Content Management System - Essay Example

Web Design Report al Affiliation Definition of CMS A content management system (CMS) simply represents a computer application or system that enables a system administrator to edit, modify and publish content on the information system. The system controller can also delete, maintain and organize the data from a central interface. CMS systems make easy for an admin to manage content that correspondingly streamlines the workflow for the website for both the clients and all the involved system administrators. CMS Comparison for the System The management system used in comparison to the current website system used is the Word Press open source application. The group’s choice to select Squarespace as the preferred content management system for this project is because it offers a lot of reliable features and template designs that have a friendly user interface. The valuable qualities of using Squarespace as the CMS for designing and developing the final website product outweigh the advantages of using another CMS system like Word Press or Joomla. Detailed descriptions of the benefits are explained below: 1. Easy to use and customize Most Content Management Systems (CMSs) are created to help individuals who are not interested in not handling the technical part of building a website. The platform of the CMS should offer a simple design user interface for the end user. A system that has technical and hard to understand user interface configuration tend to demoralize an end user from the system. Therefore investing in a rich color background and text or attractive font is worthwhile to keep the admin and other users intrigued. The Squarespace CMS platform made it easier for the admin customize the website content. The CMS platform also allows other authorized users to update content without having to get training regarding computer coding or technical language knowledge required for system maintenance. The Squarespace CMS platform template used to design the Connecting Syracuse system has a well-developed interface structure that enables easy placement of information on the webpage from the administration’s central interface. The customizable CMS tool utilizes the drag and drop functionality AJX function which enables the end web product system to have a consistent theme on all the web interface pages. This is advantageous since the system developer does not having to write the source code from scratch. These platform tools are good for web design beginners who want build customized front-end interfaces for a website without going into the technical sections. Clearly, using the Squarespace website builder is simpler as compared to using Word Press (WP). This is because the Squarespace CMS platform provides the drag and drop principles and handy WYSIWYG which both offer simple editing controls, that even kids can use them. On the other hand, from prior experience; it is noticeable that the Word Press can boast neither drag-and-drop nor WYSIWYG editing functions on the CMS central interface. It only offers tools that work with widgets. This means that, one cannot see how their webpage would look like when published or live on the internet at first hand. One other major weakness of using Word Press (WP) is that it’s quite challenging to modify different aspects of the web content. For example, adding plugins and editing images can prove to be hard since it is manual process. It can take a person long hours to achieve this process within Word Press CMS environment. Contrariwise, while using Squarespace it can take the same person just a matter of minutes to delete, modify or even add information. The Joomla CMS platform offers a wide range of control builders for designing a webpage compared to the other. Using Joomla just like Word Press requires time and experience to be able to operate the CMS platform. Operating the controls can require the installation of numerous plugins and importing of templates to the platform. One has to set up appropriate defaults in order to aid in the security after compiling the system. This is meant to ensure there is a minimum access to a limited number of web administrators for the particular web system. Confidently, the Squarespace CMS platform is better compared to Word Press in terms of the ease of its use. However, comparing the Squarespace CMS platform to other website builders like Go daddy and WIX.com, it does not offer the best CMS. 2. Feature set and flexibility The Squarespace CMS platform features are not as flexible as that of Word Press. This is one evident negative attribute of the Squarespace CMS platform. The CMS being a commercial subscription product based online. This means one has to be online to perform administrational activities before updating the website. The system as well does not allow much of source code editing for the website files. Conversely, Word Press being an open source platform, it permits its end users to customize its code. Word Press also gives users the liberty to web design from a technical point of view. The only setback is that it normally ends up delivering low or medium quality content for plugins and website pages. Unlike the Squarespace CMS platform which only offers a preset set of functions, WordPress enables its clients to generate and assign any element or attributes they wish. This feature tends to increase the website functionality while using the CMS. The Joomla CMS platform is not flexible compared to the Squarespace. Even though the components can be operated in an offline environment, it requires frequent configuration to ensure that the extensions in the system remain up to date. Manually looking for extensions & adding them makes the learning curve difficult therefore making it tedious to use. 3. Designs or Templates This is the most paramount feature that has to be considered in any website since the look and feel of the final product should be pleasing to the website visitor. The experience should be so interesting for them to the extent they would want to come back and visit the website on another occasion. The Squarespace CMS platform provides a wide range of customizable web templates. The offered templates are unquestionably spectacular and provide magnificent pictures, rich in graphics and color. This accomplished with the support of the revolutionary Layout Engine incorporated in the CMS tool. Using WordPress to design the website would not be favorable because even though there are lots of either paid and free templates or themes, it can take a new developer a long while to study and grasp the customization techniques. The Squarespace CMS designs work flawlessly since it is an online based system and does not need any remote installation like Joomla. The picture below signifies an example interface showing the layout engine with executable buttons used for customization. The designs and templates offered in Joomla are also rich in text and graphic but the major setback is that most of the designs tend to heavy to load. This makes it slow when it runs on the internet platform. Additionally, some of its plug-ins works with only some particular scripts. The Squarespace CMS tool offers all of its components on a single and central platform. Sample Design on CMS dashboard for Squarespace Other Factors to consider while selecting a CMS Good Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Utilizing CMS tools to design a personal or commercial website is also good for search engine optimization (SEO). Most Content Management Systems (CMSs) enable system administrators to add new content instantaneously even when the webpage is live. It is believed that most high tech search engines give like Google, Bing or Yahoo give preference to website with updated and new content than the websites with that have outdated data. The use of social media plugins assists the website manager to maintain a community around your blog. The Squarespace CMS platform offers RSS feeds which are spontaneously used to manage the website’s blogs. This in turn can increase the amount of web traffic or subscribers and readers to the Connecting Syracuse site. Additionally, URL redrafting can be easily applied thereby producing new URLs without constraints. This further helps in search engine optimization (SEO). A reliable CMS should be compatible with plugins that precisely aid in website SEO. Workflow management Content management systems (CMSs) help in delivering controlled functionality to the web admin. The system allows the admin to regulate and even edit the way in which the content is printed. The system also avails user levels to govern when information can be published, and who is warranted publish it. Most Web CMSs allow managers to set up guidelines for workflow management, controlling content managers via a series of phases that is required for each of their assigned tasks. Consistent workflow supports the integrity of the data published by users because of the management policies put in place. Working on an online platform enables remote connection, thus allowing website management from any location for the team members. Suggestions for future use The maintenance of the website is vital to keeping the constant top quality of the website. Therefore, keeping a detailed documentation of current state of the system would important for any future changes to be conducted the website. Some of the recommendations for the future groups or teams that would participate in improving the website’s functionality are listed and explained below: Adding graphical Content Graphical content like attractive and colorful pictures are important to keep the clients captivated and logged on to the web page as along as possible. Any social website that has pictures and attractive images accompanied with the texts always generate a lot of web traffic compared to a dull one with simple HTML text. In this case adding detailed pictures on the web gallery and refreshing them frequently would be great to improve the human web interface interaction. Creating a website logo would supplement end user interaction by enabling them identity with the Connecting Syracuse institution. Most people are likely to remember a professional logo than just a business name. Therefore creating a professional and unique website logo in the future would go a long way in ensuring clients have a sense of trust with the system. Improving the website Blog Developing a high quality web blog that contains features that make the end users feel part of a community would be great for the Connecting Syracuse system. It sure does feel good to be part of a community, most preferably on a system like this one. Blogs that offer unlimited number of operational options like URL integration, use of nickname or codenames and username identification for the clients would be beneficial and acceptable. Running a blog enables the admin build a network that can be used to collect emails, announce events and allow the other end users communicate amongst themselves. Such platforms have endless capabilities since sometimes client get opportunities to chat with idols on the blogging webpage. Clients get a chance to freely express themselves on the online platform as well. Search engine optimization can be improvised through running the blog consistently. Integrate with social applications Integrating the system with social applications like the famous twitter, Facebook and Google+ would be advantageous to increasing the web presence of the Syracuse institution in the online community. These social websites are a quick means to getting web traffic through allowing cross-referencing, recommendations, and direct registration for users on the blog. Adding social applications enable users to update content from foreign platforms like Facebook directly to the blog. This is a nice and fast way of getting new users to sign up on the website blogs. Increase user experience Consistent and positive end user experience is the sole objective for all web admins. Therefore creating a high end user interface that conforms to a simple usability method, for example implementing cascading style sheets (CSS) to ease webpage navigation. Simplified web navigation through the use of smooth menus and submenus would be a great area for improvement in the future. This can be achieved through the use of advanced JavaScript that promote the use of popup and sliding menus. Cascading style sheets (CSS) also enable the use of slideshows on the website. Slideshows give the web page a live feel which refresh the content periodically with new pictures. Interactive picture with links attached to them is a good way of blending text and images. Another way of increasing the end user experience is through the use of consistent communication applications that provide rapid feedback between any two communicating end users. Applications such as ZOPIM deliver quality online chat services that facilitate real time live chats. Incorporating an online or live chat session once in a while and gradually maintaining and online support system that ensures the administration is always logged online is a vital feature for the future groups to implement. One major drawback of the Squarespace CMS platform is that it lacks flexibility in the core framework. The platform does not have a solid exporting feature that allows a system admin to export web information form the content management central interface. Most or other CMS engines provide methods of getting your data out. This is an important section to address in the future. Generally keeping the system up to date with the current software and management applications is vital to the future of the organization’s website. This would ensure that the system is constantly reliable and responsive to end user needs and requirements. The recommended approach would be to stay informed and cognizant with the Squarespace website builder modules. Frequently learning the Squarespace extensive styling interface, while keeping a neat documentation of the system components and its operations, would be beneficial to any future groups as well. References Black, K. (2013). Squarespace 6 for dummies. Hoboken: Wiley. Eden, B. L. (2006). Content Management Systems. Bradford, England: Emerald. Read More