Reserve, Register Domain Names - Web Hosting Registration

Selecting a Web Content Management Product

So you want to take a look at a real Web Content Management (WCM) product. How do you go about evaluating all the different products and vendors? What should you be looking for in a WCM package? Is it better to build your own, buy or use Open Source?

The best way to answer this question is to compare the products on an apples to apples basis. You can do this objectively by building a product evaluation matrix based upon your specific needs. The first column can list out the functionality categories (e.g. Security). The second column can be the specific needs (e.g. integrates with Active Directory for roles and authorization) under each of the categories. The next columns would be your products, one per column for each product you want to consider. For each product then you would give a rating (1 to 10 scale) on each specific need.

You can then add a column for weighting each specific need, or do this at the topic level. For example, flexible workflow may be much more important to you than your ability to customize the presentation. You can then add some more columns to calculate the weighting against the rating to arrive at a realistic assessment number for each product on each of your organization's specific needs. Sum these all up per product to arrive at a total product assessment score.

Of course, you can't forget to check customer references, or if it's an open source product, go dig around some sites which are using the tool already.

Below is a list of some topics/specific needs which may apply for you. At a minimum, these should provoke some thought on your part as far as what you are looking for in a WCM product and give you a good start on your product evaluation matrix.

Workflow

• Support for multiple workflow models?
• Complex workflows (parallel and serial)?
• Role/Group integration with flows?
• Ability to create workflow templates for re-use with different content types?

Security

• Will the product integrate with your security architecture?
• Do you require security for content submission?
• Do you require security for content consumption?
• Is there support for roles and groups?
How is this implemented and managed in the product?

Content submission

• What are the creation/submission vehicles e.g., via an Office application, HTML/File upload, WYSIWYG, etc.
• Are there templates to force content managers to adhere to a common content structure (e.g. all posts must have a title, sub-title, body, and who to contact fields)

Presentation customization

• Extensive presentation customization capabilities?
• Extensive support for CSS integration?
• Ability to create presentation templates which can then be re-used for different content types?
• End-user creation of presentation templates or does it require a developer?

Integration with search

• Does the product provide its own search engine?
• Or, will it effectively integrate with your current (or planned search engine)?
• Security integration with search (i.e. a user can only see search results for what he/she has access to view)

Common document management functionality

• Versioning
• Expiration
• Metadata
• Check-in/Check-out
• Collaborative authoring
• Content history tracking

Architecture

• If your organization uses Web Services or has an established Service Oriented Architecture, you may demand the product can expose content through Web Services so other applications can present content.
• Portal integration (e.g., JSR168 support, WSRP support, etc.)
• Open and documented API available?

Cost

• Acquisition
• Maintenance
• Technical staffing to support (check with customer references)

Administration interface

• Robust yet easy to use?
• Complete control of all content in the lifecycle?
• Role/group management

About the author
Bryan Mjaanes is the creator/editor of Intranet101.com a community-based forum for Intranet Portal professionals.

MORE ARTICLES:

DiscountASP.NET Expands Global Reach for ASP.NET Web Hosting Services with European Data Center
DiscountASP.NET, a leading innovator in ASP.NET hosting, announces expanding their global reach into Europe with a new data center location in London, UK.

DiscountASP.NET Named Best Hosting Service by asp.netPRO Readers for Third Consecutive Year
For the third consecutive year, ASP.NET hosting and SQL hosting leader, DiscountASP.NET announces receiving the "Best Hosting Service" title in asp.netPRO Magazine's 2007 Readers' Choice Award.

The Steps Of Web Hosting Domain Registration
For the many millions of people who have decided to keep pace with the growing popularity of the Internet by launching their own website, they are faced with a variety of decisions necessary to make the most of their online presence. After deciding the nature and content of your website you must then tackle the decisions associated with web hosting domain registration.

Cheap Internet Hosting, Business Web Hosting - Choosing The Right Web Host Package
With literally hundreds of web hosting providers competing for your business, it may be confusing to find the one that's right for your web site. A few key considerations can help you narrow down your choices to the most affordable and best options to meet your personal, professional or business web page needs.

Cheap Domain Names, Hosting & Registration is Easy to Find Now Days
So you have a dream for a web site, an exciting idea or something you want to accomplish on the web Well in order to get started on the exciting Internet you must first find a domain name and hosting provider

Domain Names and Web Hosting
Experienced webmasters know the value of a good and "sticky" domain name. Ever since Google started ranking higher and giving more weight to web sites which use relevant keywords in the domain name. A clear example can be seen after running a quick search using the term "SEO".

The dos and don'ts of web hosting and domain names
When you make the decision to start a website for your business, it is a big step. Going from the world of offline business where clients are limited to geographical locations to online where the entire world is a potential client can be overwhelming.

Domain name registration is the first step to build a website
In the era of internet, while even the smallest of the business entities thrives for an online presence, it is necessary to understand the starting steps of the process. The online presence of your business is marked by the website that you have and the domain name is the name and address of that website.

Website Domain Name Registration Services from Access IT Solutions
Before you start building a website, choosing the right domain name is an important thing to do. Website domain name registration is necessary to have a website. The names are important because they enable clients or potential customers to know about your business or organization.

DiscountASP.NET Named Best Hosting Service by asp.netPRO Readers for Fourth Consecutive Year
ASP.NET hosting and SQL hosting leader, DiscountASP.NET announces receiving the "Best Hosting Service" award in asp.netPRO Magazine's 2008 Readers' Choice poll, making it the fourth consecutive year to win this prestigious title.

Nexx Cuts Price on .com Domain Names Web Host Offers Exceptional Value on Domain Names
Nexx Online Inc., an innovative North American web host and ICANN Accredited domain name registrar, today cut the price of their .com, .net, .org, .info and .biz domain names to only $7.95 per year.

Domain Name and Web Hosting Hell
Does GoDaddy really suck?I am in the process of registering more and more domain names so it seems natural to look for the best pricing deal.Registering multiple domain names can add up quickly, especially if you register both the NoDashVersion.

Start Your Home Base Business With A Domain Name And Web Hosting
So you want to start an internet business where you can work at home and make tons of money The first part is easy to do

Web Hosting And Domain Registration Basics
Web Hosting

Free Domain Name & Cheap Web Hosting Review
Free realm names and cheap mesh hosting plans are all since the web! In fact, slick are thousands and thousands of lattice hosting providers, universe wide, that advance unrecompensed crown names & cheap web hosting.