Content Management Systems, Basics This Is

Basic is a term I am unsure belongs with Content Management Systems.  I’m going with it anyway.

Basic Features

– One can quickly update and publish content directly in the CMS without support from technical staff.

– CMS has an interface similar to a word processing program, knowing markup language is not necessary.

-Design Templates are available, and can be useful to keep a site consistent.

-Contributors can have controlled access to the system. Meaning that some people can create, but not publish, while others have full control to create, publish, and delete content.

– Allows you to create open content and responsive design by making it easy to structure content.  One can create the content in “chunks” vs. “pages,” these “chunks” can be reassembled in different ways to meet user needs.

Customers May Never Use These Features

Color Coding Changes – This allows for a user to easily see what changed between versions of the site.  It rarely gets used by Customers.

Microsoft Office Integration – Saving directly from Word into the Content Management System.  Aside from this working well in Share Point it using word normally just becomes a copy and paste job.

Future Preview – The idea behind this was that a customer would be able to see what their site will look like in the near future when a new campaign is being launched.  This ended up not being straight-forward to implement and do not

Back-End Analytics – According to statistics on usage of administrative interface, most web professionals struggle finding time to look at their website analytics.

Frontpage Editing – Clicking directly on edit on a given page.  Aside from a few vendors that don’t worry much about staging environments or quality assurance, this option is rarely implemented.

More detail on this information can be found at jboye.com.

What Should You Evaluate When Choosing a CMS

Choosing the correct CMS for you or your customer can be figured out by evaluating many different variables.  A few listed below should provide a good start in your choice.

Ease of Use – Does the customer need easy to use WYSIWYG set up or do they have content managers that can learn HTML?  Is training resources available, if needed? How easy is it to find content within the system and is the content easy to move off site or to an archive?  How easy is it to add a new user in the administrative functions?

Functionality – Is it flexible and easy to customize with ease of turning features on and off?  Is the tool designed to support the size and type of website you or your customer needs?  Are well-defined roles and permissions supported, so only certain people can perform tasks such as publishing or deleting content?

Support for Open Content – Can you easily tag content with appropriate metadata?  Does it support content types and fields? Is there good support for search engine optimizations such as features to customize metadata, static URLs, and customized breadcrumbs?

Integration into Current IT Environment – What are the licensing restrictions and what is the cost to purchase additional licenses if needed? Is the CMS secure and stable?  Will it work with current web hosting platforms and other IT systems?

Here are a few links of interest to find more information on making your important CMS choice!

How to choose the right CMS

Top Ten Mistakes When Selecting a CMS

10 Things to Consider When Choosing the Perfect CMS

7 CMS Features Nobody Asks For, But Everyone Needs

When it Comes to Search Engine Optimization…

CMS makes SEO less painful by standardizing format and structure, adhering to best practices, and making it easy to promote internal links.  “Nodewords” for Drupal and “All In One SEO Pack” for WordPress are two excellent plugins for managing SEO metadata.   Most CMS allow customization of page titles, meta descriptions tag, meta keyword tag, and H tags and all of these tags should be independent from one another and used frequently.

Why Learn More?

Obviously, for a designer, learning more about CMSs is important.  These systems often help a designer stay organized, reduce time spend on building websites, and clients are asking to use them.  I am a huge fan of using Lynda as my main resource to learn new materials.  It is no different here.  Lynda has a huge collection of ‘how to’ beginning and intermediate CMS tutorials.

Use Often, Web Resources For Website Builders

When entering into a new field or even just continuing to grow within a field it is a good decision to have great resources at your fingertips.  Building a community of trusted people with wisdom they are willing to share can be a great resource and cut down on time spent stuck on one element you cannot figure out (which happens often for me.)

Resources While I Work:

Lynda

Lynda is the mother load of tutorials for anything digital.  When I encounter anything I do not know that is related to digital media or being a professional I go to Lynda and type in a search.  Of course, sometimes they do not have the information I am looking for but more often than not they have tutorials for each search I conduct.  Currently, being in school, I have a membership as a student.  The membership fees are $25-37.5 a month and, in my opinion, worth every penny.  I plan on paying this monthly fee after graduating for this valuable resource.

Stack Overflow

To me, Stack overflow is the ‘google’ of web development. Stack Overflow is especially great when you are creating a website and something in your CSS breaks, yet you cannot figure out what is causing it.  With a little information and good key words usually you can find the answer using Stack Overflow.  If you don’t??? Go and type in your question and within minutes others on the site will help you out, as a community!  Seriously, try this, it will save you time.

Adobe Kuler

I seriously struggle with color selections.  I have a feeling many others do too.  Adobe Kuler allows you to choose one color you may be thinking of and find swatches that mesh well with that color.  This program can also pull a list of swatches from an image which you upload.  When working on websites, graphic design projects, or even just artistic fun use Adobe Kuler, it will save time and frustration when making color choices.

Webdesign Inspiration &  Site Inspire

Visualizing the design of a website can also be daunting.  Of course there is always ‘Google’ search, but both Website Inspiration and Site Inspire offer websites that are dedicated only to the newest, hottest, most well designed websites currently available.  They are constantly looking through websites for new trends and clean finishes.  Keeping up with the times requires web designers to constantly find inspiration…Inspiration is included in the names of these sites and that is exactly what they are for- USE THEM!

All of these sites live in my bookmarks on my personal computer.  I visit them  on a daily basis when designing or writing code for websites and graphics.  Sometimes it may seem you are spending much of your time on tutorials or searching but I find in the end having resources like this saves my time.  Although tutorials may be several hours long, I usually come out being able to figure out issues in minutes rather than hours.

Save yourself the headache and compile your favorite resources in a way you can easily access them!

Facebook, a Marketing Tool For Your Business.

It is no longer enough to just have a website OR social media profiles.  Businesses need to have both, and traffic should flow between them. The world of digital, word-of-mouth marketing is taking off. Keeping your business involved in it is a matter or paying attention! 

Content is all search engines really care about. Search companies have been incorporating more social signals into their search algorithms, pushing brands with more web presence through social media to the top of search results.  Crafting a strategy to wire all of your brands key assets together so that search engines improve your rank is necessary for the marketing of your business. 

“It’s very important that businesses make it ridiculously easy for visitors to their website, blog or social channels to connect with their business across all online outlets, and also to share content with their networks.” -Melissa Ruggles, social media manager with Splash Media

Benefits

As of January, 2014 the predominant age group of Facebook was 35-54 years old with 25-34 year olds close behind.  There has been a decrease of users from 2011 to 2014 of ages 13-24.  It is also shown that most of Facebook’s users are college alumni.

Your Facebook page makes your business discoverable, connected, timely, and insightful.  Being connected by creating a face for your business creates one-on-one conversations with your customers.  Making sure messages are tailored to the needs and interests of your target market can create a timely spread to large groups of people.  Analytics available on the business’s Facebook page also help one to have a deeper understanding of their customers and marketing activities. The analytics section is called ‘page insights’ and will give you information about who is connected to your business and an overview of how they are responding to specific content on the business’s Facebook page.

 

Numerica Credit Union, a bank based out of  Spokane, Washington went a step further to insure traffic flow between their Facebook page and website would increase. They incorporated a tool designed by a company called Shastic.  The tool, a built in Facebook calculator, called the Calcubot.  This Calcubot sits near the top of Numerica Credit Union’s Facebook page allowing its users quick home and auto loan calculations.  Once the calculation has been completed the user is able to click ‘learn more’ or ‘apply for a loan,’ both of these buttons bring the user to Numerica Credit Union’s web page at the appropriate places depending on which button was clicked. Read more about the Numerica Credit Union story here: Making Business Sites Work Hand in Glove With Social Media

Small businesses should be incorporating Facebook in their marketing plan if they have not already.  Their social media should be about community awareness and engagement.  Aligning a small businesses social media goals with their overall marketing, brand and public relations goals ensures growth of their brand, improving it’s reputation, and interacting with target markets.

Facebook Links

“The best placement for social media icons is ‘above the fold’ — meaning you don’t have to scroll down to see them — on every page.” -Melissa Ruggles

1. Design a Facebook link into your website.
2. Include the ‘Like Box’ – gain likes from your own business website using this social plugin.

1. The Like button- a social widget that Fan Page owners can add to their website to allow visitors to become a fan and view accompanying Facebook page.
2. Activity Feed – allows you to show users what their friends are doing on your site through Likes and Comments.  It lists the most recent activity people have done on your website.

Check out this website for more ideas to seamlessly incorporate your business Facebook with the remaining business assets seamlessly.

When creating a Business Facebook Page:

When setting up a business Facebook one should keep a few questions in mind.

• What commonalities do your ideal customers have?
• How old are they, and where do they live?
• How can your business help them?
• Would one group be more interested in specific messages, products or services?  A sale or a timely offer?

When building the Audience of a Business Page here are things to do:

1. Invite your friends AND ask those friends to invite others!
2. Share your page, and like it yourself!
3. Send an email to your businesses contacts letting them know of your new Facebook page.

Putting a Face on your Business is Important, so be wise.

• Be Authentic – share things that you are excited about.
• Be responsive – when people comment on your posts, show your are listening and respond or like.
• Be consistent – set a schedule for posts.  If you notice that a post is getting a lot of engagement, promote it to reach even more people.

Good Social Media Goals:

• Grow a positive online following
• Engage with the online community through feedback and customer inquiries
• Keep active information flow between the business and it’s market
• Increase brand recognition in the online space

Technical Features and Design

A typical Facebook profile consists of a number of different sections, including status updates, friends, photos, groups, newsfeed, and The Wall.  Facebook also has an ‘events’ feature, which allows businesses and individuals to organize, and plan events. The events feature also allows users to send invitations and keep track of people who will attend.

Fan Pages are public and not behind a login, so search engines can index the fan page of a business.  This means people may stumble upon your business Facebook page and visit your website. Users are also able to ‘like’ fan pages, which is then posted to the users’ Facebook page and is exposed to all of their friends.

“Facebook is much more visual than Twitter, which can easily translate into users filtering through and consuming content faster and with more ease.  Secondly, Facebook’s content tends to maintain longer life cycles, which leads to higher chances of social sharing. ” -Eric Chang CA Creative Digital Director

A new and exciting recent Facebook development is Graph Search.  Currently there is a waiting list to try Graph.  It is set up as a search engine within your personal or business network.  Lets say your business is an Italian Restaurant and a Facebook user named Rod liked your business, not only will Rod’s friend see he has liked your business but in the future if Rod’s friend does a search for Italian Restaurants through Facebook, your business has a chance to pop up based on Rod’s like and commonality to his friend doing the search. Facebook’s Graph Search

Time Line of Facebook History: <<< A Decade of Facebook >>>

Moto: “To make the world more open and connected.” -Zuckerberg

• 2004  
  • June- 500,000 invested by Peter Thiel
  • December – 1,000,000 ‘friends’ after just ten months.
• 2005
  • August – bought facebook.com for $200,000
  • October- adds unlimited photo uploads with the ability to tag friends in photos.
• 2006
  • September – adds News Feed and Mini-Feed features.  Showcasing a chronological listing of friends’ updates. ALSO allow any user over 13 with an email address to join the network.  “Welcome to Facebook, everyone.”
  • October – Link sharing launched. Feature that allows users to share interesting things they find around the web to their Facebook friends.  Facebook releases an embeddable share button for web developers.***
• 2007
  • June – Facebook users able to upload videos and tag friends within the videos.
  • November – Facebook Pages launches, allowing users to become ‘fans’ of customized brand profiles.***
• 2008
  • April – Facebook Chat, a real-time chat feature is launched.
  • May – Facebook introduces “People You May Know.” This encourages users to expand their friend totals and make connections
  • July – Facebook App for iPhone released; The Wall, a personalized, constantly updating stream of information about each user is released later in the month.
  • December – Facebook ‘Connect’ is launched.  Members can use their Facebook profiles to log into other web properties.
• 2009
  • February – “Like” button launched***
  • July – “Events” is created so users can now plan and invite friends to their personal and business events using the Facebook interface to send invitations and receive RSVPs’.
  • September – Tagging friends in status updates available.
• 2010
  • December – face recognition software used to make photo tagging easier.
• 2011
  • July – Video calling available through Chat
  • September – Massive “Timeline” updates to news feed.
• 2012
  • May – Makes its $38 IPO.
  • September – 1 billion users
• 2013
  • April – Facebook Home, a new way to use Facebook on your Android Smartphones.  Replacing it’s native home screen.
  • June – supports #hashtags
  • August – Graph Search is released to everyone using Facebook***
  • October – Decrease in the number of young teens users

Facebook  is ever changing to entice users and new businesses.  This technology is essential for every business to know about and use as it allows for more word of mouth, more web presence while growing brand, and is a wonderful inexpensive marketing tool. Take advantage of this!

 

 

Operation: Change, Code Name: Agent

I completed a degree in 2004 with a major in ‘Digital Media.’ Here I am in 2014 completing another degree named ‘Digital Media’ but has nothing to do with any of the media in my first degree.  Two degrees, same name, different meaning…change.

Being the Change Agent 

I will be a change agent by constantly keeping up with the newest technologies.  There are so many opportunities available through the internet with a small investment to stay in tune with new digital media and programs.  A few tutorial sites to stay educated are Lynda.com, about.com, W3Schools, Yoobee online,  and many more.

      

My interest lies within the non-profit sector, specifically hunger. The degree I graduated with ten years ago taught me how to speak publicly, communicate with others, interact and work with news media outlets, and create positive publicity.  The digital media degree I am taking currently is teaching me how to code websites, design branding, design advertisements, and make businesses more online aware using social media and blogging platforms.  I hope to take this combination of skills to work as a communications officer, keeping the public aware and in good opinion of the company I work for and their mission.

Career Technologies

Here is a position overview for a Communications Officer with Health Care Without Harm.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the effort in creating and implementing a strategic communications plan.
  • Plan and direct marketing, public relations, and promotional campaigns and strategies.
  • Develop media relations policy and media kit.
  • Direct the production of printed publications.
  • Write materials for, and direct the layout of, informational materials such as newsletters, pamphlets, white papers, and posters.
  • Lead messaging and branding effort for all outward-facing initiatives.
  • Participate in the development of marketing and fundraising campaigns in coordination with the development team.
    • Initiate, develop, and maintain local, national, and international media and public contacts for disseminating information.
    • Research and write news releases.
    • Arrange interviews for and regularly brief organizational officials on emerging issues and opportunities.
    • Act as an organizational spokesperson, representing HCWH in media interviews, organizational meetings, and at local, state, and national functions.
    • Coordinate ceremonies, press conferences, and other events.
    • Oversee organizational use of contracted marketing and public relations vendors.
    • Develop and manage communications budget.
    • Develop and direct all aspects of HCWH’s social media outreach.
    • Collaborate with other HCWH and PGH staff, partners and international offices to achieve goals.
    • Performs other related duties as assigned or requested.

As you can see from above the technologies I will encounter most in my field will be social media, advertising design and campaigning, website coding and design, plus office type platforms for organization purposes.

Continually a Change Agent

To be a change agent one has to act professional.  So asking somebody if they are going to be a change agent is like asking them if they are a professional. To be both of these one has to continually build expertise, self-regulate and organize their time spent, and stay hungry for change never becoming complacent. Always educate yourself and continue to hunger for more…be a change agent.

Blog, Your Business’s Business.

Used to be word of mouth was the only free marketing for your business.  Not anymore, blogging is key for any business in todays’ market.

Experts Say “Blogging Your Business Is Beneficial”

• Promotes your business and product
• Expands business Web presence
• Gain new clients or customers
• Builds your brand
• Establishes you as an expert
• Builds confidence, relationships, and clientele
• Sharpens Business focus

” Create a two-way conversation for your business and give your company a voice, Blog!”  

–Dachary Watts

             

WordPress, facebook, and blogger all have their own blogs.  Blogging platforms with blogs, as they are a business too of course!  Creating, building, and maintaing an online presence is of utmost importance in today’s society for promotion, web presence, and brand building.  Take a look at the stats below if you don’t believe me.

Stats on Blogging :

Better Business Blogging Tips : 

1. Run a “First Time Reader Audit on your blog.
2. Establish yourself as an industry expert using your blog.
3. Use Real-life stories, written by readers to keep content engaging.
4. Solve the readers’ problems, find out their concerns and address them in the blog.
5. Keep up with the commitment, blog regularly!

A ‘first time reader audit’ should be conducted with a friend or family member who has never read your blog before.  Load your blog and ask your friend to naturally browse the blog.  Observe where they pause, skip over, navigate, and click.  Afterwards, ask questions about their experience.

Calling all Designers…Content for Designers’ blogs.

Usability, Interactive Design, Interior Design, Images, Photography,  Inspirational Design, Good Design Practices, Trends, Tutorials, the possibilities are endless.

Being a photographer, of course, any blog image heavy captures and keeps my attention.  I know plenty of other people like this too, it is human nature to enjoy ‘eye-candy.’  As a designer my best advice is to keep your blog image heavy paired with pertinent text.

The blogging platform for YOU.

Choosing which blogging platform can be daunting, seeing how there are so many choices with only few considered the ‘industry standard.’  The best blogging tool for you?  In my opinion , WordPress.

I came to this conclusion after comparing WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr.

WordPress

WordPress offers a free blogging platform.  There are hundreds of templates to choose from with a healthy variety of free templates.  One can easily insert quotes, images, and text into each blog post in an aesthetically pleasing fashion.  Another advantage of WordPress is that you can upgrade to a wordpress.org self hosted account if you decide this is something more serious than a weekly blog and requires more control over lay out with code access. WordPress.org is does cost but is worth it given the right situation, check out this website to compare wordpress.com to wordpress.org sites.

Blogger

As you can see above posting on blogger is easy, it mirrors google drive and writing an email.  Blogger is great for beginners who do not care for much customization and are just looking for a simple set up.  Once you decide to customize your Blogger blog you realize tweaking the HTML is necessary, which many bloggers are not prepared to do.

Tumblr

This reminds me more of a social network.  Tumblr offers many themes, however, not as many free templates as other blogging platforms.  Tumblr does not offer as much specific blogging customization options when compared with WordPress and Blogger.  Tumbler is more about a feeling of ‘culture and community,’ where one can even repost other people’s content using their “reblog” function.

If you are looking for ultimate control, more options with no html editing, with the possibility of growth while your blog expands,  Wordpress.com is the blogging tool for you.  Check out their website, sign up, and test it out.  I have a feeling it will also pass your test.