If you are looking for methods that will allow you simplify the procedures that you go through to manage your website, then a CMS (content management system) is the ideal solution for your requirements.
A CMS is a software package that is designed to run in a web hosting environment and will provide you with the features required to run a dynamic website that can be easily managed and modified using a web interface.
Content management systems are developed in different scripting languages depending on the CMS itself, thus meaning that there are a number of different CMS systems available for Windows and Linux hosting.
All content management systems are database driven because they require a central location in which all of the data and information required to power your website can be stored; the database system used will depend on the platform that you are going to be using, but more often than not it will either be a Microsoft SQL Server database or a MySQL Server database.
The requirements of a web hosting plan to host a CMS service will depend on your exact requirements, bit it is important to consider that most content manage systems will use up a considerable amount of disk space once you take into account the size of the database accompanied by the size of the files that will be serving the system on the web front.
Choosing a Content Management System
There are a number of different features that you will need to take into consideration when choosing a content management system as all CMS systems provide the same basic functionality, but are often adapted to serve more specific purposes. Some of the main features for you to consider include:
- Scripting language and database platform – it is important to consider the scripting language and database backend that has been used to develop a CMS because this will more often than not dictate the platform on which a CMS can run – for example, a CMS system that has been developed using ASP.NET and to run using a Microsoft SQL Server database backend will only be able to run on a Windows web hosting plan, whereas a CMS developed using PHP and MySQL will be able to run on most Windows and Linux web hosting plans – furthermore, if you wish to expand the functionality of your chosen CMS application then it will be important for you to be fluent in the scripting language that has been used to develop the application to ensure the best results
- Expandability – most CMS systems are easily expandable through the use of third-party plugins and you will also be able to develop your own plugins using the API interface that is provided by your chosen CMS application – expandability is an important consideration because at some point in the future you may wish to add additional functionality to your website, such as a new feature and the use of third-party plugins will allow you to make the most of what your chosen CMS platform has to offer with minimal effort as the installation process is pretty seamless
- Styling – as well as being able to customize your installation with the use of plugins, you are probably going to want to customize the layout and design to suit your website’s existing theme or so that it is more in-keeping with your business’s branding – although there are many third-party themes and styles available for the most popular content management systems, an API similar to the one used for plugins is offered by most applications which will also allow you to develop your own designs – it is usually possible to customize an application’s design and layout to the extent where end-users won’t be able to identify the application that you are using.
What features should I consider in a web hosting plan?
When choosing a web hosting plan that you are going to be using for the hosting of a CMS system, it is important for you to consider several different features in a web hosting plan so that you can expect the best results from the CMS system in question. These features include, but are not limited to:
- Database systems supported – it is important to identify the database systems that are supported with your chosen web hosting service so that you can be sure that your chosen CMS system will be able to function correctly with your chosen web hosting plan – many CMS systems that are designed to run in a Windows hosting environment can support both Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Access database backends meaning that you will also have the added choice here of what database system to use – furthermore, you should consider that MySQL databases can be used with most Windows and Linux web hosting services
- Disk space – when developing a CMS website it is important to take into account the amount of disk space that the CMS system itself will use up as well as the files that you are going to be using as part of your content, including any images and videos – the amount of disk space that you have available to use will dictate how much content you are able to add to your website and obviously the more content you have, the bigger the amount of disk space you are going to require, it is for this reason that VPS hosting and dedicated hosting often have large storage assignments to meet the needs of business customers.
In conclusion, a CMS hosting service is one that should be able to provide you with the required disk space to enable you to use a CMS package to its full potential. There are many different CMS packages available to meet the needs of different individuals and businesses, with all applications having been developed in different ways to meet these needs.
For the most part you can expect a CMS application to be easy to use with a web-based management interface, but also easy to expand with the use of third-party plugins so that you are able to add functionality as you need it.