Keeping webpages updated with fresh "content" can be a challenge and overall the general approach hasn't changed much since the world wide web's blossoming in 1994. A websites' text, images, audio, video, animation, documents, etc. reside on a server, which is simply a computer with special software connected to a network compliant with web browsing. Many website owners are familiar with networks and if not, at least have a general idea of what a computer network is. It's reasonable to assume that transferring a some text or an image to another computer wouldn't be very difficult, and in theory it's not. So why is it that updating websites is so challenging?

The challenges associated with updating websites stems from several different obstacles:

- File Transfer Protocols and FTP Software - Many website owners are challenged by FTP software and the process of transferring files from their computer to a web server.

- Multiple text, graphic and document formats used in websites - There are huge lists of file formats compatible with web browsers. Understanding all these file types can be daunting, even for web developers.

- Programming Code - Each page on a website contains programming code, consisting of HTML, CSS, javascript and countless other special function languages. Sifting through this delicate code can be confusing and any mistake can result in the page not working at all.

- OTC Software - There are several over-the-counter website editing programs on the market with GUIs (graphical user interface). These programs can be very helpful, but with more complicated sites, users often find themselves making the same mistakes they would editing the source code itself.

- Basic Knowledge Floor - No matter how a website is updated, a basic knowledge of website and technical thinking is required. Many website owners don't have the time or energy to focus on this... "Here's what I want on the site. Get it on there however you'd like".

A Content Management System (CMS) offers website owners the ability to update all or part of their website online, through a private, password protected administrative area. Simply stated, a website owner logs in to their "admin area" with a username and password and can add, edit, update and delete text, documents, images, audio, video, graphical interface, color schemes, etc. and manage special applications within their website like their online store, blogs, forums, calendars, etc.. All this is done through simple internet forms, without FTP, programming code, special software or advanced technical knowledge.

Say your site has a "News" page where you keep your website viewers informed of the great things you have going on. Rather than calling your web design company each time you want the page updated, you could simply enter the information yourself. With a CMS, you would be able to login to your site and create the new entry yourself. Each news article will consistently have a date, title, article and an optional image. Through a simple online form, you would enter a title name, type or copy and paste the main body text and add an image you have stored on your computer. The changes would take place immediately and instantly accessible to your users. Behind the scenes, your CMS could automatically fill in the date, post all the information to a database, add the date and title to a "news summary" list on your homepage, add the news article to your news page, resize your image to the appropriate web size, etc..

If desired, CMS can be used to control almost any aspect of a website. Here are some common uses:

- Home page content
- News page articles
- Upcoming events and web calendars
- Electronic newsletters and mass email campaigns
- Image galleries and slideshows
- Guestbook and forum management
- Audio and video content management
- Products and images for online stores
- Online store order processing and management
- Color schemes and graphic style
- Downloadable document files (PDFs, Word, Excel, high-res images, etc.)

Logic House Media develops CMS customized to our clients specific needs. We can add functionality as needed, so a CMS can start out small and grow as more pages and functionality is added to the site itself. Please contact us to discuss how we can add CMS to your site.