10 Questions To Ask When Selecting a Website Content Management System (CMS) Package

At the beginning of this year we noticed that our larger clients were using their web sites more but our SME clients weren’t doing anything. It seemed to us that all of our clients needed to make the most of their web sites as a ‘cost effective’ form of marketing when budgets were ‘slighter tighter’.

We started asking around and got some interesting answers, so we carried out a survey to ask a whole raft of pertinent questions.

It turns out that all customers did want to use their web sites to increase marketing activities and generate sales leads but not all of them could capitalise on their internet resources. The results of the survey showed that over 60% didn’t utilise their online web marketing quite simply because it was too much like hard work. It was either:

• too slow to update - commonly this was due to poor updating software or bad server responses
• too costly to update – we discovered that people are still being charged (what we would consider to be) exorbitant amounts of money to update their web sites – one company listed in their survey responses that it cost them £40 to update an image – and they had a small catalogue site, so you can imagine what that meant on the cost front when they introduced new products.
• required levels of technical skill - many systems were legacy, created in native HTML, ASP, PHP etc and required a technical level of knowledge to update. Alternatively they used a CMS system that needed you to understand HTML so that you could get the best out of it.

We’ve been supplying CMS based web sites since around 2003. CMS systems are now very affordable from SME’s upwards, so we found these facts somewhat hard to believe. Based on the survey feedback I drew up a list of questions that you should ask when selecting your CMS. There’s the obligatory ‘Executive Summary’ here and the full report is on our website here: http://ow.ly/CKH8

EXECUTIVE OVERVIEW OF THE 10 QUESTIONS TO ASK

1. Is it WYSIWYG?

You need to be able to see how it will look on the web, so text entry boxes just don’t hack it anymore.

2. Do I have to pay for it?

‘Free’ systems are never free. Commercial organisations need to earn money so watch out for the hidden costs.

3. How easy is it to use?

Don’t just read the marketing literature, check it out – easy is a comparative term.

4. “If you build it they will come” Or SEO?

OK, so it can put you in control, but make sure it understands search engines’ requirements so you get promotion.

5. Can you analyse your CMS success?

Make sure you’re able to analyse your visitors’ interest so you can change the website to meet their demands.

6. Is it Flexible?

Make sure the CMS works for you and that you don’t have to change your ideas to fit. And get a list of add-ons that are available now and planned.

7. Was it designed for you?

Make sure it can do what you need it to do in your market for your customers.

8. What about Social Media & Platforms?

Social media and mobile browsers are now and growing. Test out sites created to make sure they work and feed.

9. Can it work with my team?

Don’t forget, the way you work is your way and your team interact in a set way, make sure the CMS supports your team operation and management.

10. “Ah, yes, but can it…?”

Finally, you won’t have thought of everything, so make sure the CMS can be tailored/modified to whatever quirky thing you think of!

OK, that’s the executive flying visit to the 10 questions. But if you’re serious about CMS then take the time to read (and enjoy ) more detail in the full overview – http://ow.ly/CKH8

Remember a CMS is for life – or at least it should be, if it can be expanded as your business grows!

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