A Content Management System (CMS) is an application used to manage the content of a website. A CMS allows the content manager or author of the website, who may not know HTML to create, modify, remove, and organize the information, content and pictures on their website.  

Web-Based Content Management System (CMS): Our system is web-based, which means that a client can have multiple people log in and contribute. The User Management of the CMS allows the Site Administrator to determine the roles and permissions for users.  Our permission based system allows control down to the granular level, such as read, write and publish privileges.  For example, a person who enters new events may only be able to edit events but not able to publish these to the website.

Since our system is web-based, there is no additional commercial software that needs to be installed on a client's computer. The software can also be accessed from any Internet connected computer anywhere in the world; from work, at home, or on the move.

Content Creation and Editing: Administrators have access to create, edit, and delete items such as pages, articles, blog posts, sections, podcasts, event, media and lists on the website. The navigation menu can also be edited based on permissions.

WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) Editor: Our system allows clients to add new content to their site in a visual manner. What users see in their editing environment is what they get when the content is published. Users have the ability to manipulate the arrangement, size, and look of content with the integrated WYSIWYG editor. It is as simple as using Microsoft Word.  Resellers can set the styles of the WYSIWYG Editor.

Content Contributors can choose between adding content such as pages, articles, articles, blog posts, news or events to the website.  The Content Contributors begin by inputting descriptive content using web-based forms. For example, the Content Contributor would be able to add article information (such as article title, categories, series, summary, description, keywords, audio & video, documents and images).  Forms use the necessary technology (AJAX, JavaScript, and XML) to capture the data, validate accuracy, and allow users to add new categories and other elements [if allowed by their authority].

Code Editor for Advanced Users: A code editor is available for advanced users who may want to access the raw html code instead of using the WYSIWYG editor for making changes.

Published Status: The content has several options for their published status.  These include:

• Published- The item is published on the website.  
• Draft- The item is not published on the website; it is kept in a draft form.  This also occurs when a Content Contributor does not have publishing rights.  Only users with the appropriate permission level may publish the item.
• Feature- The item is published as a feature article.
• Publish to Group- Under 'More Options' items can be published to specific groups/categories.  These items published to groups can also be featured.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) - Gathering New Visitors: Our system is designed to attract online traffic so that a client receives more physical visitors as a result of viewing the website. Our team has a great depth of experience in how to build sites to accomplish this, and clients have experienced increased visitor rates.

Search Engine Optimization focuses on refining the visible and invisible content of a website so that when a search engine analyzes a website, it properly determines the site's theme.  Each search engine uses unique algorithms that the public is not privy to.  Through experience and research, our websites are designed to achieve high search engine ranking results.  Client sites can be optimized for specific client-related keywords and themes to attract targeted visitors to the site.  These keywords will target search engine spiders which will result in more visitors finding the website through online searches.  The end result is increased 'virtual' visitors to a client website.

Search Central Repository: Visitors to the website are able to search a library central repository of pages, resources, articles and media files. Media is searched by metadata input with the associated file.  The database is fully searchable on all fields.  It uses a combination of MySQL's fulltext search capabilities and building SOUNDEX keys in order to compensate for spelling mistakes or natural language searches.  Search results can be displayed by content type such as media, articles or pages.

Website Page Management

Administrators are able to create, edit, and delete pages on the website.  At the page level, header images and sidebars (sections) can be associated to a page dynamically. 

Template Management:  Admins can select from any of their design layouts (templates) when creating a page.  This means based on the website package you select you can have unlimited layouts to present your content.  For example, many sites have a unique home page layout and a separate content page.

Section Management: Sites can create unlimited ‘sections' to use for areas such as footers, sidebars (eg. recent articles or event calendar) headers or other commonly used areas.  A section can be associated with a page or multiple pages for easy upkeep. 

Navigation Management: With a simple click of the mouse the navigation hierarchy can be edited and re-arranged by those with permission to manage the menu.  Updates to the live site are instantaneous. 

Article Management

Administrators are able to create, edit, and delete articles on the website.   

Series Manager: Admins are able to edit series, select the active ‘Current Series' and view information such as last article and number of articles in series. Series summaries and images can be created.  Articles in the series can have their displayed order edited as needed. 

Category Manager: Admins can edit, add and delete new categories to classify articles.

Media Management

The media file manager allows administrators to upload images, pdfs, docs, mp3s, flash, video, and other media to use for their site. 

Gallery Creation: MonkCMS comes with a fully-featured and integrated web picture gallery.  Sites can create galleries and display these on their website. Websites that opt to use a flash gallery to present images can easily add, edit and delete images that are displayed.

Streaming, Downloadable, and Podcastable Audio: Three things happen when audio is published to the website: 1) the audio is added to a Flash based player that streams for the listener. 2) it is made available for download on the website for users who wish to download the article for later listening. 3) The XML file used by podcasters is automatically updated. 

Syndication (Podcasts/RSS): All text content (articles/blogs) is stored in native XML format so feeds from external sources can be incorporated into both the editor and the website. Content from your site can be syndicated easily in RSS format by other sites.  Audio mp3s can be subscribed to through Podcasts.  Podcasting is the method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio programs or music videos, over the Internet using either the RSS or Atom syndication formats, for playback on mobile devices and personal computers. The term podcast, like 'radio', can mean both the content and the method of delivery.

iTunes: Clients can opt to have their podcasts feed directly into the iTunes store.   iTunes  is the most popular medium for listeners to subscribe to podcasts.

Event Management

Admins can create events that can be published to a visual calendar. Site visitors can RSVP for events using the optional event registration / RSVP module.

Location Manager: When a new location is created, it is stored and can be selected for future events without re-entry of the information.  Admins can edit and manage information about the location.

Google Map Link: Site visitors will have the ability to view an interactive Google map that outlines the directions and location of your worship services.  Events created with an address location will automatically generate a Google Map link.

Calendar Export/Integration: Users can import event details into their calendars (eg. Outlook, iCal).  The system exports based on the widely-supported ics. file format.

Learn more about our CMS Modules >