What is CMS: Steward of the Content Universe

A business that is not represented on the Internet ceases to exist for the outside world. Therefore, the owner or manager of a business simply has to understand at least the general principles of working with information on the Internet.

If for passive consumption of information it is enough to be able to use search sites, then for active promotion and development you need to figure out how to upload information to the network, its correct presentation, management and editing. To solve these problems, special programs are used – content management systems (CMS).

A content management system is the first thing a person or a business representative will have to think about if he is going to present himself or his business on the Internet. Let's make an assumption right away that activity in social networks is taken out of the scope of our conversation. This is a slightly different topic. Although related to the one under discussion.

So, CMS is a set of software tools for creating a website. After the site is created, the CMS is used for what is written in its name – filling and content management.

The most important feature of any CMS is that it allows you to create a website and manage its content without special knowledge in the field of information technology. An example is driving a car in uncomplicated conditions. The driver does not need to know too much about the engine, transmission, etc. In the same way, he may not delve into the design of the road surface, the principles of arranging road signs and traffic lights.

It is enough to understand the simple control interface of the machine (steering wheel, pedals, lever and buttons). Well, it is very desirable to learn the rules of the road. Which, you see, is also not from the field of astrophysics and quantum theory. After mastering this knowledge, a novice driver can safely take to the road. If he behaves prudently, he can drive without accidents and communication with the police for many years.

The same is true with a content management system. CMS becomes a translator between the user and the scary world of programming languages, scary acronyms like HTML, CSS, JavaScript files, etc. A person inexperienced in IT gets the opportunity to work with buttons in a graphical interface, and not with Sumerian cuneiform codes.

Of course, not a single CMS will relieve you of the need to strain your brain at the study stage. But these efforts are a hundred times more justified than mastering even one simple programming language from scratch.

And one more note at the end of this section - CMS in colloquial speech is often called the "engine".

There are various criteria by which CMS are classified.

For example, they can be divided according to the possibility of application for different purposes.

Move on with money criterion. Here, at first glance, everything is simple. However, a skeptic may remark: "Free cheese only happens in a mousetrap." I talk about the pros and cons of both options.

As for security, there are no fundamental differences between paid and free CMS. For a real hacker, it doesn't matter which CMS to hack. Against small dirty tricks, you can always add additional protection.  In fact, you should increase your security protocols in all places that collect and store customer data, like your website. At Intruder, you’ll find a website security scanner that reduces your risk of cyberattacks and protects your reputation at the same time.  

Another type of software designed for creating websites and managing content should be mentioned. These are the so-called website builders. Although a website builder solves the same tasks as a CMS, its capabilities are much less. However, for a beginner in website building, working with a website builder will be a great workout. And another feature of website builders. This is a typical example of software as a service (SAAS). Its essence is that the user receives at his disposal the software he needs from the provider. Moreover, the latter takes care of all the concerns about the smooth operation of such. For their efforts, the provider asks the user for some regular payment (and sometimes it does not require anything).

Providers often offer customers who buy hosting from them free use of a website builder. And one of the most famous representatives of this type of software is Wix. It makes it possible to create websites of various kinds, offers hundreds of themes for website design. A whole arsenal of plugins has been written for Wix. If necessary, tools for small businesses are offered - CRM, mailing by e-mail, chat, etc. Wix's main competitor in the market is Squarespace website builder.

We will offer a few tips for beginners.

And, to end the story, take a look at the statistics of the use of various types of CMS. And it will become clear which of them should be devoted to a separate post.

Content management systems represent a vast sector of information technology. Without CMS, it is impossible to conduct business on the Internet, promote goods and services through the company's website. Therefore, understanding the ideology of CMS, their role in the functioning of the company, have become vital skills for everyone involved in building a business.

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