Netroots nation content management systems- what’s possible & best for your org-

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

What’s Possible & What's Best for You and Your Organization?

Content Management Systems

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Agenda

• Introduction

• Temperature Check

• What is a CMS?

• Do you need a CMS?

• What is possible with a CMS?

• What to consider when choosing a CMS

• Recommendations

• Q & A

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Introduction

Austen Levihn-CoonStrategist

Fission Strategy@AustenLC

austen@fissionstrategy.com

Austen provides innovative online consulting services to nonprofits and foundations.  He has worked with dozens of organizations to implement the latest online technologies and build websites to create meaningful change. Clients have included: MomsRising.org, Greenpeace, ONE, Reform Immigration for America, J Street, NARAL Pro-Choice America, and many more.

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Background

• Fission Strategyo Online Campaign Strategyo Website Design & Development for Non-profits and

Foundationso Social Media Integrationso Facebook and Twitter Appso Online-to-Offline Campaigns

• Exampleso Jstreet.orgo DefineAmerican.com

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Temperature Check

• Why are you here?

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

What is a Content Management System (CMS)?

• A content management system (CMS) is a computer system that allows publishing, editing, and modifying content as well as site maintenance from a central page.

• Content is created and edited on the web in an administration portion of the web application (referred to as the Backend). The resulting content is then displayed to the viewers on the regular site (referred to as the Frontend).

- From wikipedia.com and http://www.webdesignerdepot.com

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Do You Need a CMS?

• Do you plan to regularly update your site?

• Do you plan to have a blog on your site?

• Will you update your site remotely?

• Who will update your site?

o Web Developers?

o Non-Web Developers?

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

What is Possible with a CMS?

• Low Barrier to Entryo Tumblr.com

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Tumblr: What is Possible

• Free

• Set up in 10 minutes

• Design and technical skills not necessary

• Attractive templates available for free

• Displays photo, video, text

• No traditional comments by default

• Limitations on layout design, features, etc.

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

What is Possible with a CMS?

• NationBuildero Easy to set up a basic campaign site using existing

templateso Collect sign-upso Integrated with voter outreach and advocacy tools

allows you to run an e-advocacy campaigno SMS & Email tool integrationo Custom needs require custom design and

development

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

What is Possible with a CMS?

• Enterprise Level CMS:o Features:

Contextual Visitor Targeting E-business set-ups Multi-channel publishing

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

What is Possible with a CMS?

• Enterprise Level CMS:o Features:

Easily run multiple websites through a single CMS Set user-level permissions Option to store assets on an S3 server Support multiple languages Customer Support

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Middle Ground of CMS Options

• Open Sourceo WordPresso Drupalo Joomla!o Expression Engine

• Custom CMSo Options of CMS’s that can be custom built for you.

• Proprietary CMSo Provide support

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Things to Consider

• Scope of Site and Site Content o Regular Updates?o Include a Blog?

o Multiple authors?o Integrations:

o Online Toolkito Facebook Appo MeetUpo Donations

o Custom Functionality

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Things to Consider

• Organizational Goalso Ease of Useo Brandingo Visitor Targetingo Advocacy and Sign-Upso Content Promotiono Permission Levelso Social integrations

Facebook, Twitter, your advocacy toolset, etc.

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Things to Consider

• Organizational Tech & Design Capacityo Do you have a tech savvy staff member who will be

making updates to the site.

o Good idea to have one person internally who will

own the site upkeep.

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Things to Consider

• Budgeto Present

o Future

o Staffing

Are developers or support staff easily available

and are they expensive to hire?

• Do it Yourself?

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Some CMS's

• Open Source Solutions:o Drupalo Joomla!o Expression Engineo Django

• Enterprise Level:• CoreMedia

• CrownPeak

• RedDot

• Sitecore

#NN12CMS @AustenLC

Recommendations

• Include all stakeholders in the process

• If possible, hire an external party to do a needs analysis – minimizes internal biases and politics.

• Take your present and future organizational needs and budget into consideration when making the decision.

• Ultimately, your website should reflect your organizational priorities.