A Content management system ( CMS ) is a system used to manage the content of a Web site. CMS are deployed primarily for interactive use by a potentially large number of contributors. The content managed includes images, audio / video, flash animation, graphs, spreadsheets, presentations, computer files, electronics documents and web content. Companies use a CMS to share files with ease, as most systems use server-based software, even further broadening file availability.

Imagine your website is like the house you live in. A web design agency has built this house for you, a web host has ensured that the house is large enough for your needs, and graphic designers have made the place look good. But what if you want to chuck out some of your old furniture, move things around or update your ageing entertainment system? Doing this on a website is not as easy as it is in reality, which is why you need a CMS to enable you to do a little spring cleaning and ensure everything is up-to-date and working to the required standard

Characteristics:

• Content management systems allow complete instant control over your online information.
• They work within your website giving access to all updateable areas.
• Site features may be altered from within any Internet browser, meaning updates may be completed from any PC with an Internet connection anywhere, with no extra costs for software.
• Content management is effectively complete control over images and graphics within your website, but there are many other features available such as the ability to implement flash animations and rich media content.
• Simple to use point and click editor.

Features

WYSIWYG Document Editing
Create and edit your documents just like you were writing a document in a word-processor. Add tables, images and formatted text without any knowledge of HTML. The editor also performs hyper linking, inserting images, document lists, embedded pages, language blocks, breadcrumb trails, file uploading, multimedia and more.

Modern & Intuitive Interface
Content Management System has been designed from the start to be user-friendly and easy to navigate.

Website administrator level access control
Only logged user (administrator) can manage content of the given website.
Each administrator exposes separate actions and rights to manage separate sections of the given website.

User Permissions
In regards to the administration end of the site CMS can have several user accounts for those assigned to editing the site. The overall site administrator can define user permissions for different areas of the site, and nominate different levels of permission for different people who will be editing the site. This helps maintain site security.

Separate Content, Structure and Design Management
Website content (information), system structure (programming code), Design (website layout) managed separately.

Search Engines Friendly
Website administrator can optimize website for the search engines.

Website Statistics
Website statistics module lets you watch users clicks, domains, user IP. That information is grouped by date.

Recommend Page Feature
Using this feature gives your site browsers the ability to efficiently email the page to other people.

Advantages
Using this feature gives your site browsers the ability to efficiently email the page to other people.

• Create, manage and publish your own content using a browser-based interface, ensuring content is always timely, accurate and relevant.
• Keep design consistent to ensure constant look and feel, Clue Design can create templates that provide centralized control over website layout, branding and content presentation.
• A content management system will be driven by a database such as MYSQL and it will produce the website in a dynamic, flexible way.
• Elements of the site may be generated dynamically, where one content item such as an article about a product may be dependant on the product actually existing within the system and if the product is removed, so is the connected article. This effectively removes dead-ends within the system.
• A good CMS can have other dynamic abilities such as allowing authors to generate dynamic polls and surveys and easily capture and publish the results.
• CMS can also be configured so that the user can personalize their experience of using your particular site, also you may want to have a website where the vast majority of the content is accessible to everyone, but you may want users to register to get some of the other services. This might be access to discussion groups / forums, classified adverts or the ability to add information to the system themselves.

Stages of web content management system :
Content Authoring

• Multi-user authoring.
• Customizable CMS workflows with standard roles and approval hierarchies.

Content Storage and management :

• Multiples files upload into web folders.
• Jpeg or Png upload with resizing facility.

Content Publishing and Presentation:

• WYSIWYG editor
• Flexible content publishing system

Security and IP protection:

• Secure login/HTTP support.

Banner Advertising Campaign Management:

• Effective management on online marketing campaigns and banner ads.

Administration Features:
A CMS can be administrated in several different formats, the most conventional is to use a ‘template' format this allows users to modify each page within restricted areas, so if a page was made up of a paragraph on the left and a photograph on the right, within the administration they would have a text entry box in the area where the text was and a control for changing or adding the image to the right. This works well if the page design layout doesn't need to be changed but can be quite restrictive if the administrator requires more control such as the ability to add an addition image or object to the page. You can add or delete pages when you like and you can add or remove text without having to contact your Web Designer all the time.

CMS administration features including user & group creation, management, privileges and categorization.

• Easy To Use Navigation.
• Browser-Based Administration.
• Secure Password Restricted Access.
• Administrator Login - Username & Password.
• Forgot Password Component.
• Add | Edit | Delete.
• News & Reviews Administration.

Administration Interface:
1. Administration Interface

• Adding admin users.
• Editing users right.
• Lost password.
• Adding, Editing, Deleting users.

2. Settings

• System settings From here a the administrator can change the various parameter of the system.

3. File management : Images, PDF and others.

• Uploading
• Deleting

Page Content Management:

• Adding, Editing, Deleting the text and content of the different pages of the website.