An Overview of Content Management Systems

What are Content Management Systems?

Content management systems (CMS) are platforms that help users produce, manage, and alter content without needing to know how to code or create a website themselves. It gives you a template to build a website without the technical abilities to build one.  While these are generally used for websites, they can also be used for other online platforms like mobile apps. A CMS is certainly a useful tool for those with growing businesses that aren’t able to code or create these platforms on their own.

CMS vs. HTML/CSS

While a CMS is a convenient way to create a website, there is another option. HTML is the language used to create websites and other online content platforms. It is a free resource for anyone to use. There are advantages to both styles. With HTML, you get to decide every aspect of the website and create more interesting pages. With CMS, you can create a website in minutes without having to worry too much about formatting or if the code is correct. HTML also provides many more options and allows for a much more customizable experience than CMS. If you have the time to learn and create using HTML then it is a great option however, using a CMS can also yield great results and effective web designs.

Impact of Content Management Systems

Content management systems do make creating websites more accessible for the everyday consumer but, are they impacting web designers? Some say yes, while others argue that they do not. CMS’s do make it easier for people to produce websites but, there is still a large need for web developers. Ryan Boddy, a senior web designer says “Software development is not going away any time soon, and I definitely think that code monkeys like myself will be able to type until our fingers fall off.” Web and software developers will still have jobs to do and CMS’s are not going to completely take over. There are instances were a CMS might just not be enough and you need that extra personal touch to create an effective website.

 

 

 

 

References:                                                                                                                                                     https://kinsta.com/knowledgebase/content-management-system/                                                           https://www.coredna.com/blogs/cms-vs-html                                                                                                 https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/code-required-cms-killing-freelance-web-developer-ryan-boddy/

Basics of Web

Today, more people than ever are using mobile telephones to access the internet. According to Exploding Topics, a website that discusses trends as they arise, 92.3% of internet users are able to access the internet by using a mobile phone. In addition to this, over 55% of website traffic originates from mobile phones. Mobile devices can be compared to a rapidly widening black hole, increasing our access to everything on the internet daily. Although many people use the internet, many do not know basic facts about the internet and its creation. Let’s dive in.

The World Wide Web

When using the internet, many people use the abbreviation www but, do they know it stands for World Wide Web? The World Wide Web consists of every public page or website that people can access through computers or mobile devices. It allows everyone to access information, communicate, and keep in contact with those around the world. The World Wide Web is not technically owned by any one country or company but, there are task forces and other groups assigned to monitoring what happens on the internet. These include IETF (The Internet Engineering Task Force), and ICANN (Internet Consortium for Assigned Names and Numbers). The World Wide Web connects everyone through information and news and is a great tool for many.

Tim Berners-Lee

Tim Berners-Lee. This name may not be familiar to you but, it should be. Sir Tim Berners Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989. He is a computer scientist who first proposed the idea of a worldwide way to connect hyperlinks and information. In addition to creating the World Wide Web, he also created the first website. Berners-Lee made the Internet accessible to all by ensuring it was free of charge to use and didn’t require anything special. His invention has transformed our lives in innumerable ways.

Blogs

Blogs, such as this one, are online journals that offer regular updates about a certain subject or topic. There are food blogs, art blogs, dog blogs, and fashion blogs to name a few. The main purpose of a blog, or weblog, is to create a relationship between the person writing and the person reading. It is a more familiar and personal way to share information than just using a typical website.

Responsive Website Design

Responsive websites are as simple as they sound, they respond to the size of the device they are being viewed on. A responsive website would adjust to the user’s screen size, platform, and orientation of the device. These types of websites are extremely necessary because there are many types of computers out there. Not to mention the wide variety of mobile phones and tablets that a majority of people use to access the internet. The more easily accessible a website is, the more likely you are to go back to it.

SEO

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. This is simply the process of improving your website to be more visible in Google, Bing, and whatever other search engines individuals might use. SEO, along with responsive website design allows for a website to be more visible and accessible for all. This means more traffic and more opportunities to attract ones to your product or service.

Dynamic Content

Dynamic content goes hand in hand with the previous two points. Dynamic content is any digital information that adjusts to data, user behavior, or preference. This could be personalized ads on a website you frequent, pricing that changes according to supply and demand, or live chat features for instant customer support. There are forms of dynamic content all over the internet.

Content Management Systems

Content management systems are platforms that take care of the technical side of building a website. They allow you to create a website without any knowledge of coding or computer design. Systems such as Magento, Shopify, Wix, and WordPress are available to all. WordPress is the platform you are currently viewing this blog on. It takes care of organization, posting, and connecting others to the blog, you just have to input the information you wish to share, and bam! It’s done for you.

Youtube Channels

YouTube channels are basically video versions of blogs. They enhance content visibility and make it more appealing to those who enjoy videos such as visual or auditory learners. Ones who teach skills such as mechanics, electrical, or art may use this platform as a way to reach more people. YouTube is the second-largest search engine in the world so it is certainly a useful tool for those looking to grow their brand or share ideas more readily.

 

There are plenty of ways to share and take in information. This is just the basics so go out there and look something up, read a blog, watch a video and maybe you’ll learn something new.

An Introduction: Who is Annabelle?

Hi! My name is Annabelle and I am a second-year Digital Media Design student at Central Ohio Technical College. I love photography, logo design, and creating art that serves a purpose. Besides graphic design, I love to paint and create things with other physical mediums like pencils and clay. Art has always been my passion, and learning how to use Adobe programs such as Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign is giving me a chance to use my skills in a valuable and effective way.

Besides art, I love to read, skateboard, listen to music, collect vinyl records, and travel. Traveling is something I have been doing for as long as I can remember. I have been to 10 countries and hope to continue expanding that list. Combining traveling and my graphic design skills has given me a chance to be creative by doing two things I love. I am the second of three children in my family and I love to play board games and card games with my family. We are very competitive. Family is very important to me.

I can’t wait to see where this year at COTC takes me and I am excited to continue to hone my skills as a graphic designer. Thanks for reading!