At OBS, part of what we do is build bespoke content management systems for our clients. To us it's one of the most important aspects of modern website development.
But sometimes we're guilty of forgetting that not all clients are familiar with what a CMS is for, or why it's a real benefit for their business.
So, what is a CMS?
CMS stands for content management system. Really, it's a way to separate the content of your site (i.e. all the of the images, text, videos etc.) from the structure and coded design.
What that means for you is that you can change and alter site content - without having to be a technical wizard.
How do you use it?
A CMS is private - nobody can access it without the right login details. This keeps all your content secure. You can even specify additional passwords for different areas of your CMS, and for different members of your team.
(For example, you may want to set different privileges for content creators, editors, and overall administrators.)
Normally, a user would log in by clicking an admin link on your site. They're then presented with an option panel where they can do everything from create new pages, to edit homepage copy.
Make changes from anywhere
Instead of having to log in from one central server, or a particular machine, content management systems can give you the option of editing via any browser.
This is another useful factor for many of our clients. The ability to edit content on the hop is a vital tool in today's mobile business environment.
While the content changes, the design does not
Another big benefit of using a CMS is that your team can add content to their hearts' content - but it should have no affect on the design.
In non-CMS websites, there's always the risk of coding being ruined - and the site going down. Content management systems do away with that problem by separating content from structure.
Really, a CMS makes things easier for you...
Overall, content management systems are designed to make it easier to run your business online. A bespoke CMS can give you even greater control - with unique features from quick-add product pages, to synchronisation with your stock and CRM software. Get in touch with us if you're interested in a tailored content management solution.