If you’re a company that needs or wants to put content on your website (blog posts, images, web apps, videos, etc.), you need something more adaptable than a static website. You need something that you can quickly and easily change, edit, and update. On top of that, it’s got to look slick and professional.
There is a type of web software that helps manage websites with information and that need to be updated regularly:  the content management system (CMS). The CMS is used to help one person or an entire company edit, add, and change web pages, files, and the multimedia that makes up a successful website.
As part of a small business, what do you need to know? Should you be using a content management system? And which one is the best? Here’s a quick overview of content management systems for small business:
What Does a CMS Do?
Content management systems are very adaptable, and thus you can use them for multiple purposes.  There are systems for simple blogs to advanced medical repositories. They all have similar features, though, including:
- Design templates: It’s easy to create and switch out the look and feel of your websites
- Editing tools: Most content management systems have tools for creating, editing, and publishing new web pages and articles.
- Multiple user management: Multiple people can be logged into a CMS and change different parts of the website, based on their assigned privileges.Â
- Upgradeable: It’s easy to add new plugins or functionality to a CMS
The top thing to take away is that the CMS makes it much easier to manage a website, especially for those without technical or programming experience.
Reasons to Use a CMS for a Small Business
You have many choices for building your website, but if you intend to update your website often, then use a CMS system. If you intend to blog, post press releases, or post pictures, go with a content management system. If your website is very simple or if it is actually a web application that is not about managing content, you may want to go another route.
Which One Should I choose?
The best advice I can give on choosing a CMS is to go with one that you are comfortable with.  Most are free and include templates and plug-ins to get started. However, if you want your site to feel unique, you’re going to have to put in some hard work building your own design (or hiring someone who can.)Â
Some of the most popular content management systems include WordPress (a very popular CMS for blogs), Drupal (an open-source solution), Joomla (created in PHP), and Radiant (written in Ruby).
Image courtesy of iStockphoto, Eoseye