A content management system (CMS) is computer software used to manage the creation and modification of digital content.

What is a Content Management System (CMS)?

More specifically, a CMS is a software application that allows users to collaborate in the creation, editing, and production of digital content: web pages, blog posts, etc. The CMS (or WCM—web content management system) is evolving from just helping you launch digital content to a more robust system that is core to managing an overall digital experience across many different channels, such as email, mobile apps, social media, web sites, and more.

Any basic solution for web content management helps you upload or write content, format it, add headlines and images, and do a number of backstage things like SEO. But in a multi-device, user-centric world, that’s not enough. Digital marketing has evolved, focusing more deeply on customer experience while incorporating mobile apps, the Internet of Things, and more. All that depends on a web content management system that separates content management from content presentation.

How Does a Content Management System Work?

To give you an idea of how a content management system works, we’re going to take a whirlwind tour of the WordPress interface. WordPress is a good example of a content management system).

Let’s start with creating a piece of content. Without a content management system, you’d need to write a static HTML file and upload it to your server.

With a content management system like WordPress, you can just write your content in an interface that looks a good bit like Microsoft Word:

Similarly, to upload and manage media, like images, you can just browse the media library instead of needing to actually interact with your web server directly:

The content management system isn’t just a backend management interface, though. It also makes all of the content that you create show up for your visitors exactly as you want it to.

What Makes up a Content Management System?

On a more technical level, a content management system is made up of two core parts:

A content management application (CMA) – this is the part that allows you to actually add and manage content on your site (like you saw above).

A content delivery application (CDA) – this is the backend, behind-the-scenes process that takes the content you input in the CMA, stores it properly, and makes it visible to your visitors.

How to Build a Website with a Content Management System

Want to build your own website with a content management system? If so, the general process looks something like this:

• Purchase web hosting and a domain name
• Install your content management system of choice on your web server
• Configure the content management system to dictate how your site looks and functions
• Start writing content using the content management system’s interface

Use a CMS to Build Your Site

Using a content management system to build and manage your site can help you grow over time. Not only will a CMS store all of your web content in one place, but it will also support collaboration across teams, allow for quick and easy updates, and offer templates and extensions to customize your site. Looking to install a content management system like WordPress on your web server? WeBOOST will do it for you.