Step 2 of 4

Content Management Systems

The team

Collaboration is an effective way to build the best possible product. Individuals or teams of experts, with their own specialisms, working together can be much more effective than one person or team trying to do everything.

Let’s look at the different roles that are needed to run your e-commerce website.

Marketing Manager

Your marketing department is responsible for the visual appearance of your website, the messages on the graphics that promote your products and your regular promotional emails to users that have subscribed.

Products Content Manager

Your products team make sure that new products are added to the website, old ones are removed and that product descriptions and photography are accurate. They also need to keep an eye on the stock level to make sure popular products are replenished.

Accountant

Your accounts team need access to all orders generated, as well as customer refunds.

Warehouse and Fulfilment Manager

Your fulfilment team needs access to the orders generated. They also need the ability to increase stock levels when new stock arrives at the warehouse.

SEO Officer

The SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) team need to make sure the site uses all the right keywords to rank highly in search engines. They can do this by optimising meta tags and the text on product pages.

Select your team members

Fill your team. Read through the descriptions from the recruitment consultant below and offer jobs to the best people for each role.

Kayleigh Marlon Available

A designer at a national agency for 10 years, Kayleigh specialises in unique visuals and problem solving through design. Kayleigh is looking for a new challenge where she can develop her digital design skills.

Would Kayleigh suit any of the roles you have available?

Wrong

Are you sure? Whilst Kayleigh has a strong CV, she is not right for any of the roles you have available. She is interested in a design role. Try again.

Right!

That's right. Whilst Kayleigh has a strong CV, she is not right for any of the roles you have available. She is interested in a design role.

Donnie Westbrook Available

A marketing graduate, Donnie has worked for a major online retailer’s marketing department for the last two years. He is now looking to relocate, so is looking for a new opportunity.

Would Donnie suit any of the roles you have available?

Wrong

Are you sure? Look again at Donnie's skills. There might be a role for him in your team.

Right!

Donnie will be a great addition to the marketing team.

Wrong

Perhaps not for this role, but with that experience there is definitely a place for Donnie. Try another role, paying particular attention to his areas of expertise.

Amanda Bell Available

Amanda is a graduate with an MA in Search Engine Technology. With experience as a freelancer whilst at university, she specialises in keyword analysis and writing copy for search engines.

Would Amanda suit any of the roles you have available?

Wrong

Are you sure? Look again at Amanda's skills. There might be a role for her in your team.

Right!

Amanda definitely has the skills that we need for our SEO team.

Wrong

Perhaps not for this role, but with that experience there is definitely a place for Amanda. Try another role, paying particular attention to his areas of expertise.

Mikey Atwater Available

Mikey is a talented product tester. Specialising in quality assurance, he is well versed in the latest quality standards and regulations. Mikey is a valuable addition to anyone that produces products.

Would Mikey suit any of the roles you have available?

Wrong

We don’t have a role that suits Mikey at the moment. His expertise lies in the testing of products, whereas we need someone that can add products to our website.

Right!

Good call. We don’t have a role that suits Mikey at the moment. His expertise lies in the testing of products, whereas we need someone that can add products to our website.

Emma Porter Available

Emma is a product buyer with over ten years' experience at various major e-commerce websites. From seasonal clothing stock, to planning merchandise lines for major events like the Olympics, Emma has done it all and would be a great addition to any retail team.

Would Emma suit any of the roles you have available?

Wrong

Are you sure? Unfortunately we don’t have a role that fits Emma’s skillset. We need someone to manage the content about products rather than source products.

Right!

You're right. Unfortunately we don’t have a role that fits Emma’s skillset. We need someone to manage the content about products rather than source products.

Noah Lane Available

A certified fork-lift driver, Noah has four years' experience in warehouses loading deliveries for a reasonably sized e-retailer. He is confident, positive and has a keen attention to detail and would be a valuable addition to any warehouse.

Would Noah suit any of the roles you have available?

Wrong

Are you sure? Noah clearly knows his way around a warehouse. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have any experience in the running of the warehouse and the fulfilment of orders, so is probably not right for a role at this time.

Right!

Spot on. Noah clearly knows his way around a warehouse. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have any experience in the running of the warehouse and the fulfilment of orders, so is probably not right for a role at this time.

Claire Marlowe Available

Claire has worked as a Warehouse Manager for a number of years for a large paper producer. Experienced in inventory management and delivery fulfilment, she is a great communicator who could serve as a valuable bridge between the warehouse and management.

Would Claire suit any of the roles you have available?

Wrong

Are you sure? Claire has some skills that could be very useful in our team.

Right!

Claire sounds perfect for the role of Warehouse & Fulfilment Manager.

Wrong

Perhaps not for this role, but with that experience there is definitely a place for Claire. Try another role, paying particular attention to her areas of expertise.

Pete Ross Available

Pete is a qualified accountant with an enthusiasm for balancing the books. Knowledgeable about accounts receivable, tax concepts and account balance reconciliation in businesses of all scales. Pete is an energetic and well-presented individual who would be a great addition to any accounts team.

Would Pete suit any of the roles you have available?

Wrong

Are you sure? Pete has some skills that could be very useful in our team.

Right!

Looks like Pete is just what we need for the Accounts team.

Wrong

Perhaps not for this role, but with that experience there is definitely a place for Pete. Try another role, paying particular attention to his areas of expertise.

Muhammad Patel Available

Muhammed has written for national newspapers for 25 years, as well as feature articles for global publications. Winner of Journalist of the Year two years in a row, Muhammed is a creative, committed and enthusiastic worker.

Would Muhammad suit any of the roles you have available?

Wrong

Are you sure? Sounds like Muhammad can definitely write, but he doesn’t seem to have the knowledge about Search Engine Optimisation that we need.

Right!

That's the right decision. Sounds like Muhammad can definitely write, but he doesn’t seem to have the knowledge about Search Engine Optimisation that we need.

Vasundhara Ikin Available

Vasundhara has worked as a website content manager for a large Estate Agent for 6 years. Her responsibilities included updating property details and inventory on the website as well as organising and selecting property photography. An enthusiastic and versatile worker, she is looking for a fresh challenge and is particularly interested in being involved in online retail.

Would Vasundhara suit any of the roles you have available?

Wrong

Are you sure? Vasundhara has some skills that could be very useful in our team.

Right!

Although she hasn’t worked in e-commerce before, it sounds like Vasundhara certainly has the skills that we need for our Products role.

Wrong

Perhaps not for this role, but with her skills there is definitely a place for Vasundhara. Try another role, paying particular attention to her areas of expertise.

Well done!

You’ve managed to put together a decent team there.

But how are all of these different people wanting to do different things with the website going to work together without getting in each other's way?

That’s where a Content Management System (CMS) comes in.

Content management systems allow you to develop scalable, customisable websites which can fulfil a number of roles. Let's look at a few of these.

Squarespace

Squarespace is an online website builder. It allows people and companies to create and edit a website very quickly.

Strengths

  • Quick and easy to get a web presence
  • Well designed templates

Weaknesses

  • Restricted by the templates available
  • No customisation

Wordpress

Wordpress is a free and open-source content management system allowing people to create blogs and websites that they can edit themselves.

Strengths

  • Lots of themes available for little money
  • Lots of plugins and extensions available to allow you to do pretty much anything
  • Can be customised

Weaknesses

  • Needs a developer to customise if there is not a plugin that does what you want
  • Primarily a blog system - other functionalities have been bolted on
  • Plugins can become out of date when Wordpress releases an update

Joomla

Joomla is another free and open-source content management system that allows people/companies to control the content of their website.

Strengths

  • Large community that can help with issues
  • Can be customised to do what you want

Weaknesses

  • Needs a developer to customise if there is not a plugin or extension that does what you want
  • E-commerce is an add-on as Joomla is not primarily for building e-commerce websites.

Shopify

An e-commerce focused Content Management System on Shopify’s own servers.

Strengths

  • A tried and trusted e-commerce solution maintained by Shopify
  • Create a functioning shop very quickly

Weaknesses

  • Functionality cannot be customised
  • Templates can be restrictive and complex

Magento

An open-source free e-commerce system that has everything an online shop needs.

Strengths

  • Very customisable if you have a developer
  • Lots of plugins and extensions available
  • Good for large scale shops
  • Strong Search Engine Optimisation

Weaknesses

  • Developer is definitely required
  • Can be complex to install
  • Can be slow if not on the right server
  • Homepage cannot be easily customised

Which CMS?

Which CMS would be the most appropriate for you e-commerce site; this is your checklist:

  • Customisable
  • E-commerce focused
  • Strong SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) Tools

Wrong

Are you sure? Check the requirements and the Strenths and Weaknesses of each CMS again.

Good choice!

Great. So you have your CMS, now to make sure that your team can do their jobs. What sections of the site should they have access to:

Donnie, Marketing Manager

Your Marketing Manager is responsible for the visual appearance of your website, the messages on the graphics that promote your products and your regular promotional emails to users that have subscribed

Looking at the job description, what two areas will Donnie primarily need access to?

Site sections

Apply access settings

Not quite. Remember as a Marketing Manager is responsible for the visual appearance of your website, the messages on the graphics that promote your products and your regular promotional emails to users that have subscribed. Try again.

Good. Scroll on for Amanda...

Amanda, SEO Officer

The SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) team need to make sure the site uses all the right keywords to rank highly in search engines. They can do this by optimising meta tags and the text on product pages.

Looking at the job description, what two areas will Amanda primarily need access to?

Site sections

Apply access settings

Not quite. The SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) team need to make sure the site uses all the right keywords to rank highly in search engines. They can do this by optimising meta tags and the text on product pages. Try again.

Good. Scroll on for Claire...

Claire, Warehouse and Fulfilment Manager

Your fulfilment team need access to the orders generated, as well as the ability to increase stock levels when new stock arrives at the warehouse.

Looking at the job description, what two areas will Claire primarily need access to?

Site sections

Apply access settings

Not quite. Your fulfilment team need access to the orders generated, as well as the ability to increase stock levels when new stock arrives at the warehouse. Try again.

Good. Scroll on for Pete...

Pete, Accounts

Your accounts team need access to all orders generated to send invoices.

Looking at the job description, what two areas will Pete primarily need access to?

Site sections

Apply access settings

Not quite. Your accounts team need access to all orders generated to send invoices. Try again.

Good. Scroll on for Arsundhara...

Arsundhara, Product Content Manager

Your products team makes sure that new products are added to the website, old ones are removed and that product descriptions and photography are accurate. They also need to keep an eye on the stock level to make sure popular products are replenished.

Looking at the job description, what two areas will Arsundhara primarily need access to?

Site sections

Apply access settings

Not quite. Your products team make sure that new products are added to the website, old ones are removed and that product descriptions and photography are accurate. They also need to keep an eye on stock level to make sure popular products are replenished. Try again.

Great stuff. Scroll on...

Well done!

You have the team, and you have the tools – you've put together an effective combination

In the next step, we’ll have a look at some of the systems that exist to aid collaboration.

Next step