Understanding different CMS systems
Working in various contract roles allowed me to get a glimpse of many CMS systems beyond the usually Wordpress that most of us are familiar with. So here are some basic facts and pro’s and con’s of some of the most popular systems in corporate environments.
CMS stands for Content Management System. It lives up to the name as its primary purpose is to help build and manage large scale websites and the content within having multiple user capability. Generally, depending on the system, it may provide you with a series of templates or page types that will allow employees and software engineer to formulate digital content. CMS systems also are primarily used in large companies and businesses to have limited training for employees without a tech background to more easily create webpages or posts for their companies website or software. Depending on the templates and UI/UX of each CMS systems, they will usually have WYSWYG editor for those who have limited knowledge in code. Examples of these CMS systems include Wordpress, Drupal, Jadu, Shopify, Wix, Joomla, etc.
What is HTML?
The abbreviation of HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It is the primary tool that allows for the creation of webpages. Without HTML pages, a site will simple read like a Notepad document with plain text that has limited formatting. With the use of the HTML/CSS frameworks, a programmer can add stylized text, edit images, customize fonts, add animation through JS and Jquery, connect to additional frameworks to increase functionality. Using these directly on a text editor, such as Sublime Text, can create a great site, but it would be hard to manage if there are any more than 10–20 pages on this site.
HTML is preferred on a smaller scale site with limited pages or a single purpose, where building on a whole CMS systems may not be necessary. It allows for authority and options on design changes instead of following given or limited templates as would have to with a CMS system. There are additional web creation tools that programmers may use in substitution of HTML such as XML (Extensive Markup Language), GML (Generalized Markup Language) and LaTex. These may be worth learning as well, but HTML still would prove to be the most popular tool.
Learning HTML/CSS/JS languages are always going to be essential tools regardless, especially if want to truly understand the full functionality of a websites and even CMS systems that you may eventually use with your company or a larger scale website to make adjustments.
Why Instead a CMS System?
The front end user interface on a CMS systems allows an individual to make changes on a large or small scope. When you want to change a photo, text, <div> section, it is much simpler to take care of multiple pages at once through a CMS system. With an HTML template, design and content changes require adjusting each page manually, along with the CSS if needed.
That is why whether for singularly themed large scale websites, a CMS system is a great tool for company websites, blogs, product pages, creation of various user accounts (i.e, for individual employees) that can have hierarchies to make adjustments to the site as individual contributors. Users will be able to collaborate much more efficiently and dynamically progress on any given project.
Additionally if you plan to make changes in the long or short term, it may be much simpler to make adjustments through a CMS system. Examples of these can be to edit any page(s) currently live on page, create and publish new pages, update or create web form submissions, add products or a store (eCommerce), and simultaneously manage many digital assets. A similar product called an Enterprise Content Management system works similar to a CMS system online but also incorporates these features directly while allowing for more customizations through Digital Experience Platforms.
The following are some of the most popular CMS systems that you will encounter, so its best to familiarize yourself with them and their functionalities.
Wordpress
Jadu
Drupal
Episerver
Shopify
Adobe Experience Manager (AEM)
After you have familiarized yourself with any one of more of these, you will definitely be able to take on various roles with companies that incorporate them, but as mentioned it is also useful to understand basic elements of HTML/CSS/JS to understand the functionality of the front and back end of a site.
