During this weekend’s technical coffee meeting, I presented this brief high-level view on how to choose the best Web content management system (WCMS) for social media and Web startups. A large collection of content management systems (CMS) are available. The list of features supported by these CMS’s ever expanding. This is creating a time consuming exercise for the entrepreneurs. I have devised a simple solution to this complex issue. The simple solution is to think in terms of the Content Systems Strategy Triangle. The three corners of the triangle are: (1) business strategy as it pertains to the content, (2) technology strategy, and (3) organizational strategy. Business strategy should allow the WCMS to address the business objectives and not just the technology solution. The FIRST step method can help in this regard.

• Flexible – The CMS has to be flexible to incorporate business objectives. For example, in today’s flat world, it should address multiple languages and provide personalized content using dynamic features for a diverse user base.
• Integrable – The CMS should provide functions to integrate easily with all business applications that are needed to successfully launch the product/service. The integration of segmentation techniques for providing relevant customer experience, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tools, and Web analytics tools should be taken into account.
• Restrictions – The CMS should have NO, or minimal, restrictions for Web site control for the content and user experience owners. Typically, the technology teams will make it programming focused thus increasing restrictions for the content and user experience owners, who have limited programming experience.
• Simple – The CMS has to be simple to use for content providers, writers, and owners.
• Timely – The CMS should allow changes to be made in timely fashion, that is, it should take minimal time from the time the new content is added, modified, removed to when it is displayed to customers/consumers of the web.