Content Management Systems: CMS

The web has a vast range of scripts and tools to help users who have little or no knowledge of web standards and technologies update there websites and blogs. These type of tools are call content management systems as the user can easily change or update their website through a simple and easily displayed system.

I am going to highlight the three main CMS systems that are used to update different websites and blogs these being: Wordpress Tumblr, & Blogger.

Wordpress
Wordpress is a state-of-the-art publishing platform with a focus on clean design, web standards, and usability. WordPress is a free piece of software that can easily be installed onto any server/hosting package in a few simple steps. Its very useful for people who run blogs as its very easy to update with various blog posts containing all sorts of web media including video, imagery and music.

Above you can see a screengrab of a Wordpress dashboard, this is where the admin can update, change settings, view statistics, and make posts allfrom one page. You can see on the left hand side the vertical navigation that highlights the main tools that can be used with the blog.

Above is a screengrab that i took of a generic wodpress blog, you can see at the top we have a navigation that displays links to the various pages the blog has to offer. Down the center of the blog all of the latest posts are displayed including an option for the blog readers to leave their comments and oppinions on the post. One of the great things about wordpress blogs are they are completely customizeable, you are able to add and change the design to suit any style that you can think of.

Overall Wordpress is definitely a blogging system that has very high standards as it is so easy to use and its also free which makes it a great rival to any competitorin the CMS/Blogging online market.


Tumblr
Tumblr is a blogging platform that allows users to post text, images, videos, links, quotes and audio to their tumblelog, a short-form blog. Users can follow other users, or choose to make their blog private.

I used tumblr throughout my FMP as i found it the fastest and easiest to update as it also available in the iphone app store so i was able to make easy and quick updates from my phone.

Above you can see a screengrab of the dashboard of a tumblr blogging CMS, There is a navigation clearly displayed at the top with little image icons that display which type of post you can make including: text, quotes, photos, videos, links & music onto your blog. You can also customize and change the blog settings like pages with links and tags.

Overall i really love the layout and easy updateable features that tumblr has to offer, I am definitely going to continue to use Tumblr even after my FMP has finished as its something like an online visual scrapbook for myself that one day i would love to look back on.

Above is a sreengrab of my tumblr blog design that i customized, you can see that my blog posts are displayed down the center of the page with a brief description about my blog on the right hand side along with a photo of me. I decided to stick to a very simple design style with a logo header and a grainy background to make the content stand out clearly. There are buttons and search bars to allow users to follow me or search my blog for specific content.

Blogger
Blogger is Google's free content management system used for blogging, it is very simmilar to both wordpress and tumblr however i believe it lacks in an upto date style and it looks as if it has been forgotten about. You can use blogger for everything from updating your friends and family about your life, giving your own advice column, discussing your political views, or relating your experience in a topic of interest.




Setting up a Blogger account takes three easy steps. Create an account, name your blog, and choose a template. You can host multiple blogs with the same account name, so you only need to do that part once.



Bellow you can see a screengrab of the blogger dashboard where you can easily navigate to various parts of your blog and easily update or post something. You can see links to change settings, edit the design of your blog and also update and post something new to your blog.

Bellow you can see a screengrab of the posting page, you are able to add a title, tags, images, embed videos nd include content text in a bog post. Once updated the post will appear on the main home page of your blog along with other posts you have made in the past.


Concluding blogger i have been happily using it throughout my progression at college however i would of much rather been able to use something with a cleaner interface like tumblr or wordpress. One thing i think blogger lacks is the ease of customization as it envolves alot of heavy xhtml and css changes.