Class: Understanding Content Management Systems
Instructor: June Tavel
When: August 15, 2007 11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Class Overview
Have you been considering a Content Management System? Is your organization looking for a way to streamline your content? If you’re looking for ways to improve Web productivity and site management, then Understanding Content Management Systems is for you.
Selecting a CMS solution can be a daunting task, but before you start, you should make sure you arm yourself with a clear understanding of your organization, the content you intend to serve, and any resources or materials you need to distribute. In considering these items, you need a clear understanding of your site visitors, who they are, what they are thinking, and what they are looking for.
Antharia will present ways in which your organization can audit and prepare your content for a CMS, and we will look at some of the free and paid CMS solutions on the market as well as what you should put together when preparing an RFP to distribute to potential vendors.
Prerequisites
This class has no prerequisites.
Materials
Each student will be given course handouts. Students will also have 90 days of access to their instructor (via email) for questions and answers.
Outline
* What is a Content Management System?
* What a Content Management System is NOT.
* How to audit your content and streamline it for the Web
* Understanding your users and developing user-centric content
* Content Workflow
* A review of CMS solutions on the market
* Writing an RFP for your needs
Objectives
* Understanding of the power behind a Content Management System
* A top 10 list of things to look for in a CMS vendor
* A vendor-independent listing of CMS vendors serving the nonprofit community, as well as links to online resources
* A check list of what their organization may need when looking for a CMS vendor

