Hosted Web Content Management

When You Can't Afford to Buy a CMS, Look for a SaaS Solution

© Barb Mosher

Mar 12, 2008

Depending on your requirements, the cost of purchasing and implementing a CMS can be expensive. Instead look for a hosted solution that meets your needs and budget.

Many times organizations want content management capabilities for their website but they don't want - or can't afford - to host their website internally, let alone purchase and implement a content management system. There are many hosting providers for internets for a company, but they don't provide comprehensive content management and related capabilities. There are, however, a number of Software as a Service Web Content Management vendors who can provide a solution that will meet your needs.

So say you've decided to that you want to host your website with a SaaS web content management vendor. What do you look for in a hosting partner and who's out there providing these services?

What to Look for in SaaS Web CMS

There are a number of things you need to consider when selecting a SaaS solution. Some of these include:

  1. All the basic of a traditional CMS: Any SaaS solution should provide the same functionality of an in-house solution. Tasks, editorial capabilities, creating content, workflow, versioning, multi-lingual support (if you need it), categorization and more.
  2. Page Templates: The ability to use out-of-the-box templates for web pages as well as the capability to create and add custom templates for special pages you want on your site. Look for a developer SDK if you want to manage this type of capability in-house.
  3. Security: Understand how the security works for your employees to get access to the Admin portion of the website. Do they audit all content changes on the site? Also do they provide the ability to have secure sections of your website for special content that you want people to register for?
  4. Shopping Cart Functionality: Do you need a shopping cart? Are you thinking about selling products or services online? What capabilities do they offer in this area? Or do they partner with another vendor to provide these services? Can you integrate the shopping cart functionality with your warehouse, inventory, bank accounts?
  5. Architecture: What is their technical architecture? Where are their servers hosted? Are they distributed across multiple data centers? Do they have a disaster recovery plan? What are their backup and restore processes?
  6. Support Model: Who do you call when you need help? What types of support contact formats do they offer (website, email, phone, chat)? What are their support hours - are they 24/7? Do you have to pay different rates for higher levels of support?
  7. Other Functionality Offered: Do they provide Search? Integrated Analytics, Advertising? Blogs, Newsletters, social networks? You will likely have to pay extra for these things, but a vendor that offers a range of features that can be added on to your service is a great benefit.
  8. Price: How does their pricing model work? Is it per user subscription based, Levels of service (basic, medium, premium) - what do you get with each level? So much space, so many administrators, so many newsletters or social network subscribers? Make sure you are clear on what you get for the price, how much extra if you go over your space limits, and if you have to pay for extra support.

SaaS Web Content Management Vendors

There are more vendors creeping up all the time - software as a service is becoming more prevalent these days. Here are just a few of the more well known providers:

Deciding to go with a SaaS web content management solution has it's advantages. You don't have to worry about installing and learning a new product, you don't have to have the infrastructure in house to support an external website, you don't have to worry about upgrades, training, and support.

And if you choose a vendor and don't like how it's working out - you just leave. Sure that's a pain and a loss of money to some degree - but much less than if you paid for a product and installed it in-house only to find it doesn't suit your needs.

So if you want a website, but don't want all the hassles, consider going with a SaaS solution, you'll be up and running quickly selling your products and services.


The copyright of the article Hosted Web Content Management in Website Content Management is owned by Barb Mosher. Permission to republish Hosted Web Content Management must be granted by the author in writing.




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