This unit will introduce learners to Content Management System (CMS) software and how it is used to manage the creation and modification of digital content. Learners will develop a website using CMS software and be able to use templates, add keywords and blogs, and be able to measure return on investment (ROI). They will also understand the importance of website accessibility and the legislation and guidelines that must be followed when creating and managing digital content.
Understand how organisations use Content Management Systems (CMS).
Features: server side, SEO friendly, content hierarchy.
Functions: integrated file manager, intuitive interface, templates.
Advantages and disadvantages: cost, ownership of content, flexibility, customisation, SEO, static vs. dynamic pages, analytics.
Hosting options: self hosted, hosted third-party.
Laws, guidelines and constraints: copyright law, acknowledgement of sources, avoiding plagiarism, provisions for data protection, accessibility standards, IPR.
File types: text (e.g. rtf, docx, pdf), images (jpeg, tif, gif), sound (e.g. wav, mp3), video (e.g. mp4, avi).
CMS software: e.g. Wordpress, Blogger, Weebly.
Explain the purpose of CMS in organisations.
Explain the features and functions of CMS software.
Compare different CMS software and hosting options.
Understand website accessibility.
Accessibility guidelines: use of cascading style sheets (CSS), colours that do not cause problems for colour blindness, use ALT tags and titles on images, tabulated structures need captions and headings, sound files need accessible player or transcript to be made available, video files need accessible player and closed captioning, tabbed navigation, audio CAPTCHA on forms.
Explain the importance of web accessibility legislation and guidelines when creating and managing digital content.
Explain how to modify a website to make it accessible.
Be able to plan the components of a CMS website to meet requirements.
The CMS website created could be for a business, charity, sports club, personal, enterprise, event etc. The unit can be completed with free hosting or paid for hosting and it is a requirement that CMS software is used.
Content and layout: web page content and layout will vary according to the needs of the website but should include text (e.g. body, headings), images (photographs, images), moving images (animation, videos, live streaming), social networking links, blog, etc.
Plan should include: keywords and/or keyword phrases to be used in website meta-tags, the template for a website, types of content, different file types for content, blog, buttons to share content, links to social media, etc.
Plan the content and layout for a CMS website.
Be able to use CMS software to create an accessible website to meet requirements
Website templates: may be customised according to requirements of CMS and website design, should have header/footer and layout of pages (side bars, menu structure).
Tools and techniques: methods will vary but may include use of plugins, widgets, creating and changing code using programming language, snippets, creating internal and external links, adding multimedia content to pages.
Website meta-tags: title, description, URL, Alt-tags, H1, H2, keyword, tagging.
Testing methods: methods will vary but should include: viewing pages using different browser software’, checking links, testing multi-media and interactive elements.
Customise a website template and insert planned content.
Use tools and techniques to add features.
Test the website and use findings to improve accessibility.
Be able to measure and improve the return on investment (ROI) of a website
Methods of measuring: number of hits to a website page, number of downloads, emails sent to an address, calls to a phone number, number of shares of content, number of visits to a blog.
Information to analyse: e.g. bounce rate, hits, unique visitors, search terms, referral sites.
Explain the importance of measuring website traffic and the impact of ‘bounce rate’.
Compare methods of measuring the return on investment (ROI) of a website
Use analytic tools to monitor website traffic.
Use analytical data to identify improvements to a website.