Manage your site with a content management system

Web publishers who envision a site with more than 100 pages, or a site that updates frequently, should consider a content management system (CMS). Much like HTML layout editors these tools hide the intricacies of coding behind the scenes. Instead of dropping text and images into raw HTML pages, you enter this information through a piece of software. This software then publishes your content across your site.

Large commercial Web sites often use a CMS to streamline content production, but the programs they employ are high-end products that can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. The offerings from companies like Vignette and Interwoven are powerful and thorough, but they're impractical for independent Web publishers.

Instead, independent publishers should turn to cost-effective, low-end systems. These programs aren't as robust as their high-end counterparts, but for far less money (and in some cases, for no money) low-end CMS packages can make publishing and site management a lot easier.

What follows is an overview of CMS programs that are popular with independent publishers. Some of these systems are geared toward broad sites with many pages while others are more suitable for Weblog-type sites that update frequently.

CMS overview

Program	Price	Notes
Blogger	Free; $50 for Pro version	Blogger is a free, multi-platform program that lets you update a Weblog through a browser. With a small amount of set-up, you'll be able to type in your content and publish it on your site without touching an HTML page. Your Weblog files can be stored on your hosting provider's server or on a Blogger server. A more robust Pro version is available for $50 per year. (Disclosure: The Weblog on this site runs on Blogger.)
Movable Type	Free; $150 for commercial version	Movable Type is a server-based publishing program that supports both Weblogs and online magazines. For non-profit users, Movable Type is available through a donate-ware model that asks you to make a donation based on how valuable you feel the program is. If you run a commercial, for-profit site, a Movable Type license costs $150.
Radio Userland	$39.95	This inexpensive desktop Weblogging package works on both Macintosh and Windows platforms and includes a year of hosting. The program has a subscription component that aggregates news feeds, many from major publishers, and makes them available on your own site. This can be helpful if you're running a news-based site and want to access your primary sources from one location.
Got a recommendation? Send it to: editor@theindependentpublisher.com.