Content management system

 

 

A content management system (CM S) is the system that you use to add or change

content on your page. CM Ses come in varying degrees of complexity, and the one

you will choose to use will depend on your internet skills and on how often you

modify your page’s content. The three options are:

1. Basic template CM S. This type of CM S can be used by anyone because it is

very simple and just requires the user to enter the new data. No technical

knowledge is needed. If you have ever used WordPress (www.wordpress.

com) or Blogger, you have used a simple template CM S. Yola also has a basic

template CM S. This is also the cheapest option, but has the fewest features.

2. Open source CM S. This type of CM S is more advanced and can be customised

by a web developer to include the features you want. This can be a good

option for non-technical people, depending on your choice of open source

CM S. Joomla (www.joomla.org) is a popular option. Open source CM Ses are also free.

3. Custom CM S. Some advanced websites need a custom-build CM S and

generally require a web developer to manage them. This option is viable if

you plan to hire an agency to create your website or if you have a dedicated

IT department; however, the other options are perfectly suitable. Building a

custom CM S is very expensive.

If you plan to update and add content to your page often, choose a CM S that you

find easy to use – that way, you can manage the content yourself without having

to hire a web developer. If your page is going to remain largely static with few

changes, which is unlikely, it is all right to pick a more complex option – but even

in this scenario, you can save yourself time and money by using a system you

understand. The complexity of your website is largely dependent on which CM S

you choose.

Writing for the web

Web copywriting is a specific and unique type of writing, and often requires a

specific touch to get it right. The most important things to remember are to keep

your writing very simple (using short sentences, common words and plenty of

paragraphs), to put the most important ideas first and to structure your text so

that it is easy to read (by using bullet points, bold, spacing and so on).