Content Management System (CMS)

A content management system (CMS) is a computer software system for organizing and facilitating collaborative creation of documents and other content. A content management system is frequently a web application used for managing websites and web content, though in many cases, content management systems require special client software for editing and constructing articles. The market for content management systems remains fragmented, with many open-source and proprietary solutions available.

What’s right for you?

Proprietary Content Management solutions: (Eg. Snap Technologies)

Proprietary Content Management solutions are often the best choice for some business needs. These softwares require limited working technological knowledge and are usually very easy to operate for first time users. They tend to be expensive, but for lot of situations may be the best solution to go with. Since this is proprietary, these software often come with support from the proprietor. These systems offer limited flexibility and ability to customize your website content. They have no development costs and development time associated with them.

Custom Built Content Management solutions:

As an alternative to Proprietory Content Management solutions, custom built Content Management Systems are the most expensive (approximately $45,000) and time Consuming (up to a year), alternatives when it comes to choosing an appropriate system, to suit your business needs.  This alternative requires highly trained in-house talent and may be an inefficient alternative for website owners that do not have the infrastructure to support this.  The main advantage for alternative is that it involves unlimited flexibility and customizability.

Opensource Content Management solutions:

Opensource Solutions (Eg. Mambo CMS) are solutions that are freely available Over the internet. These solutions require no development costs since this is pre-built software. However, this alternative may also offer limited flexibility and customizability. The development and lifespan of these softwares depends on the support that is received by the open source community. A low to moderate knowledge of the technologies involved would be required in order to fully utilize any open source solutions.