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CMS
Starter Kit
Where
to Find a
Content Management System
A guide to sources, recommendations, and opinions on content
management systems
Searching for a content management system can be an overwhelming
task because there are many systems on the market that generically
call themselves "content management systems," but
have varying functionality. With so many choices, where do you
begin your search?
This list outlines the pros and cons of several research methods
so that you can decide which methods are best for your search.
To be most effective, choose several sources of information
to find the right content management system to fit your needs.
Getting Started
Pros
Cons
Ask
friends and colleagues
What systems have they used? Which ones do they like or
dislike? What did they use them for?
They
may have implemented a system and have some knowledge
of the industry; they know the ins and outs of their application.
Their
solution fits their business only and may not fit yours;
their industry knowledge may be dated depending on how
long ago they implemented a CMS.
Look
for rankings of content management systems
A good way to
get a list of systems to begin your search.
Rankings may not
be objective; find out what criteria the rankings are
based on (i.e., the list may only include vendors who
pay the sponsor).
Look
for articles on the topics that relate to your business
needs
What key points do they highlight? Who wrote them?
Articles can educate
you about the industry; third-party authors provide objective
viewpoints; articles written by vendors show their expertise
in the field.
Some articles
written by vendors are paid “advertorials”
and are not endorsed by the publication.
Talk
to industry analysts
Analysts provide
expert opinions from their daily research.
Make sure the
analyst specializes in the content management and technical
documentation space or they might point you in the wrong
direction.
Look
for Web sites and Web communities that deal with content
management
Some sites allow
you to compare CMSs; Web groups allow you to post questions
to others in the field for free advice.
Some sites require
vendors to pay to be listed, so don’t limit your
search to these sites; can you trust strangers on the
Web?
Attend
trade shows & conferences
There is lots
of information to gather; shows provide a good opportunity
to meet face-to-face with vendors.
There is an overload
of information and lots of marketing jargon to sort through.
Join
user’s groups for XML or technical writing
This is the best
source of peer discussion; inside information and outside
opinions are available.
It can cost you
time and money to attend meetings.
Talk
with vendors
Vendors have expertise
in implementing their system and can provide industry
knowledge and additional services.
They only know
their own product well; each vendor has their own terminology.
Talk
with consultants
Consultants have
vast industry knowledge; they have implemented various
CMSs and know the ins and outs of each one.
Their fees can
be expensive; some consultants are not product-neutral
and may only push their partners’ products.
Narrowing Your List of Vendors:
•
Review the vendors’ Web
sites in detail – Web sites are a great way
to gather information at your leisure.
•
Read white papers –
White papers give you a good idea of each vendor’s
unique approach to content management and technology development.
•
Read case studies –
Does the vendor have case studies of organizations like
yours? Do they address similar issues?
•
Put
out a Request for Information (RFI) – Weed
out vendors who don't meet your needs by requesting basic
information from them prior to any demos or involved sales
cycles.
When you have narrowed your list to approximately three or four
vendors, then submit detailed RFPs (Requests for Proposal) and
request product demonstrations to get down to the details of
each system’s capabilities.
