Content Management &Portal Management

Christine Apikul

Module 4 ObjectivesTo discuss the features and functions of a content

management system

To understand the tools and options available for managing multilingual websites

To introduce what XML is and the benefits of XML

To give an overview of the information that web analytics tools provides and how it can help to plan, design and improve websites

Features of a Content Management System

Content Management System isA system of hardware and software

Enables different people (technical and non-technical) to collaboratively create, edit, manage and publish content

Manages a variety of content (such as text, graphics, video, documents etc.

Users are constrained by a set of rules, standards and workflows that ensure coherent, validated digital content

XML is used in most content management system to make information sharing and systems integration easier

FeaturesAllows those without programming language

knowledge to manage digital content

WYSIWYG Editor

FeaturesStandard templates available for different content

types (e.g. news, events, blogs)

In most systems, templates can be customized or new templates created

These content templates give the web content a standard structure, contributing to consistency and usability of a website

These templates also allow the structure and appearance of all contents to be changed from one central place

FeaturesStandard template for announcing an event can

include:TitleDescriptionEvent locationEvent start and end datesBody text describing the eventAttendeesEvent urlContact details (name, email, phone)

FeaturesAble to tag and categorize content

List of taxonomies that content contributors can choose to tag

Choose a content management system that applies the Dublin Core metadata standard, which is endorsed in the Iraqi GIF

FeaturesWhen content is consistently tagged with an agreed

upon taxonomy, content managers are able to aggregate content in different ways

Tagging also facilitates search and easy retrieval

A faceted search is a technique for accessing information organized according to a faceted classification system, allowing users to explore a collection of information by applying multiple filters

FeaturesAble to track and manage multiple versions of a single instance of

content

Most content management systems keep a history of all the versions of a content page

Versioning keeps track of all kinds of edits: content, metadata, settings, etc.

There are usually options to compare versions and revert to the previous version

Prevents overwritten changes by allowing content contributors to check out and check in content. When a content is checked out, it is locked as a read-only document

Features - Versioning

Features – Check In/Check Out

FeaturesManages permissions for different users

Sets who can read, create, modify and delete content

Based on roles. For example:Author can create, modify and delete their own contentEditor can only modify contentDesigner can modify templates but not contentOthers can only view (read) content

FeaturesControls workflow of different content

A content management system can automate workflow

Match roles to tasks (assign who does what)Manages security (who can see or do what)Track, report and notify appropriate “players” when

tasks are done

FeaturesContent owner can submit content for review

(content marked private)The editor submit the content for publicationThe approver “publish” the content and make it

public

Managing Multilingual Websites1. Treat each language as a separate site

Used by organizations with branches in other countrieswww.yoursite.com, www.yoursite.de, www.yoursite.jpMultisite capable content management system

2. One website with multiple visitor-selected language outputs

Users may switch between any languages on any page of website, rather than navigate separate sites

www.yoursite.com/en, www.yoursite.com/ar Multi-output capable content management system

Interface for editing a multilingual page

ExerciseGoto http://egov-iraq.dev.inigo-tech.com

Create a web pageCreate a news itemCreate an eventAdd tags to the pages createdCreate a collectionEdit your profileCustomize your dashboard

In groups of 4-6 people, explore the different roles as member, contributor, editor and reviewer

XML

XML – What is itA markup language like HTML

Structures contentTransports contentStores content

HTML is designed to display content, with a focus on how the content looks

Tags are not predefined; Authors can define own tags using metadata

XML – Example

<note>

<to>Jane</to>

<from>Peter</from>

<heading>Reminder</heading>

<body>Don't forget our meeting this weekend</body>

</note>

XML - BenefitsXML separates content from HTML

Content creators and managers can focus on developing and structuring content

Web designers can concentrate on using HTML/CSS for display and layout

Changes to content will not affect format, and vice versa

XML simplifies content sharingXML data stored in plain text format provides a software-

and hardware-independent way of storing dataThis makes it much easier to create content that can be

shared by different applications

XML - BenefitsXML simplifies data transport

One of the most time-consuming challenges for developers is to exchange data between incompatible systems over the Internet

Exchanging data as XML greatly reduces this complexity, since the data can be read by different incompatible applications

XML simplifies platform changesUpgrading to new systems (hardware or software platforms) is

always time consuming as large amounts of data must be converted and incompatible data is often lost

XML data stored in text format makes it easier to expand or upgrade to new systems & applications without losing data

XML - BenefitsXML makes content more accessible

Different applications can access your content, not only in HTML pages, but also from XML data sources

With XML, your content can be available to all kinds of "reading machines" (handheld computers, voice machines, news feeds, etc.)

XML also makes content more accessible to people with disabilities

Web Analytics

Web AnalyticsThe measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of

Internet data for purposes of understanding and optimizing web usage

Can be used for monitoring and evaluation purposes by measuring the size of a website’s audience, its volume of traffic and the level of interaction

Can also be used for design, planning and improving the website. For example, in the design of a navigation taxonomy by assessing user’s search terms

Terms UsedPage View

Visit / Session

Visitor / Unique Visitor / Unique User

Pages per Visit

Average Time on Site

Average Page View Duration

Bounce Rate

Traffic SourceSearch engines (Google, Yahoo!, Bing, etc.)

Direct traffic (typing the domain name into the Web browser or through users’ bookmarks)

Referring sites (clicking on a link from another website)

Tracking of Location

Search TermsWhat terms are used in internal search to navigate

website

Where are users navigating to after they have viewed the search results

What term users entered in search before they clicked to enter website

Granular AnalysisTo understand whether the services or information provided are

meeting user needs

Analytical tools can be configured to show:

The most popular pages

The most popular areas (groups of pages)

Usage of a group of web pages and documents relating to a specific subject or campaign

How demand for specific pages changes over a selected timeframe (e.g. showing daily activity over a week)

User ExperienceTrack user journeys

Entry and exit pages

Routes taken by users through the site

LimitationsWeb analytics should be used alongside other data

in order to gain a deeper level of insight, including:

Qualitative data (e.g. from online satisfaction surveys, interviews, focus groups etc.)

Observational data obtained from user testing

Expert reviews

Summary

SummaryA content management system simplifies content creation and

management, and enables collaboration

Features:Allows those without programming language knowledge to

manage digital contentStandard templates available for different content types (e.g.

news, events, blogs)Able to tag and categorize contentAble to track and manage multiple versions of a single instance

of contentManages permissions for different usersControls workflow of different contentMakes it easier to manage translations on multilingual sites

SummaryXMLStructures contentTransports contentStores content

Tags are not predefined; Authors can define own tags using metadata

Separates content from formatAllows content sharing between different applicationsMakes content more accessible

SummaryWeb AnalyticsThe measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of Internet

data for purposes of understanding and optimizing web usage

Can be used for monitoring and evaluation purposes by measuring the size of a website’s audience, its volume of traffic and the level of interaction

Can also be used for design, planning and improving the website. For example, in the design of a navigation taxonomy by assessing user’s search terms

Should be used alongside other data in order to gain a deeper level of insight