Choosing the Best Web CMS

Choosing the Best Web Content
Management Solution
A White Paper by Sitecore

Copyright Copyright © 2009 Sitecore. All Rights Reserved. Restricted Rights Legend This document may not, in whole or in part, be photocopied, reproduced, translated, or reduced to any electronic medium or machine readable form without prior consent, in writing, from Sitecore. Information in this document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of Sitecore. Trademarks Sitecore is a registered trademark of Sitecore. All other company and product names are trademarks of their respective owners.
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Table of Contents Executive Summary 4 Introduction 5 Focus on the User Experience 5 Hurdles to Optimizing Web Business Value 5 The Importance of a Web Content Management Solution 5 Narrowing Down the Number of WCM Choices 6 Open Source or Commercial 6 Enterprise Content Management or Web-Specific 6 Java or Microsoft .NET 7 What to Look for in a WCM 8 Beware the Classic Web Publishing Approach 8 Evaluating a WCM Solution from the Business Perspective 8 From the IT Perspective 10 Ensuring a Successful Evaluation Process 12 Consider Getting Expert Advice 12 Include Your Developers in the Evaluation Process 12 Conclusion 13 About Sitecore 14
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Executive Summary The evolution of the Web has turned the Internet into a strategic medium for organizations of nearly every ilk. Healthcare, financial services, entertainment, non-profits, and many others have joined e-commerce in leveraging the Internet channel to generate additional revenue, reduce operational costs, develop a deeper relationship with customers, and broaden the reach of the brand.
While the business value inherent in this digital medium is well understood, organizations still struggle with how to maximize the impact of their Web efforts. Understanding the need for a dynamic, highly compelling user experience is quite different than figuring out exactly how to make these experiences happen.
Companies that have been hindered by first-generation content management solutions or the lack of a content management system at all, are now looking for a next-generation solution that enables truly exceptional, results-driven Web experiences.
With the myriad different solutions for Web content management (WCM) available, it can be difficult to select the best one for an organization's needs. As many companies have now learned, getting the WCM decision wrong can result in a mediocre site delivering results that are below expectations.
In the end, the best WCM is the one that is right for a particular organization's needs today and tomorrow. This guide offers insight into the WCM technology choices available today, discusses some of the requirements both IT and business users should consider when selecting a WCM solution, and includes advice for ensuring a successful evaluation process.
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Introduction
Focus on the User Experience Not only is the Internet the largest marketplace in the world, it has literally transformed the way people live, work, and play. As of March 31, 2008, there were 1.4 billion Internet users surfing the Web worldwide.1
The success of the Web means that taking advantage of the Internet now requires far more than publishing static content to a "brochure-ware" site. Taking a page from the Apple® iPhone playbook, the user experience drives interest and demand today. From dynamic multi-media content to support for browsing on handheld devices, success on the Web means adapting quickly to changing user expectations and market conditions.
Hurdles to Optimizing Web Business Value The Internet has evolved and today's Websites need to support this to ensure an optimal user experience. Many sites still don't fully support the different browsers currently available. Some have made no effort to make their sites accessible for people with disabilities. Organizations that don't optimize for customers or prospects using a smaller form factor than a PC to access the Internet stand to miss out on opportunities to deliver a compelling user experience to all their customer segments.
Organizations with a clear strategy for the corporate Website(s) need to make sure they are positione... [download for more]