Web Content Management System

A web content management system, or WCM, is a system designed to help make managing web-based content and website content simpler and easier. With most of these systems, you can change web pages, update graphics and text, create new pages or page sections, and more without having to have any knowledge of HTML or any other programming language.

What’s the Difference Between a Web Content Management System and a Content Management System?

So, what’s the difference between a CMS and a WCM? Actually, there’s very little difference between the two. In fact, in many instances, there are no differences. The truth is that a WCM is just another type of CMS, specifically designed for use with web-based data.

What Features Should You Look for in WCM?

Finding the right WCM can be a challenge, largely because there are so many options available. And, while they do the same job for the most part, they do vary from one another significantly. How do you choose the one that’s right for your organization? What features and functionality should you look for? Some of the considerations you’ll need to make include the following:

• Ease of Creation – Your WCM will be used to create your website, individual web pages, and more. Therefore, it follows that one of the most important aspects of such a system would be the ease of creation. How simple does the system make it to create new pages? What about new subpages? What about adding tools and feature to pages? All of these need to be considered prior to choosing your web content management system.

• Ease of Management – Websites are not static things. They’re dynamic. While they don’t change as frequently as blogs do, they do evolve over time. You’ll need content to attract search engine spiders and your audience, and you’ll need to add information as your product or service offerings change, if nothing else. How easy does the WCM make it to manage your website pages, tools and other aspects?

• Automation – Some WCM systems can be very hands-on, and require you to handle most of the processes involved in managing the website. Others offer a great deal of time-saving automation. Obviously, you’ll want at least some degree of automation. How much does the WCM you’re considering offer?

• Approval – Most organizations have multiple contributors who add content, and a few editors responsible for checking that content and then approving it. How powerful are the approval tools offered? How easy is it for editors to approve new content or website changes?

A web content management system can be as robust as you can imagine, or simple and streamlined. WordPress is probably the most obvious example of this type of setup, but there are many, many others out there. You’ll need to compare the features and capabilities, the ease of use, the level of customization possible and other considerations prior to making a decision about which one will fit your organization’s needs.