Say Yes to the CMS

It is entirely possible that I am one of the only people left who types every blog entry with html codes for even the slightest change of text. Although I can see how easy it must be to press that B button be done with it, I meticulously type every code required for my text to turn out bold, or my image to be centered, or to separate my paragraphs with a spontaneously underlined phrase -- it's how I've always gone about blogging.

Meticulously typing out every piece of code necessary for a much broader, grander website - however - sounds like a nightmare I would not want to pursue. My fear of overly complicated web development is likely shared by many, which is what makes the appeal of Content Management Systems (CMS) completely understandable.

So, what is a CMS?

CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: a database-driven software that sits behind a website that enables the site manager to quickly and easily update the website pages and structure (the content) {source}

Popular content management systems currently utilized by web developers are WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. 

The Benefits
{with help from webhostinggeeks.com}

• Cost Effective - rather than paying a web programmer to keep up with updating the company site, any company employee can now easily update content (and quickly!)
• Grants Control - CMS makes it possible to save drafts of content before publishing, moderate who is able to post content to the site, and even manage comments on blog-based sites
• Not Time-Consuming - instead of removing files from the web, altering them, and sending them back up through FTP, changes can be made almost immediately through settings, widgets, and editors
• Allows for Growth - when new ideas are brought to the table, they can be picked up easily by any website wishing to utilize them - a spirit of sharing exists in CMS

 Which CMS do I use? 

I have built blogs with Joomla and I have built shopping cart websites with Wordpress. It just depends on what you need it to do, your familiarity with the system, and how long you have to work on that program. In fact, that is something that is misunderstood by many people - if you don't like using Drupal, that doesn't make it less valuable, it just makes it less useful to you! {source}

I have to agree! If you feel comfortable with one content management system and truly learn its ins-and-outs, it wouldn't be unreasonable to say that you can achieve anything you want with that CMS. There are, however, a few key differences that can help in making a decision.

DRUPAL LIKES DEVELOPERS - of the three most popular content management systems, drupal is the most known for being developer-friendly. If you are not someone who enjoys working with large amounts of code, it might not be the CMS for you!

WORDPRESS LIKES BLOGGERS - the site is known for being preferred by blog-based sites. WordPress makes it easy to update with articles, entries, and content - and is simple enough for most people to understand. If you aren't someone who plans on updating often, it might not be the CMS for you!

JOOMLA LIKES THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD - the site is welcoming for designers, has some possibility for developing codes, and is simple to understand overall. If you're looking for one extreme over another, this might not be the CMS for you!

Overall, content management systems are popular because there is nothing that web users like more than instant gratification! Easy to use, quick to update, and cost effective - what wouldn't a company love about that?