| What is a Content Management System? | | | | negatively impact search rankings. |
| A Content Management System (CMS) is a third | | | | Based on the above, it is imperative to employ a |
| party software application which allows web site | | | | CMS that does not pass session dependent data, |
| administrators to add, update or delete content, | | | | such as session variables, through a URL string. |
| photos, and documents to their web site in "real | | | | Doing so will not only create potential usability |
| time". Many web sites are modified using these | | | | issues for the end user, but will also result in |
| web-based tools as they require little to no | | | | indexing problems for the search engine spiders. |
| knowledge of HTML or web scripting languages. | | | | Finally, search engines gather understanding from |
| CMS programs make it easy for a webmaster or | | | | your web site's content by filtering through the |
| site owner who does not know HTML or have | | | | HTML code. For this reason, it is extremely |
| access to a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What | | | | important that your CMS generate HTML code |
| You Get) HTML Editor, such as Macromedia's | | | | that adheres to the latest requirements of the |
| Dreamweaver, to update their site. | | | | World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Use the |
| In today's high paced web world, a good CMS is | | | | W3C Code Validator to determine if your code |
| integral to the efficient operation of a web site. | | | | meets the W3C standards. Be aware that some |
| Many webmasters and web site developers are | | | | CMS's add in many lines of proprietary code or |
| building database driven, or dynamic web sites, | | | | JavaScript at the top of the file, which can choke |
| which require a third party solution, such as a | | | | search spiders. This violates a cardinal rule of SEO; |
| Content Management System, to update the | | | | 'To always have more content then code'. |
| content that lives in the database. In addition, a | | | | Finding a Search Engine Friendly CMS that will |
| CMS allows the web site owner to outsource | | | | Work for You |
| content development remotely to contract | | | | Now that we have explored many of the |
| copywriters and other willing contributors. With | | | | potential problems with Content Management |
| built in access level hierarchies, webmasters can | | | | Systems, lets look at how to go about finding one |
| allow various users to register as authors and | | | | that will be both search engine friendly and suit |
| start submitting articles and news to be published | | | | your specific needs. First you will need to |
| on their site. | | | | determine what server platform you will be using. |
| How do Content Management Systems Work? | | | | Many Content Management Systems use scripting |
| Content Management Systems create a dynamic | | | | languages and databases that are platform |
| web site environment, where all the content is | | | | dependant. If you are married to a particular |
| stored in a database or XML file. Using a | | | | platform, it may limit your CMS options. Ideally, |
| web-based interface, the webmaster can select | | | | you will want to find a CMS that is platform |
| which page they want to update and then can | | | | independent, which can run on any server. |
| modify the web content in a text editor, with | | | | There are many search engine friendly CMS's that |
| many of the familiar formatting keys that can be | | | | will allow the web site owner to generate a URL |
| found in a word processing program. Once the | | | | structure that is both meaningful to their users |
| content has been updated, with the simple click of | | | | and digestible by search engine spiders. Instead of |
| a button, the CMS will turn their text into HTML | | | | having a URL that is packed with parameters, you |
| code and publish the content to the web site. | | | | can create a URL structure that looks like this: |
| Problems Between Search Engines and Content | | | | Your next step is to check whether your CMS |
| Management Systems | | | | builds HTML pages to the latest standards |
| Historically, search engines have had difficulty | | | | established by the W3C. Most CMS providers will |
| indexing dynamic pages. While their ability to index | | | | be able to tell you if their solution generates valid |
| and rank dynamic pages has improved | | | | code. If they can't, then ask for a sample page |
| dramatically, there are some basic things to avoid. | | | | and run it through the W3C Code Validator. In |
| One of the greatest enemies of search engines is | | | | order to rank effectively in organic results of the |
| URL strings that contain many URL parameters. | | | | search engines, it is imperative that your CMS |
| URL parameters are variables that are passed to | | | | allows you to update your title tags, meta data |
| the CMS through the URL, which tell it what | | | | and alt tags on a page-by-page basis. |
| information to retrieve from the database. URLs | | | | The most important aspects of a good CMS are |
| with too many parameters generally make little | | | | the ease of use and richness of content |
| logical sense to the average user and may also | | | | formatting features. This one is a no-brainer |
| scare off search spiders. For example see: | | | | because the very reason that you are looking for |
| It is suggested to limit the number of URL | | | | a CMS is that YOU DON'T WANT TO CODE. Any |
| parameters to two or three per URL to ensure | | | | good CMS should provide an editing stage that is |
| that that search spiders will not have difficulty | | | | similar in feature and function to a standard word |
| indexing pages deep within the web site. | | | | processing program, such as Microsoft Word. The |
| Certain URL parameter names may automatically | | | | technical term for this is a WYSIWYG Editor or a |
| flag a filter on the search engine. One example is | | | | Rich Text Editor. This important feature will allow |
| the URL parameter names that contain 'ID', such | | | | you to type and format your content using |
| as 'sessionid', 'sid' or 'userid'. Historically, search | | | | standard buttons and keyboard shortcuts. When |
| engines detect the term "ID" and assume it is | | | | you publish the content to the live web site, the |
| associated with a session dependant variable. As a | | | | CMS will write the HTML, CSS and scripting to |
| result, search engines have learned to flag these | | | | display your content as it was formatted during |
| parameter names and it can cause problems with | | | | the editing stage. Many Content Management |
| page indexing. Passing session dependant variables | | | | Systems are offering additional technologies, such |
| through the URL is a problem for search engines | | | | as RSS feed, shopping cart solutions, forums and |
| because the spider essentially sees a unique URL | | | | live chat integration, which can really enhance the |
| each time they visit the site because the session | | | | functionality of your web site. The key is to find a |
| dependent variables change with each visit. For | | | | CMS that will suit your core needs and then |
| example, on one visit to the site, a page URL | | | | determine what add-ons would be beneficial. The |
| may be The next time the spider visits the page, | | | | ends result will be a web site that is easy to |
| the URL may be This creates a situation where a | | | | manage and usable for both your customers and |
| spider may think that there are multiple URLs with | | | | the search engines. |
| duplicate content, resulting in penalties which will | | | | |