In our consumer driven society, you have less than three seconds to grab a consumer’s attention before they leave your site. That’s why it is more important than ever to develop a professional, engaging website.
A content management system (CMS) is a quick and easy way to develop a website. CMS is a software that allows you to create and maintain a website from the convenience of your web browser. The idea behind a CMS is that business owners will not have to start with a blank screen of code. Instead, business owners will have the framework needed to edit and manipulate templates that fit their needs.
With literally hundreds of options out there, choosing the right CMS for your business can be a task within itself. Here’s what to look for in a CMS:
? Easy Template Manipulation. Business life can be hectic. Therefore, you want the ability to take a basic template and quickly reconfigure it with your content, logo and personalization.
? Good User Administration. Keep in mind you’re not a web developer. A good CMS will provide your business with the framework needed to create a professional website and the accessibility to maintain the site on your own.
? Extra Functionality. Consumers have unique demands. It’s important to have the option to integrate different capabilities, like a forum or email newsletter. It’s equally important to think in terms of five years from now—you will want the option to add new features in the future.
? A Helpful Community. Don’t be fooled by “free” open source systems. Paying a little extra for a CMS is the best way to ensure quality support when you need it. However, you should ask your administrator questions about additional fees for customer support and availability 24/7.
Choosing the right CMS is crucial—selecting the wrong software for your business can result in unnecessary hours of development time in the long-run (time is money). Take your time to careful examine all your options.