Content management

25 June, 2007

The content management system provides a quick and easy way for anybody to add articles, events, listings, adverts and any other content to the website. No technical knowledge is required although advanced users will welcome the freedom to directly enter HTML, XML and upload images and associated files.

In keeping with the Digital Method ethos, there is no attempt to proscribe ways of working - the system is kept simple putting the user in charge and providing powerful tools for searching and managing data.

A standard Digital Method content management system provides the following functionality:

News

The major part of a Digital Method WPS is the news management system. Editorial staff can easily add stories and categorise them to auto generate sections according to those categories. The system allows for searching, keyword indexing, archiving, and links to the email system for either automatic newsletters or semi-manual mailings where the publisher selects stories to be sent out.

Features

The news system easily allows publishers to create content of any type - longer articles can be called features or reviews. This allows publishers to create online versions of existing printed magazines. A common reason for doing so is to create an online archive for paid subscribers. With this in mind, the system allows users to state which issue an article came from and automatically generate content indices.

Other content

The system can be used to publish any content that fits within the "article" model. It has been used recently to publish a section of awards, letters to the editor, and a caption competition.

Events

With events management now becoming one of the main activities of business publishers, an online calendar of events and booking facilities are essential for any trade journal. It could also be used by membership societies. By linking to the main articles content, an events diary section can be produced, listing past events together with copy and photos.