Component Content Management Systems (CCMS)

Learn about the key benefits and features of a Component Content Management System (CCMS) and popular CCMS platforms.

Component Content Management Systems (CCMS)

Learn about the key benefits and features of a Component Content Management System (CCMS) and popular CCMS platforms.

Component Content Management Systems (CCMS)

Learn what a Component Content Management System (CCMS) is, the benefits and key features of a CCMS, and the best CCMS platforms for your needs.

This lesson is part of our series on understanding Content Management Systems (CMS).

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What Is A Component Content Management System?

A Component Content Management System (CCMS) is a platform that allows organizations to manage, store, and reuse smaller components of content used to build larger documents or web pages, such as paragraphs, sentences, and images.

A CCMS provides a centralized repository for all types of content components, making it easier for organizations to manage and use their content effectively.

A CCMS is designed for technical documentation and provides tools and features for creating, organizing, storing, managing, and reusing content components as well as tools for integrating components into larger documents.

A CCMS is also ideal for organizations that need to manage large amounts of structured content, such as technical documentation or product information. It offers features such as the ability to reuse content across multiple documents, version control for individual components, and integration with other tools, such as translation management systems.

The video below provides a great overview of what a CCMS is…

CCMS Features

Key features of Component Content Management Systems include:

  • Content component management and storage capabilities.
  • Reusable content components for creating and managing content in a modular manner.
  • Workflow and approval processes, and collaboration tools for managing and publishing content.
  • Metadata management and tagging.
  • Advanced search and retrieval capabilities for finding and accessing content.
  • Security and access control features.
  • Integration with other tools, such as translation management systems, for streamlined workflows.
  • Version control for managing multiple versions of content and ensuring that the latest version of content is always available to avoid confusion and errors.

CCMS Benefits

Key benefits of using a CCMS include:

  • Reusing content components, reducing the need for manual updates, and reducing the risk of errors.
  • Centralizing and organizing content components, making it easier to find and use them.
  • Enhancing collaboration by allowing multiple users to access and work with the same content components.
  • Improving efficiency and speed of content management processes, and reducing costs with tools for organizing and managing content.

CCMS Pros

Pros of using a CCMS include:

  • Reusable content components for creating and managing content in a modular manner.
  • Workflow and collaboration tools for managing and publishing content.
  • Advanced search and retrieval capabilities for finding and accessing content.

CCMS Cons

Cons of using a CCMS include:

  • CCMS can be complex and difficult to set up and configure.
  • CCMS can be expensive and require a significant investment.
  • CCMS may require technical skills to set up and customize.

Popular CCMS Platforms

When looking at CCMS platforms, it helps to understand what a DITA CMS is.

A DITA (Darwin Information Typing Architecture) CMS, or DITA Content Management System, is a specialized type of content management system designed specifically for managing component-based content created using the DITA standard.

DITA is an XML-based information architecture that provides a modular and reusable way of creating technical documentation and is widely used by organizations in the tech, software, and manufacturing industries for managing technical documentation and product information.

A DITA CMS helps organizations to manage and maintain the complex information structures and relationships inherent in DITA content.

A DITA CMS provides a centralized repository for storing, managing, and publishing DITA content. This helps organizations to ensure that their DITA content is up-to-date, accurate, and consistent across all of their delivery channels, including printed manuals, online help systems, and mobile devices.

Examples of DITA CMS solutions include:

XMetaL Author Enterprise

XMetaL Author Enterprise
XMetaL Author Enterprise

XMetaL Author Enterprise is a powerful XML editor with integrated CMS functionality. It streamlines content creation and expedites time-to-market by introducing structure and automation, and provides a complete solution for creating, managing, and publishing DITA content.

This platform offers advanced authoring and content management features for creating and publishing technical documents. It has a robust set of tools for content creation, collaboration, repurposing of high-value content across diverse languages and formats, and version control. It also allows for standalone usage or integration with several popular content management and publishing systems and doesn’t require knowledge of XML.

Benefits of XMetaL include faster time-to-market, improved content quality, increased staff efficiency, and reduced publishing costs.

Oxygen XML Author

Oxygen XML Author
Oxygen XML Author

Oxygen XML Author is a web-based XML editor with integrated DITA support that allows collaboration on XML content editing and reviewing from anywhere on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.

It provides a complete content management solution for creating and editing DITA and XML content and its adaptive and innovative user interface offers a powerful authoring environment with advanced editing and formatting capabilities.

It comes with built-in support for DITA, DocBook, TEI, and XHTML document types, including updates to the latest version of DITA (1.3) and the latest specializations such as Lightweight DITA or DITA Learning and Training.

In addition, Oxygen XML Web Author offers integration with version control systems such as Git repositories or Perforce depots. It also allows for integration with content management services such as SharePoint and Alfresco. The product is highly customizable through the use of the Oxygen SDK, allowing for the addition of support for other XML vocabularies or integration into custom applications.

Oxygen XML Web Author includes automatic validation and predefined templates to simplify the document creation process, as well as true single-source reviewing and a built-in visual file comparison tool.

IXIASOFT DITA CMS

IXIASOFT DITA CMS
IXIASOFT DITA CMS

IXIASOFT DITA CMS is a dedicated commercial DITA CMS that provides advanced features for managing component-based content such as version control, workflow management, and collaboration tools, and a comprehensive solution for managing and publishing DITA content.

This platform is designed specifically for DITA content management, can be customized to meet enterprise-class needs, and offers end-to-end solutions for technical documentation creation, review, localization, and publishing with flexible workflows that improve documentation processes and results.

IXIASOFT CCMS has a user-friendly and intuitive interface, and provides a centralized repository for cross-functional collaboration and storing and managing content. It is widely used by organizations in the tech, software, and manufacturing industries for managing technical documentation and product information.

Astoria Content Management System

Astoria Content Management System
Astoria Content Management System

Astoria is a DITA-specific document management software that helps workgroups manage, review, assemble, and publish complex documents.

The platform leverages XML-based content management to provide dynamic content delivery and provides a complete solution for managing and publishing DITA content, with features such as collaboration tools, workflows, and reporting.

This platform also provides a flexible and scalable content management solution for enterprise-level organizations across different industries. It offers advanced content management and publishing capabilities, and integration with other systems.

HelpNDoc

HelpNDoc
HelpNDoc

HelpNDoc is a state-of-the-art help authoring tool that features an intuitive user interface for creating and exporting more than 8 documentation formats, including help files, web sites, user manuals, documents, Markdown, and eBooks.

It provides responsive, multi-device web sites and printable PDF documents with optional security. It also supports cross-platform applications based on the Qt Framework and can generate electronic books compatible with any e-Readers.

HelpNDoc offers a straightforward user interface for compiling standard Windows compiled help files in the CHM format and for producing Microsoft Word DocX and RTF documents.

XDocs

XDocs
XDocs

XDocs DITA Component Content Management System (CCMS) is a versatile, single-vendor solution for organizations that provides advanced features for managing component-based content and streamlining their information workflow.

The platform enables easy content creation, management, storage, and intelligent publishing with a flexible, single-sourcing solution and integrates seamlessly with XML Authoring Tools and other systems.

It also supports all file types, including metadata control, flexible workflow, and localization management, making it a cost-effective, fully functioning enterprise-class DITA CCMS.

It is widely used by organizations in the tech, software, and manufacturing industries for managing technical documentation and product information.

Flare

Flare
Flare

Flare is a powerful XML authoring and publishing tool that enables technical communicators and learning & development professionals to create a range of content, including self-service support, online help sites, and training guides, from a single source.

The platform lets you maximize content reuse and leverage multi-channel publishing capabilities to streamline content delivery across the entire development lifecycle. It is also highly customizable, allowing the creation of technical documentation, eLearning courses, and much more, supports team collaboration, multi-language authoring and publishing, and produces fully responsive HTML5 websites, PDFs, and other formats.

Tridion Docs

Tridion Docs
Tridion Docs

Tridion Docs is an enterprise-wide authoring and collaboration CCMS tool.

This platform provides a comprehensive solution for managing and publishing complex content using the DITA standard. It offers a centralized repository for content, as well as advanced content management and publishing capabilities.

Key features of the software include modular content, collective spaces, semantic AI, dynamic delivery, and a baseline manager. These features let you easily reuse, share, filter, and deliver multilingual content to any channel, edit text, upload media, comment, and provide feedback within an intuitive and easy-to-use browser-based interface, benefit from a single-source publishing and structured content approach while eliminating the need to understand and use the underlying XML directly and track dependencies between content components and its different versions with a visualization tool.

Choosing The Right CCMS For Your Organization

A Component Content Management System (CCMS) is a critical tool for organizations that want to effectively manage, store, and reuse smaller components of content, such as paragraphs, sentences, and images.

By providing a centralized repository for all types of content components, a CCMS can help your organization reduce the need for manual updates, reduce the risk of errors, centralize and organize your content, enhance collaboration, improve efficiency, and speed up your content management processes.

When choosing a CCMS, it is important to consider factors such as the size and complexity of the content components, the need for collaboration and workflow tools, and the need for integration with other tools and systems.

Additionally, consider the costs associated with a CCMS, including both the initial investment and ongoing maintenance and support costs.

Component Content Management Systems (CCMS) – Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Component Content Management System (CCMS)?

A CCMS is a system that manages content at a granular level, allowing for the reuse and reassembly of individual content components across multiple documents and publications. It is particularly useful for technical documentation and complex publishing requirements.

How does a CCMS work?

A CCMS breaks down content into smaller components (such as topics, sections, or even sentences) which can be stored, retrieved, and reused independently. These components can be dynamically assembled into different formats and publications based on the needs of the organization.

What are the key features of a CCMS?

Key features include content reuse, version control, workflow management, metadata management, multi-channel publishing, and integration with other systems like translation management systems.

What are the benefits of using a CCMS?

Benefits include improved content consistency, reduced redundancy, enhanced collaboration, faster time-to-market for new documents, easier content updates, and better management of translations and localization.

What are the disadvantages of a CCMS?

Disadvantages can include high initial costs, complexity in setup and maintenance, the need for extensive user training, and potential challenges in integrating with existing systems.

Who should consider using a CCMS?

Organizations with extensive technical documentation needs, such as those in the aerospace, defense, manufacturing, and software industries, would benefit most from a CCMS. It’s also ideal for companies requiring extensive translation and localization.

How does a CCMS improve content reuse?

By storing content as discrete components that can be tagged and categorized, a CCMS allows these components to be easily found and reused across different documents, reducing duplication and ensuring consistency.

What is the difference between a CCMS and a traditional CMS?

A traditional CMS manages entire documents or web pages as single entities, while a CCMS manages individual content components. This allows for greater flexibility in content reuse and multi-channel publishing.

What should be considered when choosing a CCMS?

Considerations include the system’s scalability, ease of use, support for industry standards (like DITA), integration capabilities, total cost of ownership, and vendor support.

Can a CCMS integrate with other systems?

Yes, most CCMS platforms are designed to integrate with other systems such as translation management systems, PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems, and other enterprise software to streamline content workflows and ensure consistency across platforms.

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For more lessons related to Content Management Systems (CMS), click on one of the links below:

Content Management System (CMS)
Content Management System (CMS)
Learn how a content management system (CMS) can help you manage your content more effectively.
Content Management System FAQ
Content Management System FAQ
Find answers to frequently asked questions about content management systems (CMS).
Web Content Management Systems (WCMS)
Web Content Management Systems (WCMS)
Learn about the key benefits and features of a Web Content Management System (WCMS) and popular WCMS platforms.
Enterprise Content Management Systems (ECMS)
Enterprise Content Management Systems (ECMS)
Learn about the key benefits and features of an Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) and popular ECMS platforms.
Component Content Management Systems (CCMS)
Component Content Management Systems (CCMS)
Learn about the key benefits and features of a Component Content Management System (CCMS) and popular CCMS platforms.
Digital Asset Management Systems (DAMS)
Digital Asset Management Systems (DAMS)
Learn about the key benefits and features of a Digital Asset Management System (DAMS) and popular DAMS platforms.

***

Image: AI-Generated using DALL-E

Content Management System FAQ

Find answers to frequently asked questions about content management systems (CMS).

Content Management System FAQ

Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about content management systems.

Content Management System FAQsContent management is a critical aspect of modern businesses and organizations.

It encompasses everything from creating and storing content to distributing it to the right people at the right time.

As such, it’s no surprise that there are many questions and misconceptions about what content management is and what it entails.

As this entire website is devoted to helping you better understand why and how to manage your content more effectively, in this blog post, we’ll focus on answering some of the most frequently asked questions about content management systems (CMS), including what a CMS is, the different types of content management systems, the benefits of using a content management system, and how to choose the right one for your business.

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What is a content management system (CMS)?

A content management system is a software tool that provides a centralized platform for managing digital content, making it easier for organizations to keep their digital content up-to-date, consistent, and secure.

For a more comprehensive explanation, see this lesson: Content Management System (CMS)

How does a CMS work?

A CMS works by providing a graphical user interface where users can add, organize, and publish content, which is then stored in a database and displayed on a website through dynamic web pages.

Can a CMS handle different types of digital content?

Yes, modern CMS platforms are designed to manage a variety of content types, including text, images, video files, and more, making them versatile tools for digital content management.

What is the difference between a content management system (CMS) and content management?

CMS and content management are related but distinct concepts.

A CMS, or Content Management System, refers to a specific type of software application that provides the tools and technologies needed to manage your digital content.

A CMS includes features such as authoring and editing tools, version control, workflows, and publishing capabilities.

A CMS also provides a centralized platform for organizing, storing, and managing digital content such as text, images, videos, and documents, through a centralized platform, making it easier for organizations to keep their digital content up-to-date and consistent.

Content management, on the other hand, is the process of managing digital content throughout its lifecycle. This includes tasks such as creating, editing, organizing, storing, and publishing content, as well as managing versions, workflows, and access controls.

Content management is a broader concept that includes the use of various tools and technologies, including using a CMS, but also encompasses other types of software, such as digital asset management systems (DAMS), component content management systems (CCMS), and enterprise content management systems (ECMS), which we will touch on shortly in this article.

In summary, a CMS is a specific type of software tool used for managing digital content, while content management refers to the overall process of managing digital content throughout its lifecycle.

For practical lessons and tutorials on content management and its components, go here: Content Management

For a detailed lesson on using a CMS, go here: Content Management System (CMS)

What are the benefits of using a content management system (CMS)?

A CMS offers several benefits, including:

  • Ease of use: Non-technical users can easily create, publish, and manage content without the need for HTML or coding skills.
  • Improved efficiency: A CMS streamlines the content creation and publishing process, making it faster and more efficient.
  • Better organization: A CMS allows for the centralized storage of all digital content, making it easier to find and manage.
  • Consistency: A CMS helps maintain a consistent look and feel for all digital content, improving brand consistency.
  • Accessibility: A CMS allows for multiple users to access and contribute to the content, improving collaboration.

What are the different types of content management systems?

Different types of CMS include:

What are the key features of a content management system?

The key features of a CMS include:

  • Content creation tools: A CMS should have tools for creating and editing content, such as a WYSIWYG editor or HTML editor.
  • Content management: A CMS should provide a centralized location for storing and managing content, as well as tools for organizing and categorizing content.
  • User management: A CMS should allow for multiple users to access and contribute to the content, with features for controlling access and managing user roles.
  • Publishing and distribution: A CMS should provide tools for publishing and distributing content, as well as the ability to schedule content for future publishing.
  • Analytics and reporting: A CMS should provide metrics and analytics to track the performance of published content and inform content strategy.

What are the different deployment models for a CMS?

There are two main deployment models for a CMS: on-premise and cloud-based.

  • On-premise CMS: This type of CMS is installed and hosted on the organization’s own servers. It provides greater control and customization, but also requires IT resources for setup and maintenance.
  • Cloud-based CMS: This type of CMS is hosted by a third-party provider and is accessed through the internet. It offers lower upfront costs and less maintenance but may have limitations on customization and control.

How do I choose the right CMS for my organization?

Choosing the right CMS for your organization requires evaluating your specific needs and requirements. Consider factors such as:

  • Size and complexity of your organization: Choose a CMS that can scale and grow with your organization.
  • Technical expertise: Consider the technical skills of your team and choose a CMS that is easy to use and requires minimal technical expertise.
  • Budget: Consider the cost of the CMS, including upfront costs, recurring costs, and potential hidden costs.
  • Integration requirements: Consider any existing systems and tools your organization uses, and choose a CMS that can integrate with them.
  • Content management needs: Consider the type of content you need to manage and choose a CMS that provides the necessary features and capabilities.
  • Deployment model: Decide whether you want an on-premise or cloud-based CMS, and choose the model that best fits your needs.

How does a CMS improve website accessibility?

A CMS can improve website accessibility by:

  • Providing a centralized location for managing and organizing content, making it easier to ensure that all content meets accessibility standards.
  • Offering WYSIWYG editors and other content creation tools that allow users to create accessible content without needing specialized knowledge.
  • Providing features for managing and updating content, reducing the risk of outdated or broken accessibility features.
  • Allowing multiple users to access and contribute to the content, improving collaboration, and reducing the risk of inaccessible content.

How does a CMS improve the user experience?

A CMS can improve the user experience by:

  • Streamlining the content creation and publishing process, making it faster and more efficient.
  • Providing a centralized location for managing and organizing content, making it easier for users to find what they’re looking for.
  • Allowing for consistent branding and design across all digital content, improving the overall look and feel of the website.
  • Providing analytics and reporting to track the performance of published content, allowing for continual improvement of the user experience.

How does a CMS improve search engine optimization (SEO)?

A CMS can improve SEO by:

  • Allowing for the creation and management of meta tags, which are used by search engines to understand the content on a website.
  • Providing tools for creating and managing internal links, which help search engines understand the structure and hierarchy of the website.
  • Allowing for the creation and management of sitemaps, which provide a roadmap for search engines to crawl and index the website.
  • Providing analytics and reporting to track the performance of published content, allowing for continual improvement of SEO efforts.

How does a CMS support collaboration and teamwork?

A CMS supports collaboration and teamwork by:

  • Allowing multiple users to access and contribute to the content, improving collaboration.
  • Providing features for controlling access and managing user roles, allowing for secure collaboration.
  • Allowing for centralized storage and management of all digital content, improving organization, and reducing the risk of version control issues.
  • Providing tools for tracking changes and managing revisions, improving accountability, and reducing the risk of conflicts.

A CMS is a powerful tool for managing digital content, but it can also be complex and confusing. We hope that by answering the most frequently asked questions about CMSs, you have a better understanding of this technology and how it can benefit your organization.

For more lessons related to Content Management Systems (CMS), click on one of the links below:

Content Management System (CMS)
Content Management System (CMS)
Learn how a content management system (CMS) can help you manage your content more effectively.
Content Management System FAQ
Content Management System FAQ
Find answers to frequently asked questions about content management systems (CMS).
Web Content Management Systems (WCMS)
Web Content Management Systems (WCMS)
Learn about the key benefits and features of a Web Content Management System (WCMS) and popular WCMS platforms.
Enterprise Content Management Systems (ECMS)
Enterprise Content Management Systems (ECMS)
Learn about the key benefits and features of an Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) and popular ECMS platforms.
Component Content Management Systems (CCMS)
Component Content Management Systems (CCMS)
Learn about the key benefits and features of a Component Content Management System (CCMS) and popular CCMS platforms.
Digital Asset Management Systems (DAMS)
Digital Asset Management Systems (DAMS)
Learn about the key benefits and features of a Digital Asset Management System (DAMS) and popular DAMS platforms.

***

Image: AI-Generated

Content Management System (CMS)

Learn how a content management system (CMS) can help you manage your content more effectively.

Content Management System (CMS)

Learn how a content management system (CMS) can help you manage your content more effectively.

WordPress add new post screenA Content Management System (CMS) is a software application that allows users to easily create, manage, and publish digital content, typically for websites.

It provides an interface for users to add and edit text, images, videos, and other types of digital media, and to manage the organization and presentation of that content.

A CMS typically includes a database to store the content and a set of tools for managing users, permissions, and workflow.

Note: While there are different types of content management systems available, this course focuses mostly on using WordPress, a popular and free CMS platform that allows businesses to easily manage their content and most aspects of their website without requiring technical skills or relying on technical experts.

In this lesson, you will learn why a CMS is a powerful content management tool, discover the benefits of using a content management system, explore different CMS platforms, and discover what you can do using the WordPress CMS platform.

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What Is A Content Management System (CMS)?

A content management system (CMS) is a software application that provides a centralized platform for organizing, storing, and managing digital content.

A CMS typically includes a variety of tools for creating, editing, and publishing content, as well as for managing the content lifecycle, which includes tasks such as version control, workflow, and publishing.

The main goal of a CMS is to simplify the process of managing content, making it easier for organizations to keep their digital content up-to-date and consistent.

A CMS typically includes a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for non-technical users to manage content, as well as features such as templates, workflows, and access controls that allow organizations to maintain a consistent look and feel across their digital properties.

CMSs can be used to manage a variety of content types, including web pages, blog posts, images, videos, and more. Some CMSs are designed for specific types of content, such as e-commerce products, while others are more general-purpose and can be used for any type of digital content.

Why Use A Content Management System (CMS)?

A Content Management System (CMS) allows your business to easily manage and publish website content without the need for technical skills.

Some of the key benefits and features of using a CMS to manage your website content include:

  • Ease of use: A CMS typically has a user-friendly interface that allows non-technical users to easily create, edit, and publish content on the website.
  • Centralized control: A CMS allows multiple users to access and manage your website’s content, which is particularly useful if your business has multiple departments or team members responsible for different aspects of the website.
  • Versatility: A CMS can be used to manage different types of content, such as text, images, videos, and audio files.
  • Collaboration: A CMS allows multiple users to work on the same website content, making it easy for teams to collaborate and review changes before they are published.
  • Scalability: As your business grows, a CMS can easily be scaled to accommodate more content, users, and features. A CMS can also be used to manage small websites or large, complex sites with thousands of pages.
  • Search engine optimization (SEO): Many content management systems include built-in SEO features, such as the ability to create custom URLs and meta tags, which can help improve your website’s visibility in search engine results.
  • Security: A CMS can provide security features such as user access controls and backups, which can help prevent unauthorized access to your website and protect against data loss.

Popular CMS Platforms

There are many popular content management systems to choose from, each with its own set of features and capabilities.

Platforms like WordPress, Joomla!, and Drupal are open-source and have a wide range of functionalities, templates, and plugins that can be used to customize your website to suit the needs of your business.

For a comprehensive list and information on popular content management systems, go here: Web Content Management Systems (WCMS)

A Very Brief History Of Websites

Pre-CMS / Static Websites

Before Content Management Systems came along, websites were traditionally built by gathering together a collection of separately linked static pages where every element of a page (e.g. navigation menus, page layout, content, etc.) was created using web code (e.g. HTML) and assembled by a web designer or website developer using a web editor application tool (e.g. Dreamweaver).

A composite image showing different aspects of a static website.
Websites used to be static collections of web pages that only coders could understand and use…until CMS-driven websites came along!

These separate pages were then uploaded to a web server and accessed online by typing in the page URL associated with the page file into a web browser.

Then, something called a Content Management System, or CMS came along.

A Content Management System is an application that lets you organize and store all your documents, images, videos, and any other type of digital content on a database, and quickly and easily add, retrieve, edit, delete and publish content on your website with no coding skills required.

A CMS also allows multiple editors and authors to access, manage and work collaboratively on a website’s content and publish it under different authors and in different areas of the website.

A CMS also takes care of a number of “behind the scenes” content management tasks such as:

  • Generating website navigation elements automatically (e.g. menus, links, etc.)
  • Storing content in an organized way, making it searchable, findable, and indexable.
  • Keeping track of registered users, including managing user permissions, logins, and security settings.
  • Allowing multiple users to collaborate, edit and publish content on the site.
  • And much more.
CMS functions
A content management system lets you manage every aspect of your content.

In short, a Content Management System gives businesses complete control over their content and its management and lets anyone easily perform content-related tasks, like:

  • Content creation, editing, and deletion
  • Content publishing / content delivery
  • Content organization (e.g. archiving)
  • Content formatting
  • Content revision
  • Content indexing, searching, and retrieval
  • Content export and import

Now that you understand a little more about the benefits of using a content management system, let’s talk about the CMS platform we recommend using to build and manage a website.

It’s called WordPress.

Laptop displaying WordPress home page on screen.
Download WordPress for free on WordPress.org

Why Use WordPress?

WordPress is the world’s leading CMS platform. WordPress is 100% FREE and is used to power millions of websites around the world (over 40% of all websites).

WordPress is the world's leading CMS
WordPress is the world’s leading content management system for websites. Source: https://trends.builtwith.com/cms 

WordPress logoWordPress is:

  • Free
  • Easy to use
  • Easy to manage
  • SEO friendly
  • Mobile friendly
  • Powerful
  • Flexible
  • Interactive
  • Secure
  • Cost-effective
  • Well supported

WordPress is much more than a CMS. It’s a complete website-building and web-publishing platform. You can build any type of website you like with WordPress and easily change anything and everything on the site anytime you want.

Using WordPress is easy and requires no technical expertise or coding skills.

There are many ways that WordPress puts your business in complete control of your digital presence.

For example, WordPress gives your business a “speed to market” advantage…

Slide - Speed To Market
Publish content quickly with WordPress – just think, write … and publish!

WordPress also lets you publish time-sensitive content quickly and make it available online immediately. This is great for getting information out fast, such as:

  • Limited-time offers, special offers, discounts, etc.
  • New product releases, new product reviews, promotional videos
  • Company announcements
  • Industry or company events
  • Pricing updates
  • Customer/Reseller training tips, etc.

After your WordPress site has been set up and configured, you can easily create rich content anytime you think of something you would like to inform, promote, or communicate to others.

Then, simply hit the “publish” button and the information will be made live immediately and instantly available to online users.

Management & Marketing Automation

Another reason WordPress puts your business in control of your digital presence is that your website can be expertly configured so that all you need to do is publish new content and WordPress will then automatically and instantly:

  • Notify search engines like Google, Bing, etc. (you can specify exactly how you want Google to display your listings in its search results),
  • Post excerpts of the content to social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. with links pointing back to the website (you can specify exactly how excerpts should display on social media sites),
  • Notify and syndicate dozens and even hundreds of other online properties like blogs, search directories, social bookmarking sites, RSS feed aggregators, etc.

Instead of a ‘static’ web presence that involves time-consuming activities like publishing content on a website and posting new content on social media accounts and other online properties to drive traffic and generate leads, your WordPress site can be configured to instantly syndicate (i.e. distribute) and get your newly-published content indexed faster, automatically driving more web traffic and generating new leads for your business…

Chart - publishing content on WordPress instantly posts the content on social media.
Posting content to different sites can be very time-consuming! You can publish content on WordPress and instantly posts this content on social media.

WordPress lets you set up a content distribution and a lead and traffic generation system automatically…

Diagram: Publish content...automate the rest!
Automate content distribution with WordPress to drive more traffic, leads & sales!

WordPress can also automate management and maintenance tasks on a website like scheduling files and data backups, updating software, adding and managing new users, and more.

An expertly configured WordPress site lets you do all this by configuring internal (i.e. built-in) settings, adding different add-ons, and integrating many essential (and mostly free) external services…

Diagram of epertly-configured WordPress site components
An expertly-configured WordPress site can automate many digital processes in your business!

As your business grows and evolves, you can easily add more functionality and automation to your WordPress site at minimal cost, like:

  • Adding eCommerce to sell products and services and process payments online
  • Capturing leads with opt-in forms and automatically adding new subscribers to newsletters and autoresponders
  • Adding a membership site that allows visitors to register on the site as private members with different membership levels, unique logins, etc.
  • Adding directories, forums, social networking features, social sharing, and engagement features, etc.
  • And so much more!

All this can be done inexpensively (or even for free) in WordPress using ‘app-like’ add-ons called plugins.

Once plugins are installed and configured, you can direct your site visitors to different areas of your website such as your online store, subscription forms, membership area, directories, etc. using calls to action placed in your content, graphic banners, navigation menus, etc. and let the automated processes configured on your site and your plugins do the rest.

Additionally, WordPress comes with a powerful built-in Content Management System (CMS) that works right out of the box, allowing you to easily create and manage your digital content, website administration (including updating and backing up site files and data), and automate various aspects of your digital marketing.

One of the many benefits of using the WordPress CMS is that it is 100% free to use and modify for any commercial purpose. This helps to prevent you from becoming locked into a ‘proprietary’ CMS platform that could make it harder to leave or switch to another provider.

So…

You can configure your WordPress site to automate management and marketing processes like backups, content distribution, and syndication, search engine indexing, web traffic generation, lead, and sales automation, and more, without involving website developers or web designers or requiring technical expertise or coding skills.

You can also easily look after ongoing management processes like keeping your site’s software and plugins updated, adding and configuring new site functionality, making changes to site design, layout, and content to improve sales conversions, and training other team members to do the same without hiring website developers or web designers.

Building a website with WordPress, then, puts you in complete control of your digital business processes, saving you considerable money and allowing you to generate better online results.

WordPress
Want to be in complete control of your digital presence? Then choose WordPress!

A CMS platform like WordPress can put your business in complete control of your digital presence, automate key digital management, content scheduling, and marketing processes, and help you improve your online business online results.

A WordPress website can also be expanded easily and inexpensively at any time and allows businesses to integrate additional features, functionality, and services like:

  • Social media, social media content sharing, and social engagement tools
  • External services and accounts (e.g., Google webmasters, SaaS, and cloud services)
  • eCommerce, membership sites, directories, event bookings, and registrations, etc.
  • Support services (helpdesks, online chat, forums, affiliate management, etc.)
  • Subscriber options (newsletters, autoresponders, opt-in forms, etc.)
  • Reporting tools (e.g., server monitoring, web analytics, etc.)
  • And many additional functions.

Unique WordPress Features

WordPress includes many unique features that make managing websites easy, including:

Plugins

Like most apps and add-ons, plugins install with a few clicks and allow users to easily add and configure almost every kind of functionality imaginable to their website (e.g. forms, banner ad management, membership sites, directories, e-commerce, notifications, live chat, pricing tables, etc.).

Learn more about plugins here: Using WordPress Plugins

Themes

Themes are web design templates that let users change the entire look and feel of their site and/or customize the site’s web design with just a few clicks without affecting its content.

Learn more about plugins here: Using WordPress Themes

Widgets

Widgets let users reorganize and rearrange the site’s web layout and add new functionality without touching code using features like drag and drop and pulldown menus.

Learn more about plugins here: Using WordPress Widgets

And More…

Additional unique features of WordPress that make managing a website easier include a customizable dashboard, a visual content editor and block editor, custom navigation menus, custom post types, live previews, updates, setting different user roles, permissions, and logins, comment moderation, site cleanup, optimization, and security tools, and a whole lot more!

WordPress can also be configured to fully automate or reduce many complex website management tasks to processes using a few clicks.

This includes:

  • Managing and scheduling content for publishing
  • Performing data and file backups
  • Updating core software, plugins, and themes
  • Registering and managing users and subscribers
  • Moderating comments from visitors, preventing comment SPAM, etc.
  • Preventing brute force attacks and threats from malware and hackers
  • Fixing broken links in the content
  • Redirecting visitors to other pages
  • Generating user, statistical, performance, and sales reports
  • Notifying management and administrators if there are any problems with the site
  • And more.

Depending on what your business wants to achieve online, WordPress can also easily add and automate the management of features and functionality like:

  • Setting up an e-commerce store (and automating areas like featured product information, online payment processing, emailing customers download links, product delivery information, emails to prevent cart abandonment, etc.)
  • Providing customer service tools, services, and information sections like a knowledgebase, support helpdesks, live chat, FAQs, etc.
  • Setting up business directories and advertising zones (and automating processes that allow users to buy, manage, and renew their listings and advertisements)
  • Running event and booking sites (and automating the management of event bookings and registrations, setting up appointments, scheduling deliveries of online course content or webinars, ticket printing, confirmations, etc.)
  • Setting up an affiliate program (and automating affiliate management tasks, commission reports, payments, etc.)
  • Setting up and automating many other tasks like scheduling and posting content to social media, adding subscribers to newsletters and customer lists, processing contact information, engaging users with customer surveys and user polls, and so much more.

Most Websites Are Powered By WordPress

Not only are millions of websites around the world built using WordPress, but if one in every three websites is powered by WordPress, the chances are that if your business has a website, it is probably also powered by WordPress!

To check if your website or blog is built using WordPress, go here: How To Tell If Your Website Is Powered By WordPress

Summary

A content management system (CMS) is a software application that allows users to create, manage, and publish digital content.

A CMS is an essential tool for businesses that want to easily manage and publish content on their website. It allows non-technical users to easily create, edit, and publish content, while also providing tools for collaboration, scalability, SEO, and security.

It’s important to research different CMS options and choose one that fits the specific needs of your business.

Some of the most popular CMS platforms include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.

Joomla is a popular open-source CMS, it is more complex than WordPress, but it is good for managing large and complex websites.

Drupal is also an open-source CMS, it is more powerful, and it is best used for creating complex, large-scale websites.

WordPress is the world’s most widely used content management system. It is free and open-source, and it has a wide variety of themes and plugins to choose from. It is also the platform used to power millions of professional websites and blogs around the world.

WordPress is:

  • 100% free open-source software
  • Highly flexible, scalable, and customizable (can be adapted for any use)
  • Supported by a community of tens of thousands of web developers (continually updated to improve security, add new features, and fix bugs & issues).

Resources

If you need help using WordPress, see the resources below:

WordPress User Tutorials

Here are the best resources for learning how to use your WordPress website and CMS effectively:

WPTrainingManual.com

WPTrainingManual.com - WordPress User Training
WPTrainingManual.com – WordPress User Training

WPTrainingManual.com provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date WordPress step-by-step tutorials for non-technical users and non-coders available.

These tutorials are 100% free to access (and download as a PDF, print, or share via email), and will help you learn how to use your WordPress site and CMS effectively.

WPTrainingManual.com - Free WordPress Tutorials
WPTrainingManual.com – Free WordPress Tutorials

Additionally, you can download The Complete WordPress Step-By-Step WordPress User Manual – a comprehensive, fully illustrated, and regularly updated 2,100+ page downloadable WordPress user manual for non-techies.

The Complete WordPress Step-By-Step User Manual
The Complete WordPress Step-By-Step User Manual

For more information and to access all the free WordPress tutorials, go here: WPTrainingManual.com

WPMasterclasses.com

WPMasterclasses.com - WordPress & Digital Business Skills Video Courses
WPMasterclasses.com – WordPress & Digital Business Skills Video Courses

WPMasterclasses.com is a WordPress and digital business video training site with dozens of video courses and 2,000+ video tutorials on using WordPress and covering essential digital business areas.

Here are some of the WordPress video courses available on WPMasterclasses.com (note: you can access all of the video courses below with a single all-access pass):

WordPress Video Courses
Why Your Business Needs WordPress - WPMasterclasses.comWhy Your Business Needs WordPress

Learn about the unique features, benefits, and advantages of using WordPress to start or grow your business online.

More info: Why Your Business Needs WordPress

WordPress 101: How To Use WordPress - WPMasterclasses.comWordPress 101: How To Use WordPress

Learn how to unlock the power of the WordPress content management system (CMS) using the many powerful features inside your WordPress administration area.

More info: WordPress 101: How To Use WordPress

WordPress Gutenberg - WPMasterclasses.comWordPress Gutenberg

Learn how to use the WordPress Gutenberg editor with this video course.

More info: WordPress Gutenberg

WordPress Traffic & User Engagement - WPMasterclasses.comWordPress Traffic & User Engagement

Learn how to drive more targeted traffic to your website and discover ways to improve user engagement with your business online.

More info: WordPress Traffic & User Engagement

WordPress SEOWordPress SEO - WPMasterclasses.com

Learn how to optimize your WordPress site and how to craft website pages and blog posts that will help you get better search engine rankings and improve your traffic results.

More info: WordPress SEO

WordPress Maintenance - WPMasterclasses.comWordPress Maintenance

This video course takes you step-by-step through the WordPress Maintenance Process and shows you how to keep your WordPress site updated, protected, and error-free!

More info: WordPress Maintenance

How To Backup & Restore WordPress Sites - WPMasterclasses.comHow To Back Up & Restore WordPress Sites

Learn how to safely and automatically back up your WordPress files and database and how to easily restore your WordPress site if something unexpected or disastrous were to happen.

More info: How To Back Up & Restore WordPress Sites

How To Optimize WordPress - WPMasterclasses.comHow To Optimize WordPress

Learn how to optimize your WordPress site and improve your page loading speed.

More info: How To Optimize WordPress

WordPress Security - WPMasterclasses.comWordPress Security

Learn how to keep your WordPress site or blog secure and protected from malware, hackers, and brute-force attacks.

More info: WordPress Security

WordPress Plugins - WPMasterclasses.comWordPress Plugins

Learn how WordPress plugins work, how to find, install, and update plugins on your site, and how to expand your WordPress site’s functionality in almost unlimited ways.

More info: WordPress Plugins

Digital Planning: How To Build A Profitable Website Or Blog - WPMasterclasses.comDigital Planning: How To Build A Profitable Website Or Blog

Learn how to plan and build a profitable website or blog using a proven and easy-to-follow strategy.

More info: Digital Planning: How To Build A Profitable Website Or Blog

Build A WordPress Site Fast - WPMasterclasses.comBuild A WordPress Site Fast

Need a new website or blog in a hurry? This video course shows you how to quickly install and configure a WordPress website or blog on your own domain name.

More info: Build A WordPress Site Fast

WordPress eCommerce - Learn How To Build An eCommerce Store With WordPressLearn How To Build An eCommerce Store With WordPress

Learn how to set up an e-commerce store on your WordPress site using e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads.

More info: Learn How To Build An eCommerce Store With WordPress

How To Set Up A Forum On WordPress - WPMasterclasses.comHow To Set Up A Forum On WordPress

Learn how to set up a forum for your visitors, prospects, customers, members, or affiliates using WordPress.

More info: How To Set Up A Forum On WordPress

How To Build A Membership Site With WordPress - WPMasterclasses.comHow To Build A Membership Site With WordPress

Learn how to plan, build, grow, and maintain a viable membership site using WordPress that can be easily scaled and automated to become a sustainable, cost-effective, and profitable asset for many years to come.

More info: How To Build A Membership Site With WordPress

All Access Pass: Unlimited Courses - WPMasterclasses.comYou can purchase access to individual courses for a one-time fee or purchase an ALL ACCESS PASS video training site membership for a low annual subscription.

The All Access Pass membership gives you 24/7 ongoing access to 60+ digital business skills and WordPress CMS video courses (over 2,100+ self-paced video lessons and 225+ hours of videos).

For more details of all available video courses, go here: WPMasterclasses.com

WordPress Site Management

The choice of managing and maintaining your WordPress site is completely up to you. You can outsource your site management to professionals or learn how to do it yourself.

Here are the best resources available if you choose to do it yourself:

WPCompendium.org

WPCompendium.org provides hundreds of FREE detailed step-by-step tutorials that will teach you everything you need to know to build and manage a WordPress site with no coding knowledge or technical skills required.

WPCompendium.org – Free WordPress Step-By-Step Tutorials For Non-Techies
WPCompendium.org – Free WordPress Step-By-Step Tutorials For Non-Techies

The tutorials on WPCompendium.org are fully interlinked for ease of navigation, allowing you to learn WordPress at your own pace, and organized into comprehensive training modules covering all areas of WordPress:

WPMU DEV

WPMU DEV
WPMU DEV – All-In-One WordPress Platform

WPMU DEV provides a complete WordPress site management and dedicated hosting platform with professional plugins covering everything from SEO, optimization, and security, to marketing, forms, analytics, and more, plus 24/7 expert support on all things related to WordPress.

While the site is aimed mostly at WordPress web developers, if you are an advanced WordPress user or DIY site manager, we recommend visiting the WPMU DEV Blog containing thousands of advanced and useful WordPress tutorials, and subscribing to their email newsletter for regular WordPress tips and information.

WPMU DEV Blog
WPMU DEV’s Blog is jampacked with useful WordPress tutorials.

Additionally, we recommend becoming a WPMU DEV member. A  WPMU DEV membership includes everything you need to manage unlimited WordPress sites effectively.

You can sign up for a free membership (no credit card required) and try out for yourself all the service offers.

To register for a free account, visit WPMU DEV.

Additional Resources

We recommend the following resources to help build your content management skills:

Also, visit our tools and resources section for additional courses, guides, and helpful tools and resources for managing your content effectively.

Digital Business – Module Lessons

Below are all the lessons included in this module. Click on a link to go directly to the lesson:

The Role Of The Digital/Web Content Manager

The Role Of The Content Manager

Learn about the role of a content manager and what you need to know to manage content effectively in a digital business presence.
Digital Business Structure

Digital Business Structure

Learn what an effective digital business structure looks like and why this makes managing content challenging.
Content Management Mindset

Content Management Mindset

Develop the mindset needed to manage content effectively for any type of organization. 
Content Management Skills

Content Management Skills

Learn about the skills you will need to develop to manage content effectively in any business or organization. 
Digital Business Setups

Digital Business Setups

Learn about different kinds of digital business setups and the challenges of managing content effectively in these. 
Digital Business Basics

Digital Business Basics

This lesson looks at some of the basic steps your business should complete before it can grow using content.
Digital Content Team

Digital Content Team

An overview of different digital team roles, responsibilities, and job descriptions.
Content-Related Jobs and Careers

Content-Related Jobs and Careers

Learn how to start a job or career in a content-related field and where to find professional work ...
Content Management Tools

Content Management Tools

Learn about many useful and time-saving tools and resources that will help you manage your content effectively.

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Images: WordPress logo, WordPress screen, Blackboard