Content Publishing

Whether you're running a large business, creating a simple weblog, or publishing photos from your latest trip to Japan, there are a myriad of exciting tools and applications for content creation at all levels. From simple text pages to spectacular multimedia enabled web pages, the sky's the limit.

It doesn't matter if you're new to web publishing or are a HTML pro; the tools available now are the ultimate equalizer, enabling you to quickly move from information architecture to interactive graphics to the implementation and management of dynamic sites. Larger publishing systems for businesses streamline and centralize the process of publishing and can be built in-house or, of course, purchased commercially. Content is added to a database through a web interface, formatted through templates, and then published as live content. Of course, old-fashioned HTML coding always works, but new business and consumer publishing systems give you powerful tools that make the job so much easier. At this point, the disadvantages of building your own system pretty much outweigh any customization advantages.

Before choosing a new publishing system or software, you should get the opinions of those involved in the ongoing publishing of web content. Also make sure you know what platform you need, how difficult it will be to upgrade, and--if you're purchasing a larger publishing system--that your staff understands the programming language.

These days, there are many vendors that offer content publishing systems. Make sure and check their references before committing to any system. Find out what role the vendor played in the analysis and implementation of the publishing system and whether or not they delivered the final product on time and on budget.

Whether you're buying a small consumer package or larger publishing system, you should always research the manufacturer. You don't want to buy from an independent company that's going to fold in a year and leave you with no support. Also, when investigating the publishing system, doublecheck to make sure those eye-catching features come standard and aren't an expensive customization.

For businesses, choosing a publishing system is a critical decision and one that requires insight into your company's needs and some good old common sense. Once you ascertain your long-term priorities, selecting the right publishing system will be much easier.