Choosing The Right CMS to Support Usability
Aligning a company to the right content management system is a critically important decision for the future of an organization – particularly one that may be facing re-entry into the market, rebrand or restructure.
Being that there are several types of CMS tailored to the content needs of a business, it is first important for a company to understand why the CMS is necessary. What aspects of content need to be managed and how much? Though there are options such as web, mobile and component – often an enterprise CMS is the route most travelled, being that it has a keen ability to support best practices and be implemented with scalability options. CMS platforms, and in particular enterprise, when used at optimized levels can deliver a level of success to a company not seen before the CMS was introduced.
Beyond serving it’s functional purpose(s) to an internal team, a solid CMS should adhere to usability standards, making it as easy to use as possible, efficient and even intuitive. In choosing a content management system, a company must take their core needs into consideration but also much ensure that the users can successfully accomplish their tasks and navigate the system.
Implementing a CMS that is highly usable can increase productivity and maximize company financial performance on a large scale. Much of the the success is ensuring that the CMS is user-friendly which will prove beneficial in regard to its long term investment. Most usable systems are intuitive enough for a tech-literate user to engage with immediately, but some form of training for a committed team is recommended.
Features to look for when selecting a CMS for usability include, but are not limited to:
- Training, Web Tutorials or User Manuals
- Ongoing User Support
- Detailed Account Management
- Online Community
- Intuitive Interface
- Simple Language
- Calls To Action
- Pathways to Completion
- Error-Free
- Robust Platform
- Tested & In Market Presence
Content Management Systems such as WordPress and Drupal are great examples of usable CMS platforms. WordPress CMS is rising and proving to be a solid contender for a highly usable enterprise platform, specifically for it’s user friendly properties. Drupal provides a very robust platform with many features but does require a bit more of a learning curve.
Though a CMS can provide great ROI, there’s no arguing that they are often a big investment for a company. Ensuring the right type of CMS for the business is chosen first, then focusing on the platforms usability factors is key. Work with a development team that understands the business needs to align the right fit for a lasting partnership.
