Content management or CMS system allows you to build dynamic websites, which can be later maintained with a web browser.

The overriding goal of CMS is to separate site content from site design. In practical terms, that means a Web guru shouldn’t have to be hired to update your site content and make sure it winds up in the right spot. And when the site content does go up, the structure shouldn’t mess with the surrounding page layout.

Keeping your website up to date with pertinent new content is vitally important in establishing credibility and bringing visitors back on a regular basis.

If you know HTML, creating new pages and inserting them into your site might be the best way to manage content. Static HTML pages have the advantage of being visible to search engines and easy to keep track of if you use a standard naming scheme and don’t have too many pages to manage. For many websites, static HTML pages are the right approach.

However, if you publish large quantities of information on your website, or if the information on your site changes frequently, a content management system (CMS) may be a better answer. A good CMS will allow non-technical content managers to add and update content to your website.

Take a closer look at two reliable Open Source content management systems: