Web content management

Web content management (WCM) is an application for creating, storing, managing and publishing web page content, which may be in the form of text, audio, graphics, video, etc. The WCM may also organize, index or otherwise present data uniquely for specific site visitors.

Other common features include:

• user security roles
• metadata
• automated templates
• version history
• foreign language support

This term is also known as a web content management system, or content management system (CMS).

A WCM is simply whatever is used to create, update and maintain a web site. A basic rule-of-thumb is that a WCM is doing its job if staff can non-technical staff can publish without problem. In the early days of the web, being an expert in HTML was a necessity. A proper content management system eliminates this requirement and allows just about anybody to publish online.

Web content management should ideally provide an efficient system for:

• Planning web content: A crucial part of content management is planning content. Content management systems should include or allow for the integration of an editorial calendar.
• Writing or creating content for the web: Using an established style guide, especially for written content allows for consistent website content quality. A good CMS should provide a platform that hosts both the style guide and the content draft for ease.
• Editing or collaborating on content: Most CMS platforms allow an editor to work on a piece after it’s been completed. However, simultaneous edits are generally impossible. How annoying is it to keep having to pop in and out of a post to allow another user to edit?
• Publishing content: Scheduling and publishing posts online is usually the final phase of web content management. Most content creators also optimize their posts for SEO at this stage.
• Updating or refreshing published content: This last step keeps content fresh and maintains optimization for search engines and readers.

Web Content Management Explained

What is a Content Management System?