Content Management Systems

(also referred to as web CMS, or CMS) is a tool to make web pages without programming. It is usually an online application used to create, manage, store and publish content on Web pages. It provides administrative tools which allow users to create, and manage, website content with relative ease without writing any code. Content Management Systems are easier and faster than HTML coding—and anybody can learn how to use one.

There are hundreds of CMS out there and they range in functionality and cost from free and basic to tens of thousands of dollar and loaded with features. Some of the more common CMS you might see are Wordpress, Web Site Tonight, Big Commerce, Shoppify, and even Facebook is technically a CMS. They are called Facebook "Pages" after all. When it comes to CMS pricing, you get what you pay for. A cheap or free CMS will not have the security or the features of a high priced premium CMS. Adding further customization to a cheap or free CMS can cause your website launch to be delayed and will drive the cost of development up as you pay a software engineer or web designer by the hour. Conversly, a high end CMS will take only days to launch and as the typically have an enormous set of built in features. Be wary of companies attempting to lure you in with a low upfront cost. Make sure you and your web company have a complete understanding of what you expect your site to look like and what features it has to have. Leaving details unaccounted for at the onset of a new project will undoubtedly lower your website ROI.