed to allow you to readily identify different sections of the site, select them and begin editing as quickly as possible.
Most modern CMS software will also be able to deal with content-related tasks. For example, every popular CMS now allows users to upload photos and drag-and-drop them into pages. The majority should also have options available to allow you to crop and resize those images without the need for a separate image editor.
Ease of Use
A CMS lowers the barriers to entry for people who are building websites. In a business setting, this can be especially beneficial. Over the life of a business website, it is unlikely that the same person will be responsible for editing it over many years. Employees come and go, and people go on vacation. Having a friendly CMS in place allows you to address minimal changes to a website without having to go through an extended training process or hiring a new person to do the job. A good CMS should be straightforward and allow a novice to get started as quickly as possible.
Control
A CMS helps a company to reduce its dependency upon website design firms. Since a company running a CMS has the power to make revisions to the website without assistance, this can reduce costs over the life of the site. This also means that a company’s interactions with its preferred website design firm can be more focused on improving the website, rather than fretting about making tiny fixes and edits.
Search Engine Optimization
SEO is one of the biggest challenges that businesses face. It’s hard to get your site out in front of its intended audience. In many cases, smaller businesses lack the resources need to do SEO work themselves. They may also not be in a position financially to outsource the work. The better CMS packages have a lot of the basic SEO features built-in. This allows you to put up a website quickly and trust that the big search engines, such as Google, will be able to see it, scan it and list it on search engine results pages.
Improve Customer Service
A CMS system allows you to focus on developing a larger range of content, rather than spending time making sure that pages are working. This allows you to diversify the available customer service offerings on your website. Most companies will want to build FAQ pages for their products and services, and FAQs are very easy to implement using a CMS. It’s even possible to build an entire customer service portal using your CMS.
Likewise, a CMS allows you to build out specific pages or even entire microsites that can cover issues regarding entire products or service sectors. This allows customers to find more information about a specific product or service, rather than having to wade through a website full of information about unrelated products and services. Because a CMS allows you to build these sites and pages out quickly, you can get them up and running right away, a benefit that’s especially helpful during product launches.
Conclusion
Employing a CMS allows a company to present more information and to post new developments quickly. This ultimately leads to a stronger relationship with the customer. A business can spend more time thinking about what’s on the page rather than worrying about getting a page to work. Because a company can post a greater amount of information, this allows a business to expand FAQ pages, add customer service elements and expand support forms. The net result is an all-around improved experience for the customer.
Choosing the right CMS is of crucial importance to the success of a website. Quantum can help you through this process. If you are looking to build a new website and want to know more about what the right CMS is, give us a call on 1300 3888 11.
