Content Management Systems

We use different content management systems to oversee the functionality of your website.  Here are some Q & A on what a CMS is and how they are used.

• What is a CMS?
• A CMS is a piece of software that is installed on top of a web server that stores vital information for your website.  It handles all requests from visitors to your site and performs many other functions.
• Why do I need a CMS?
• What you do with you website and its content is only limited by what you can imagine.  If you can think of a structure of how you want your website to link together, a CMS can be the glue that helps it accomplish this feat.
• What about links and users?
• Links are still used, but the CMS creates them for you.
• The CMS helps by organizing and cataloging your users.  Some even have additional options which let you assign them to groups and email them all at once.
• Is a CMS how you and other companies allow your clients to do their own webpage editing?
• Yes.  The CMS allows you to become more skilled with webpages.  The old days of writing basic HTML and PHP are going the way of the dinosaur.
• I looked at some of your webpages.  How do you get them to look different if you use the same CMS?
• We have graphic design and template software that allows us to create and make our own custom- designed templates for clients.  You can have as many templates as you want on a CMS.  Some businesses that change according to the season have those specific templates and with the click of a button their sites can look and feel different.
• Keep in mind that we custom design all of our templates.  If you search the web and look for "clubs" that offer this service you will find that you can pay up to $400 for just a template.
• OK, I get what you are saying.  Why can't I do this myself?
• You still need a basic understanding of what HTML, PHP, and other programming languages are.  For some advanced features, we still have to use the old coding ways to get your content to show correctly on the websites.
• What are the names of the CMSs that you use?
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• I thought WordPress was a blog? 
• WordPress is able to be used as a blog and a website.  While we at Little Fish prefer to use Joomla! as a website and WordPress as a blog, some webmasters do use it as a website solution.
• You keep talking about content.  What is the big deal?
• Content is what makes a site come alive.  Imagine going to Yahoo and there were no links to choose from.  Imagine going to Google and there being no search bar.  Without the content that is on each webpage, the internet would be nothing.  Here are some examples of content:
• Movies
• Blogs
• Bulletin Boards
• Ads
• Web Applications
• Catalogs
• Shopping Carts
• These are just a few.  Did you know when you post to Facebook, you are creating content for the web?  Check out our Content page for different ideas on what to put on your website.