11 Principles of Choosing the Perfect CMS for Your Needs

Content Manangement Systems are the webs most powerful site management tool for so many reasons. They allow an All-in-1 interface with many f eatures that older types of websites had to outsource, they allow for the non-tech user to update and change aspects of the site within an easy to manage back end and most of all they are filled with powerful add ons that create a complete user friendly interface with built-in features vital to the new entreprenuer.

A Content Management System is a user friendly online website software interface that allows you to create, edit, and store HTML content in a manageable way. It removes the hard work of creating a website in HTML and uploading it via FTP to the site, because you create all your content via the simple to use interface (should be easy just like working in Word using a WYSIWYG interface) right online without having to use any HTML or CSS at all. What you need to know about choosing the perfect CMS:

1. Choosing your Content Management System is all about choosing the one that will work best for the goals and outcomes you have for your site and your business. Ask yourself:

   What are the my goals for having a website? (sell product, make my brand a household name, create trust and respect for my expertise…
   What is the main function of my site? (selling product, getting more calls in my business, more bookings for my service, getting the word out about my business..)
   What do I want my website to do? (blog, share photos, videos or audio, ecommerce, newsletters, auto-responders, members area, affiliate options, events calendar…)
   Do I want to handle all or some of the work myself? (self editing, easy WYSIWYG interface..)
   Once you have defined the answers to these questions you will know what to look for.

2. The back end should be easy to use, fully functional and intuitive. When the average newbie opens up the back end of the site they should be able to see almost everything at a glance, the navigation should be clear and easy to understand. Editing a new page should work a little like Word and customising the look and feel, size and functions of the site should be simple to learn with a little help.
3. The site needs to have all the aspects of site management at hand and have a well organised and easy to use interface. The functions you have deemed as important to your goals such as auto-responders need to be simple to set up and edit.
4. The right CMS should be simple for non-nerds to use and feature a WYSIWYG editor, and HMTL should be a thing of the past.
5. Keying in your all important keywords for each page, needs to be clear and simplified for the non-tech user and that goes for adding page and site descriptions and URl headings.
6. Adding images and image descriptions for search engine optimisation needs to be easy and straight forward, so that anyone can do it.
7. Your tech support and CMS updates need to be constant and on hand for any issues you have.
8. There should be a manual that goes with the site so that you can work your way through your education step by step.
9. Uploading content should be as easy as browsing and uploading without having to use complicated FTP transfers.
10. It should supply it’s own Site Map.
11. It should be relatively easy to create and design a site yourself, although you may want a more professional look.
12. It should supply all the functions you need such as auto-responders, affiliate set-up, invoicing, ecommerce store front, members area, video and audio hosting, PDF and eBook hosting,  easy form creation… without your having to outsource them.

CMS system 1-with-everything

The Zen Bull

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