Basically, the Open Source Software – Content Management System is a sophisticated idea that allows for the simplest possible means of managing information. It’s a way for non-technical people to manage large amounts of data. Joomla is great example of an open source content management system. Using Joomla, you can create an online directory for your local community and use it to sell advertising for area vendors. And that’s only one example.
One thing that you should be aware of is that, like WordPress, downloading and installing Joomla is completely free. A number of web hosts make this option available at the click of a button. Other content management systems include Drupal, PHPNuke, Mambo and TYPO3. These all provide power and flexibility for managing your content.
There are dozens, even hundreds of open source applications for creating social network sites. In fact, we’re seeing a trend on the Internet that gravitates away from the uber networks like Facebook and toward the more intimate neighborhoods. This creates an opportunity for you as an online marketer to provide a place for your niche market to go and hang out. Available tools include Spree, iSocial, Mahara, Yogurt, the People Aggregator, GetBoo, and a whole host of other funny names.
Rounding out our open source tour are discussion forums, like other open source software, an Internet search will not only reveal a wide array of choices, but also a huge number of lists of choices. The forum software that I like is called Snitz Forum. It’s quick and easy and easy to install, and it really is a great feeling to provide a place for people to connect.
There are several other types of content management features you can add to your e-commerce site – too many to list here by name. You can offer your visitors a classified advertising feature, a photo gallery, a user-managed knowledge base or a wiki. The list goes on and on, and it’s limited only by your imagination. In fact, if you were to build a quality e-commerce website using each one of the systems that we’ve covered here, you’d probably be busy for the next year. Of course, you can always outsource, but even then, you’ll want to stay focused on one or two e-commerce websites at a time. Get those plates spinning before moving on to the next one.
I hope you get the idea about the content management system.