Working with a CMS

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We first need to understand what a content management system (CMS) is and get acquainted with django CMS - a modern content management system built with Django.

A Brief History of CMS's

Back in the old days (this is 2005), there was a huge shift from static HTML websites to more dynamics, interactive websites. This was great for users of websites, but it presented a particular challenge for web designers. In order to meet the challenge, most professional websites were built in a particular way:

• A designer would create the overall design of the website
• The designer would work with a developer to slice the design up into a site template that would be a mix of plain HTML and program code (with the program code providing the interactive functionality of the website)
• The designer would then have to work with a content creator (mostly a client that this website was being built for) to incorporate the website content into this template - duplicating the template and creating the content for each and every page of the website.

This is very tiring and cumbersome to say the least. It would be a significant amount of work for both a solo developer and a team to handle such.

It is a flawed approach that mixes code, content, and design elements all in one place. One domino can cause the others to fall. Things can go bezerk from a tiny error and spill into everything else.

The solution to this problem is something very simple, a content management system - a set of methods and processes that have been around since long before the internet.

What in the Hell is Content Management?

Content Management is the systematic management of information (content). A simple way to understand content management is the publication of a book:

• The writer gives a draft to an editor who will work with the write to ensure the manuscript is ready to go to the publisher
• The publisher will approve the final manuscript for publication
• The publisher then sends the properly laid out manuscript to a printer who produces the book to be held in people's hand

NB: The ACTUAL process is a lot more complicated, but this was an example to hammer the point home that this is basically the problem we are going to be solving with when building a content management system. It helps create a workflow where each role performed by a person is independent of others

Content Management Roles In the age of content being published on social media, brands act like publishers of content instead of that being the role of the platform as it was in the olden days of TV, and radio.

A website CMS requires roles similar to those required to produce a book:

• Authors create the articles and content displayed on the website
• Editors take author created content and edit it to fit into the style and context of the website, as well as making any corrections to the spelling and grammar. The editor usually fulfills the role of publisher as well by marking content ready for displaying to the public via the CMS software
• The designer still has the important role of creating a good looking website, which can be done manually from scratch or from purchasing a template that will just be customized that fits the bill for what was agreed upon for the presentation goals of the website
• The site administrator looks after the backend of the website - assigning roles to other users, maintaining the content, and applying backups and updates. NB: In some cases, the site administrator is also the developer of the of the website, although this is becoming more and more less common with the integration of CMS's in our lives.

Anatomy of a Modern CMS

In most cases, a modern CMS is a computer application that can be desktop or cloud based (or both). They allow for easy organization of content and provide tools for creating, editing, and publishing content.

They use database and file system storage to provide flexible and scalable storage data. A modern CMS is capable of handling everything from a two-page website to a massive content publishing machine like a media house (remember when I said brands or companies are becoming like publishers?)

The vast majority of modern websites are running some form of CMS. With WordPress being the most popular. CMS software has grown exponentially in popularity and functionality in the past 19 or so years.

The current state of the art in CMS design combines all of the content management tools we have discussed with three design philosophies to create feature rich, scalable, and responsive websites:

• MVC (Model - View - Controller) Architecture: the design and code are separated physically in the website, not just conceptually. It is a software design pattern used for developing user interfaces. It divides an application into three interconnected components: the Model, which represents the data and business logic, the View, which displays the data to the user, and the Controller, which handles user input and updates both the Model and the View accordingly. For example, in a web application, the Model might be a database storing user information, the View could be an HTML page displaying that information, and the Controller would manage user interactions like submitting a form to update the Model and refresh the View. This separation of concerns enhances maintainability, scalability, and code reusability in software development.

• Use of external applications to increase functionality: rather than write new code, a modern CMS allows you to "plug in" additional programs written by other developers that provide new and probably better functions so you don't have to waste time and energy. It can really boost your productivity to build a full-blown production grade application quickly. Using external applications not only increases the reliability of the applications, but it dramatically decreases the cost, as one developer can sell the plugin or application to many different websites that need the functionality.

• Mobile friendliness: usage of smartphones and tablet computers exceed the use of desktop computers worldwide. 2019 was the year the usage of smartphones eclipsed the usage of TV. That is wild! As a result, a modern CMS must support mobile devices by providing a responsive interfaces that will adjust based on the screen size being viewed on.

Why Use django CMS

• Provides a dramatic improvement in modularity and separation of functions over programs like WordPress (which still uses the old model of mixing content and code on the page)
• Multilingual
• Supports multiple websites
• Uses Bootstrap out of the box to support mobile responsiveness
• Can connect to multiple databases
• Its flexible page model and the availability of formatting plugins free you from rigid template layouts
• It offers content scheduling out of the box
• Provides a clear separation of publishing and administration roles
• It can integrate with other Django applications without major modifications
• Its plugin based design allows easy integration of email, 3rd party applications and content services

It combines all of these design elements into a clean, simple interface that is a delight to use for content creators, editors, and administrators. It was released as open source software in 2007 and has continued to build a strong user base thanks to its robust architecture and scalability.

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Use Cases in an Ecommerce Context

django CMS offers several use cases in an ecommerce context:

1. Content Management: Django CMS allows easy management of product descriptions, images, and other content on ecommerce websites. Content editors can utilize its intuitive interface to update product details, create landing pages, and manage blog posts to enhance the overall user experience.

2. Customizable Product Pages: With Django CMS's flexibility, ecommerce platforms can create highly customizable product pages. This includes adding dynamic content such as related products, customer reviews, and product variants, all managed seamlessly within the CMS.

3. Multilingual Support: Many ecommerce businesses operate in multiple regions and languages. Django CMS provides robust multilingual support, enabling ecommerce sites to serve diverse customer bases by managing content translation efficiently.

4. SEO Optimization: Search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for ecommerce success. Django CMS offers built-in SEO features, such as customizable meta tags, friendly URLs, and sitemap generation, empowering businesses to optimize their online store for better search engine visibility.

5. Integration with Ecommerce Platforms: Django CMS can integrate with various ecommerce platforms like Django Oscar, Saleor, or custom-built solutions. This integration allows seamless management of both content and products within a single platform, providing a unified experience for administrators.

6. Personalization and Targeting: Ecommerce websites can leverage Django CMS's capabilities for personalization and targeting. By analyzing user behavior and preferences, businesses can dynamically adjust content and promotions to enhance customer engagement and drive sales.

7. Responsive Design: With the increasing prevalence of mobile shopping, having a responsive website is essential. Django CMS facilitates the creation of responsive designs, ensuring that ecommerce sites deliver a consistent and optimized experience across devices.

8. Analytics Integration: Integrating Django CMS with analytics tools enables ecommerce businesses to track user interactions, monitor conversion rates, and gain insights into customer behavior. This data-driven approach helps in refining marketing strategies and optimizing the user journey for higher conversions.

By leveraging Django CMS's features and flexibility, ecommerce platforms can create compelling online experiences, streamline content management, and drive growth in an increasingly competitive market.