Articles - Page 149

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/andycohen">Andy Cohen</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/deane"> </a>is the founding architect of Sitecore XM Cloud. He is VP/Chief Architect at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.altudo.co/">Altudo</a>, and a CMS Critic contributor. <hr /> When people talk about personalization, they often mean “the right content to the right person at the right time.” That idea is now past tense.I have watched this shift play out up close, from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore’s</a> early rules-based personalization, through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentstack">Contentstack’s</a> use of edge-based personalization in a composable architecture, to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/optimizely">Optimizely’s</a> launch of Opal, a system of marketing AI agents. Personalization no longer stops at swapping content on a page. It now reaches into the interaction itself, and soon, into the relationships agents form with one another.<h3 id="when-agents-adapt-to-us">When Agents Adapt to Us</h3>That shift, from “what” to “how,” is where the major CMS players are already moving, and you can see it in the different bets they're making:<ul><li>Contentstack has put its weight behind <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/livin-on-the-edge-contentstacks-new-adaptive-dxp-might-just-rock-your-world">EDGE</a>, which they call a hyper-personalization platform. It blends their headless CMS with a real-time CDP, AI, and automation. The goal is simple but ambitious: deliver one-to-one experiences in the moment and at scale. Because it is composable, brands can adapt interactions without locking themselves into rigid patterns. What strikes me about EDGE is that it reframes personalization as something continuous, not a campaign you set and forget.</li><li>Optimizely has taken another route with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/optimizely-opal-gets-supercharged-for-agentic-ai-powering-infinite-use-cases-for-marketers">Opal</a>. Instead of a single assistant, Opal is built as a collection of agents that act like members of a marketing team. There is a campaign manager agent, a personalization advisor, a market researcher, and more. With the 2.0 release, Optimizely put the emphasis on letting these agents collaborate and run multi-step workflows across content, data, and experimentation. I have seen teams spend weeks coordinating those same steps manually. Opal hints at a world where marketing execution is handled by an ensemble of digital teammates who can plan, act, and adjust together.</li><li>Sitecore has focused on bringing assistance directly into daily work. Through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sitecore.com/products/sitecore-stream">Stream</a>, they have introduced AI copilots that support authors and marketers in real time as they draft and optimize campaigns. On top of that, Sitecore’s partnership with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/sitecore-sharpens-ai-focus-with-strategic-partnership-and-new-leadership-appointments">Gradial</a> shows how agentic workflows can extend into campaign execution. It is not just about smarter editors or quicker drafts. It is about agents that can carry intent through to delivery and adapt along the way. For a company that has lived for years in the world of static content publishing, that is a meaningful step forward.</li></ul>None of these approaches feels like a gimmick.They are different answers to the same problem: personalization is no longer about what content you are shown, it is about how the interaction unfolds. Whether that happens through hyper-personalization at the edge, through orchestrated marketing agents, or via copilots and execution partners, the shift is real and already in motion.<h3 id="what-nondeterminism-really-means">What Nondeterminism Really Means</h3>Most software behaves like math: 2 + 2 always equals 4. Generative AI does not. Ask it to draft a thank-you note and you will get three different answers, all plausible, none identical. That variability is what we call nondeterminism.It is the very thing that makes AI feel creative, but also the reason it needs personalization to stay useful. As <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://parivedasolutions.com/perspectives/managing-the-non-deterministic-nature-of-generative-ai/">Pariveda Solutions points out</a>, nondeterminism is what makes AI flexible and creative, but it also introduces governance challenges that remain unresolved. In my own work with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/getting-loud-with-xm-cloud-sitecore-reports-100-growth-of-its-ai-powered-cloud-based-cms">XM Cloud,</a> I have seen how unpredictable outcomes can be a feature if the system adapts well – and a liability if it does not.<h3 id="when-agents-adapt-to-each-other">When Agents Adapt to Each Other</h3>The next frontier is agents adapting not just to us but to each other. Nondeterminism multiplies when two autonomous systems interact. They need ways to converge on workable outcomes.Sometimes that looks like adjusting communication style, where one agent is structured and terse, another free-form and verbose. Sometimes, it means learning to accept differences in task style, such as fast approximation versus cautious step-by-step reasoning. Other times it's about role negotiation: who leads, who validates, who escalates.And sometimes it is memory. Agents do not just adapt in the moment; they remember. That memory can look like a grudge. A search agent that hallucinated last time will get fact-checked the next. A procurement agent that botched a deal may face stricter oversight. Even first impressions stick. If an agent’s very first hand-off is sloppy, the other agent may never fully trust it, no matter how good the later work becomes.Humans behave the same way. In corporate life, one bad kickoff meeting can color a partnership for months. Agents will carry those patterns too.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.deepset.ai/blog/ai-agents-and-deterministic-workflows-a-spectrum"> Deepset calls this the “spectrum of determinism to nondeterminism</a>.” I call it relationship management.<h3 id="everyday-illustrations">Everyday Illustrations</h3>Picture a grocery agent told to buy apples if they are $0.99 a pound. A deterministic system comes back empty because they are $1.09. An adaptive one checks with you, “They are a little higher today. Should I buy anyway?” That is useful, until the store’s own agent learns to nudge yours into paying even more.Or ride-hailing. You set a $20 target. The price surges to $23. Do you want your agent to decline, wait, or decide on its own? What happens when the ride-share’s agent starts upselling yours into priority pickup at $28?Or travel. You say, “Book me a flight under $500.” The system finds none. A flexible agent returns with, “There is one at $525 with better times. Should I grab it?” Helpful, but it shows how quickly rules can bend.In the enterprise, this gets thornier. Procurement policies might cap software licenses at $50 per seat. A deterministic agent halts the deal. A personalized one negotiates to $55 and closes it. That looks like a win until you realize the vendor’s agent deliberately anchored higher, knowing yours would flex upward.Healthcare raises the stakes even more. You ask for an appointment with your doctor next week. A rigid agent says none available. A personalized one offers a nurse practitioner tomorrow or a specialist in two weeks. That looks like a better experience, but it could also push you toward higher-margin services instead of the care you really wanted.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/deterministic-ai/">Salesforce has written about this exact problem</a> of when to script agents tightly and when to let them roam. I see it every day in delivery projects. Too rigid and you frustrate users. Too loose and you open the door to manipulation.<h3 id="agents-that-carry-“you”-with-them">Agents That Carry “You” With Them</h3>Now push it further. Imagine your agent not only executes tasks but carries your personality footprint into every interaction. If you are cost-sensitive, it pushes harder. If you are time-poor, it pays more for speed. If you are detail-driven, it double-checks everything.What if you could swap personas entirely?<ul><li>"Frugal Andy" does the grocery shopping</li><li>"Executive Andy" books the flights</li><li>"Playful Andy" explores games and hobbies.</li></ul>Your agent would not only personalize to you. It would personalize as you.But there is risk in this. If the other agent knows who you are or which persona you are using, it can adapt back. That can be powerful when aligned with your goals, but it can also be exploited. Imagine a vendor agent that recognizes executive mode and steers you toward premium packages.This is not hypothetical. Optimizely’s Opal agents already act like different team members depending on context. Contentstack’s Brand Kit lets you define voice profiles and store guidelines so that every AI-generated artifact reflects your identity. Sitecore’s Stream copilots are designed to guide content creators in real time, aligning their work with brand and role expectations.These are early signals of a future where agents carry pieces of us, including quirks, preferences, and even biases, into every exchange.<h3 id="why-this-matters">Why This Matters</h3>This is why nondeterminism is not a flaw but the feature. Deterministic systems did not need personalization. There was only one output. Nondeterministic systems can go in many directions, and personalization is what prevents chaos.The best metaphor I know is jazz. Musicians improvising do not know exactly where the others will go. They adapt, they respond, they personalize their playing to the group. The music works not because it is scripted but because the players trust each other enough to bend and flex.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/seizing-the-agentic-ai-advantage">McKinsey has argued</a> that this adaptability is the defining advantage of agentic AI. From what I have seen in publishing systems, SaaS cost optimization, and large-scale CMS migrations, I agree. The resilience comes not from rigid plans but from the ability to adapt in context.<h3 id="what-leaders-should-prepare-for">What Leaders Should Prepare For</h3>Leaders should focus on their readiness in key areas. For example, trust frameworks must extend beyond human-agent interactions into agent-to-agent ecosystems. Standards cannot stay as fixed APIs; they need flexibility built in. Identity management has to protect personality profiles and alter egos from misuse. And agents must be able to remember not just what they did for us, but how they worked with others.<h3 id="the-future-of-personalization">The Future of Personalization</h3>Personalization started with content. It evolved into experiences. Now, it is moving into interactions – first with humans and then with other agents.If we get this right, nondeterminism will not be something to suppress. It will be the source of resilience, adaptability, and creativity. The companies that thrive will not just personalize their websites. They will personalize their agents. Those agents will adapt to us, and to each other, in ways that reflect who we are or even who we choose to be.And like humans, they will remember. First impressions will matter. Grudges may form. And relationships between agents will start to look a lot like relationships between people. <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:31.61%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/storyblok-joyconf-2025-logo.jpg" /><h4 id="storyblok-joyconf-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Storyblok JoyConf 2025</a></h4>October 14-15, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands November 4, 2025 – New York, NY November 6, 2025 – Los Angeles, CAJoin us at JoyConf 2025, where the future of content meets the people shaping it. Built for developers, marketers, and digital innovators, this free conference goes way beyond product updates or yet another strategy playbook. It’s where you’ll get inspired, get real, and get connected – to ideas, to the community, and to what’s possible when you build joyfully. Whether you're building lightning-fast frontends or launching cross-channel campaigns, this is where content becomes connection and collaboration becomes second nature. Come for the talks. Stay for the community. Leave with joy. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Save your spot.</a> <img style="width:28.9%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/sitecore-symposium-2025.jpg" /><h4 id="sitecore-symposium-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Sitecore Symposium 2025</a></h4>November 3-5, 2025 – Orlando, FLAt Sitecore Symposium, you’ll learn how to meet your customers where they are – across channels, moments, and touchpoints that didn’t exist a year ago. You’ll hear how the boldest brands in the world are transforming content into outcomes and creating experiences that are fast, relevant, and human. Join 1,500 marketers, digital leaders, and technologists in Orlando to see what’s possible when personalization scales, AI accelerates creativity, and trust becomes your competitive edge. This is the Third Wave of the Internet. And this is your moment to lead in it. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Get your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:31.44%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/cms-kickoff-2026-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">CMS Kickoff 2026</a></h4>January 13-14, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FLMeet industry leaders at our fourth annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global CMS event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">so secure your tickets today.</a>

Agent-to-Agent Personalization: Trust, First Impressions, and the 'Grudge' Factor

andycohen

Colours CMS is a user friendly content management system built by the Norway-based design &amp; communication company, <a href="http://www.colours.no/" target="_blank">Colours</a>.
Originally established in 2002, Colours is a, “strategic design &amp; communication company with expertise in the offshore oil &amp; gas and maritime industries.” The company have demonstrated their dedication to next-generation technology by developing <a href="http://www.colourscms.no/" target="_blank">Colours CMS</a>.
Their content management system is currently only offered to their own customers, although they have plans in place to bring the platform to a wider, more public audience in the future.
Colours' aim was to construct a content management system from the ground up to enhance usability without it causing limitations to the functionality.
So, let's see if they succeeded.
<h2>Initial Thoughts</h2>
The team over at Colours CMS were kind enough to give me administrative access to some pre-built websites in order to test out the capabilities of their platform.
As soon as I began my exploration through the long list of websites they provided me with, I immediately realized that I was in for an extremely easy ride. It all looked so clean and simple.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/0_5.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Many of the pre-built sites were part of a network of websites, all built under Colours CMS for easy admin access.
After signing in as an administrator, you will be presented with a screen allowing you to select which website you would like to manage. After you make your choice, you aren't taken to the website back end as you would expect.
<h2>Getting Started</h2>
Instead of being taken to the back end, you will see your website as visitors would, with some very handy widgets available across the bottom of the screen. 
 
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/2_1700x0.png" alt="Colours CMS" /> 
 These widgets are neatly presented across the bottom of every page you visit on your website, allowing you to make use of the drag-and-drop and WYSIWYG features everywhere you go, placing content blocks wherever you want them to be. It all works pretty seamlessly.
<h2>Widgets</h2>
This live-edit admin panel – along with all its widgets, allows you to quickly and easily live-edit your Colours CMS website.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/1_1700x0.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Below, is a list of the widgets which can be found on this live-edit admin panel.
<h3>Text</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/text700x0.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Selecting the text option inserts a text block with a headline and some example text, both of which can be modified. You can change font sizes, styles, set alignments, add hyperlinks, and more, all without leaving the page you're live-editing.
<h3>Image</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/image.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Adding an image is similarly easy. The content block immediately appears, allowing you to add an image which you can either upload, or fetch from a URL. Additionally, you can link the images to specific links, and even resize them using the built-in image resizer. Images can also be used within text blocks.
<h3>Video</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/video.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
YouTube videos can be embedded using the video widget. Videos are accessible from the file manager, can be placed on any page, and support all YouTube control like full screen view, volume control, and so forth. You can also set videos to play automatically, or to play on repeat.
<h3>Feed</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/feed.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
The feed widget allows you to aggregate content on your page. You can create a list of files, links, articles, pages, events or even external content. You can set the size of the list, and even the style in which it is displayed.
<h3>Slideshow</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/slide.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
The slideshow widget is pretty self explanatory. Much like adding images, the slideshow content block enables you to organise images into a slideshow, where you can set the amount of sliders you wish to have, and adjust the size and position of the slideshow on the page.
<h3>Tables</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/tables.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Tables of information can be presented easily using the tables widget. You can define a set number of rows and columns, populate them with content, and place them anywhere on your page.
<h3>Code</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/code.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
If you're looking to get your hands dirty with some good old coding, Colours CMS can cater for you. The code widget allows you to insert HTML, Javascript, CSS and other elements like QR codes.
<h3>Forms</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/form.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Whether you want to embed a contact for or a registration form, the forms widget can help. You can re-use existing forms, create new ones, set particular users to manage the form, and so forth.
<h3>Maps</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/maps.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Colours CMS works seamlessly with Google Maps via their maps widget. Thanks to the platforms use of the Google Map API , you can quickly create and insert interactive maps into your website.
<h3>Products</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/product.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Using the products widget, you can display product search boxes, category menus and product pages to show off whatever your company has to offer. Headers can be added, along with advanced search options.
<h3>People</h3>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/people.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
With the people widget, you can list staff names, descriptions and bios, or even list particular departments of your organization. This widget also allows website visitors to search for people on the list.
Additional options on the live-edit admin panel allow you to view the website as a visitor, access your user profile, create pages, articles and publish any new page changes.
All the features of the live-edit admin panel are extremely easy to use. They all automatically appear as modules on the page when you select them, allowing you to populate them either directly, or via a pop-up window.
The modules can then be moved around the page using the drag-and-drop functionality.
<h2>The Back End</h2>
On top of the core features listed above, all of which are within easy reach thanks to the live-edit admin panel, Colours CMS does of course have an actual admin back end.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/backend700x0.png" alt="Colours CMS" /> 
By navigating to “Manage”, “More” and then “Backend” on live-edit admin panel, you will be taken to a page which some further options and information about your website.
Key information about your website can also be changed via the back end. Things like site names, contact details, user roles and more can all be modified.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/backend2.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Additional options for things like Google Analytics codes also exist in the back end, along with the option to enable cross-publishing – which comes in handy if you are running more than one website on Colours CMS. 

<h2>Adding Pages</h2>
Creating brand new pages with Colours CMS is simple thanks to the option being present on the live-edit admin panel.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/page.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
You can choose between creating a standalone page, a page which redirects to another link, or even a clone of an existing page. Moreover, you can add tags to the page, define the template you wish to use, and then start adding images, videos and other widgets.
The option to set pages as children or parent pages of other existing pages also exist. This means you can define exactly where the page appears on menus.
<h2>Adding Articles</h2>
In a similar way to adding pages, you can also add articles, as the option to do so is once again right there on the live-edit admin panel.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/articles.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Articles are like blog posts, ideal for publishing news and general information about your organization. During the process of adding a new article, you can define a header, an introductory paragraph, and tags. You can then add media, text, and so forth.
<h2>File Management</h2>
Managing documents, images, videos, slides and more are all integral for any website owner. Colours CMS does a good job of presenting uploaded media in a neat fashion.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/file_manager700x0.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Using the live-editing admin panel, you can quickly navigate to the file manager, where all media is categorised and listed. You can browse by searching, switching between categories, or toggling between listing types.
It's great that reaching your media is also an option on the live-editing admin panel, as the last thing you want to be doing is leaving the page when attempting to piece together a slideshow or page.
<h2>Templates &amp; Design</h2>
Colours CMS offer new users a look at a range of pre-designed websites, each with its own theme. Each of the themes have unique templates and multiple page layouts built in to them.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/templates.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
At the time or writing, Colours' custom build websites come with three or four page layouts for example, whereas others may offer only two – depending on the needs of the user.
These layouts are used in order to place content blocks and modules via the drag-and-drop system.
At the time of writing, all Colours CMS websites are limited to their pre-defined templates. It’s currently not possible to customize the templates nor are there any shared templates. Thankfully, the module-positioning system helps to add some flexibility.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/templates2700x0.png" alt="Colours CMS" />
Although these layouts are well designed and work well, it would be great to see Colours CMS implement a specific selection of themes are page layouts for all their sample websites, so that users may pick and choose the designs which they like most.
Interestingly, Colours CMS have indicated that they do indeed plan on create several standard templates that new users can select from, along with the option to change and try out these templates.
<h2>Getting Help</h2>
Seeking out help for your website when you run into difficulty is hugely important. Thankfully, If you become a Colours CMS user, there are a fair amount of ways to get access to help and support.
From the beginning, the company offer new users the option of having a 1-2 hour hands-on training session to familiarize themselves with the functions of the content management system.
Furthermore, you can make use of Colours CMS' direct office phone line or support email address to get your issues resolved.
However, at the moment, only the core features of Colours CMS are defined on their website, but that's as far as it goes.  It would have been great to see some more detailed end-user information and documentation, along with some online support solutions, such as forums or online chat.
<h2> The Verdict</h2>
Colours CMS is brilliantly simplistic. The live-edit admin panel which floats at the bottom of every page is the ideal way to quickly and easily modify page elements.
With the drag-and-drop content management features, paired with the impressive WYSIWYG editor, you can create beautiful looking web pages in a very short space of time. Images, videos, forms, slideshows and more can all be incorporated with just a few clicks, making it quite fun to peice together a good looking website.
Yet, improvements can of course be made. The ability to customize page layouts, or perhaps even create your own, would greatly impact the way in which Colours CMS is used, opening up the door to user creativity. A lack of user documentation, independent themes, widgets and plugins also hinder the platform somewhat.
All in all however, Colours CMS delivers on what it promises to. The usability of the platform is excellent, whilst there is also plenty of functionality to experiment with. Without a doubt, Colours CMS has itself a fantastic foundation to build upon going into the future.
 Pros 
<ul>
<li>Colours CMS is supremely easy to manage, thanks to the live-edit admin panel, as well as a fully functioning admin back end for more detailed settings.</li>
<li>Elegant pre-defined themes and page layouts make the websites aesthetically pleasing.</li>
<li>Good range of widgets available, including slideshows, maps and products.</li>
<li>Creating pages and articles are just as easy as creating a widget.</li>
<li>Users can be added and modified easily.</li>
<li>File management is made simple, with the live-editing admin panel giving you quick access to all uploaded media.</li>
<li>Multiple websites can be managed in networks, with cross-publishing making content management easier.</li>
<li>The entire platform is well constructed, with simplicity in mind. To put it simply, it looks professional – and that's very important.</li>
</ul>
 Cons 
<ul>
<li>There is a distinct lack of end user documentation and online support options.</li>
<li>Themes and templates are predefined, with no option to customise, or mix and match page layouts between themes.</li>
<li>In order to appeal to a wider, more public market, open-source theme, widget and plugin libraries or marketplaces need to be introduced in some form, as the core functionality of Colours CMS isn't breaking any boundaries, despite being a joy to use.</li>
</ul>
<h2> Final Remarks 
</h2>
In conclusion, Colours CMS is excellent for the job it currently has on its hands, but needs some adjusting if it is to be successful when introduced to a wider audience.
At the time of writing, Colours CMS is primarily for clients and customers of Colours. They build bespoke websites for their clients, offer basic training, and then allow their clients to enjoy tweaking and adding to their brand new website via their content management system.
This has evidently been a successful way of working, but a public audience will want far greater freedom. Theme, widget and plugin “marketplaces” would be hugely welcome, whilst a wider range of user documentation and online support options would also help round off the platform. However, apart from that, it's an extremely pleasant CMS to use, with a healthy amount of functionality.
Perhaps the most promising aspect of Colours CMS, is that the developers have recognised the need to adapt for the public market, and seem ready to do so. You can't really ask for much more than that.
Want to see <a href="http://www.colourscms.no" target="_blank">Colours CMS</a> in more detail? <a href="http://www.colourscms.no/page/6285/Contact" target="_blank">Click here to schedule a live demo</a>.

Colours CMS Review

mike-johnston

Oxwall 1.6 was released recently and brings with it a number of new additions to the popular open source community software / social networking CMS.
With each new release of Oxwall, the team brings a new theme to the CMS and this release is no exception. The new theme, entitled München, is not only a shoutout to the town but also a great example of the attractiveness of the platform.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/munchen-1024x513845x0.jpg" alt="oxwall new theme" />
On the topic of theming, this release also introduces automatic theme updates directly from the Oxwall servers, just like their plugins currently do. This is a great addition and helps you stay on top of the latest changes.
In addition, the new social share plugin included in this release offers easily integrated share buttons beneath your content (see screenshot below).
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/social_share845x0.png" alt="oxwall social share" />
The most important new change in this release, however, is the introduction of mobile responsiveness to the platform. This isn't just a responsive theme or hack to make your content mobile friendly, the entire platform has been redeveloped to ensure full functionality on all major phone browsers (including an increase in performance).
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/img_4691.jpg" />
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/img_7274.png" />
Check it out today: <a href="http://oxwall.org">Oxwall Community Software</a>

Oxwall 1.6 brings new themes, social sharing and mobile responsiveness to their open source community software

Marketing and IT departments are always perfectly aligned, with systems in place that guarantee every goal of the organization is effortlessly met.
Does this sound like your company? If it does, you can stop reading here and return to your utopian existence. For those of us who live in the real world, let’s talk about the different pressures marketing and IT face and how a CMS bridges organizational gaps.
Let’s start with marketing. In most companies, marketing is tasked with: lead generation, product positioning, thought leadership and general communication. Of course, this is an oversimplification but, for the sake of this article, it suffices to illustrate that content creation and distribution comprise the root of marketing’s day to day activities. Without content being constantly pushed to market, it is impossible to accomplish any important marketing goals. Common tasks like updating the company website to announce new products, services, projects, news items, fundraising initiatives, and events need to be done regularly. Doing this work needs to be fast, easy, and controlled by the marketing department. 
A CMS empowers communication by putting control back into the marketers’ hands; giving them the tools they need to create and publish content instantly. A good CMS contains features specifically designed to help marketers manage company webpages, schedule webpage publication, and have content removed automatically when it’s no longer relevant. A CMS should also give the marketer complete control over workflow of projects, not merely acting as a publication tool. With this in mind, it makes sense for the marketing team to choose the right CMS for their needs and to utilize its functionality to accomplish more sophisticated marketing projects.
At this point, if you are your companies IT professional, I bet you’ve broken out in a cold sweat. With the responsibilities of keeping the company infrastructure running smoothly, your concerns surely include system security and ensuring that the website (along with all the other pieces of IT infrastructure) continues to work properly. Maintaining control over tools and keeping non-technical users (like the marketing team) out of your systems is the safest course of action. With this strategy there is no risk that a bumbling marketing team will make a mistake that you’ll have to clean up. 
As every IT professional knows, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Unfortunately, with control comes the burden of responsibility. If you don’t grant the marketers’ access to the CMS, they’ll be forced to rely on you to publish content. With marketing constantly creating and revising content, it means you have to have more resources to accommodate them or restrict how often content can be updated. This is place where the conflict lies, arguments rage, work doesn’t get done and everyone gets ulcers.
So here’s how the CMS rides in on a white horse and saves the day:
<a name="_GoBack"></a>A modern CMS enables the marketing team to create and publish content as well as launch campaigns. This means that the people tasked with marketing are not in the IT office complaining or loading your ticketing system with requests for website updates. The CMS vendor should provide technical support for the tool so that the IT department does not need software experts on staff to troubleshoot if something goes wrong. As a stakeholder in the selection of a CMS vendor, you’ll want to know that they provide the service and technical support your organization needs. 
If you want to learn more about the value a service-enriched CMS, <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/confidence-and-support-why-a-cms-vendor-should-provide-more-than-just-software/">check out this article.</a> There are significant advantages to seeking out a SaaS based CMS. With a good cloud-based CMS, IT is no longer responsible for maintaining and patching the software or worrying if it will run your local hardware.
Imagine a world where there is no conflict between marketing and IT because they don’t rely on each other to be successful in their respective jobs. What a wonderful world it would be…

IT vs. Marketing: Stop the Bloodshed

With the release of version 9.1 of its multi-channel publishing system Enterprise, WoodWing continues to further advance easy multi-channel publishing and communication, from creation of content to distribution via various channels. With new options to quickly label content during production and to efficiently tag content destined for the Web, WoodWing addresses issues often seen as problematic and time-consuming. Updated connectors for Facebook and Twitter embed the social media channels fully transparent into daily multi-channel publishing workflows.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/woodwing-pr-enterprise91919x0.jpg" />
The new version 9.1 of WoodWing´s multi-channel publishing system Enterprise offers updated connectors for Twitter and Facebook (left), enables slide shows for web sites (middle) and supports the tag suggestion service Open Calais (bottom) (Click to enlarge).
WoodWing introduced version 9 of its publishing system Enterprise in early September of 2013, paving the way for further innovation in multi-channel publishing. With version 9.1 of Enterprise, WoodWing further refines the way publishers, agencies and marketing departments can efficiently create content and distribute it via any channel to reach their audiences.
<h3>More efficient content management</h3>
In Content Station – WoodWing’s editorial management application – all content related to a specific story is collected in a dossier. Version 9.1 offers new functionality to label the content in a dossier, enabling users to quickly filter their content to see only what they want to see. WoodWing also added support for slideshows for the Web, eased the creation of related dossiers, and added a number of other improvements users have been requesting. 
<h3>Semantic tagging made easy</h3>
For many users, quickly tagging content for the Web – making online content more accessible and valuable – is still a cumbersome and time-consuming activity. Enterprise 9.1 offers flexible tagging options out-of-the-box. Users can add their own tags, use pre-defined tags and use a tag suggestion service, depending on the required way of working. Enterprise ships with an integration with <a href="http://www.opencalais.com/" target="_blank">Open Calais</a> – a service from Thomson Reuters. Open Calais analyzes the text targeted for the Web and returns tagging suggestions users can directly apply to their articles. Leveraging its open plug-in architecture, Enterprise can also support other semantic systems.
<h3>Using Facebook and Twitter to promote your brand and content</h3>
WoodWing also released updated connectors to integrate Facebook and Twitter fully transparent in the daily multi-channel workflow, making it easy to promote Web content via the leading social media platforms directly from within Content Station. The Facebook connector also supports the posting of images and the creation of photo albums.
<h3>One system for all channels and any workflow</h3>
<blockquote>
“We want to enable publishers, agencies and marketing departments to manage all their content and media channels using just one application,” said Erik Schut, President of WoodWing. “No matter how the customer wants to work – with one consolidated team responsible for all channels or separate teams for print, online and digital, we support all workflows.”
</blockquote>
Enterprise 9.1, including the editorial management application Content Station, is available immediately as a perpetual purchase license as well as in an attractive subscription model with monthly fees.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/p8wVLHLOHMA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<h3>WoodWing Trend Survey</h3>
Currently WoodWing conducts a survey on the publishing trends 2014 – which “First” strategy and which social media platforms will be in the focus worldwide, what are the most common goals for the use of social media, and more.The questionnaire can be found at http://ow.ly/rQBHx (deadline is January 15, 2014). Participants have the chance to win an Apple TV.

WoodWing Enterprise 9.1 – the next steps in multi-channel publishing innovation

In both small and large organizations, Sales and Marketing functions are interconnected. These two teams have never been more entwined than they are today. As the majority of Marketing efforts goes digital the ability to generate and qualify leads and pass information rich prospects to Sales means a shortened Sales cycle and more Sales. Creating an efficient interface between Marketing and Sales can be accomplished by implementing best practices and excellent technology.
While Sales and Marketing can operate independently, they can only reach the pinnacle of effectiveness when working together towards the common goal of landing new clients. While these two teams travel in the same direction the intersection of Sales and Marketing will always be new leads. Billions of dollars are spent annually by Marketing teams investing in varied tactics to generate coveted leads for their Sales counterparts.
Marketers are responsible for creating content and for publishing that content to receptive prospects. They are also responsible for creating demand and nurturing existing leads through the buying process. Managing advertising, publishing blog content, writing whitepapers, and maintaining their organization’s website should result in leads that the Sales team can close. On the other side of the wall the Sales team is responsible for their process of accepting the Lead, Qualification, Project Scoping, Negotiations and Closing the deals. Each team under pressure to deliver the results their organization needs to be successful.
“More leads, more leads!” is the message that comes from the Sales team. “Where are the leads I gave you last week?” asks Marketing. It is the inevitable debate about the quality of the leads. Sales teams complaining about the quality of leads gives Marketing migraines; putting Marketing in a defensive position, trying to justify their work, and usually under intense scrutiny from senior management.
Advances in technology have brought much-needed insight and a level of accountability to this process. Modern marketers can focus their attention and budget dollars on developing digital campaigns and engagement with their audience. Each component of these efforts is tracked using their CMS and email Marketing tools and synced to the company’s CRM. With tracking in place, marketers can illustrate how they have nurtured leads through the demand process and into the Sales funnel. The conversation between Sales and Marketing can shift to talking about which strategies are effective and bearing fruit rather than debating the definition of “quality”.
There is no doubt the data gathered from prospects behaviors (such as downloading a whitepaper or registering to attend an upcoming webinar) has value to both Sales and Marketing. Sales can use this data to assess the stage a prospect is in on the buying journey while the same data allows Marketing to further segment leads and deliver relevant, targeted messaging. Connecting your CMS to your CRM provides even more information to both the Sales and Marketing teams than has ever been available before. This insight into the prospects’ journey deepens the relationship and provides intimate details to the Sales team; giving them the foundation to nurture and move the prospects through the Sales funnel. With rich insight into the types of content that attracted prospects, Sales can pitch the right message to prospect. Ensuring that initial conversations that are relevant to potential customers’ needs and interests means building trust faster and shorter Sales cycles. Marketing is also rewarded as they are able to see the leads life-cycle beyond their own efforts. This data can be used as the basis for content development, campaign development, Marketing strategy and overall success.
Leads entering the pipeline can be viewed in the CRM by Sales with the details of their journey included. This invaluable data is now available for Sales to harness and used to determine the validity of the leads. Marketing can see what leads are being accepted and what leads are being rejected. T Data gathered through the Demand/Lead Generation and Sales processes create an environment for informed decision-making. Even if we are passionate about what we do, emotions are removed from the equation, and the data speaks for itself.
Through their CMS, Marketing learns the effectiveness of their campaigns and which type of campaigns result in the best leads for their Sales team through campaign analytics. Since they have visibility into campaign metrics; Marketing is equipped with data to optimize effective campaigns and discontinue ineffective campaigns. Reiteration based on real data empowers campaigns. Opportunities can be associated to a specific campaign and lead source, thus alleviating the question – “Where did this lead come from?” Conversations between Sales and Marketing are more meaningful when they are based on metrics driven by both parties’ efforts. We can clearly see where we have succeeded and where we have room for improvement and all of this is made possible by having the right tools in place, including a powerful CMS
Sales &amp; Marketing teams have different day to day tasks. Related but not necessarily dependent, their goals have to be a reflection of each other’s efforts. Marketing launches intelligently crafted targeted campaigns with the ultimate goal of generating good qualified leads for Sales. Sales accepts these leads and continues the nurturing process to a close. It is a carefully choreographed dance that can only be mastered with time, practice and the right tools.

Sales & Marketing – Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers or Oil and Water?

CMS Critic is a media sponsor for <a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/">JahiaOne</a>, the first international Jahia user conference being held in Paris, France on February 6th and 7th of this year. JahiaOne is an exciting opportunity for Jahia developers, users, clients and partners to meet, share their experience and discover Jahia's upcoming versions. 
Below is the current program for the event as of this writing, you can check for the most current program <a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/program">here</a>. For a list of sessions and more details, visit the conference website at <a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/">JahiaOne</a>.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/logo-jahiaone.png" />
<h2>Day 1 : 6 Feb 2014</h2>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>TIME</th>
<th>SCHEDULE</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>08:30 AM – 09:00 AM</td>
<td>Welcome Coffee</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09:00 AM – 09:40 AM</td>
<td><a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/opening-keynote">Opening Keynote</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09:45 AM – 10:30 AM</td>
<td><a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/jahia7-discovery">Jahia 7 Discovery</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10:30 AM – 11:00 AM</td>
<td>Coffee and networking</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
<td>Track 1</td>
<td>Track 2 – Jahia R&amp;D Track</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11:00 AM 11:40 AM</td>
<td><a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/abercrombie">Abercombie &amp; Fitch – Customer's testimonial</a></td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/jahia7-welcome-to-OSGi">Jahia 7 architecture: Welcome to OSGi</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11:45 AM – 12:30 PM</td>
<td><a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/homeaway">HomeAway – Customer's testimonial</a></td>
<td><a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/jahia7-more-about-OSGi">Jahia 7 architecture:  Learning more OSGi</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12:30 PM – 02:00 PM</td>
<td>Lunch and networking</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>02:00 PM – 02:40 PM</td>
<td><a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/socomec">Socomec – Customer's testimonial</a></td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/jahia7-advanced-modules">Advanced modules – choose the right strategy</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>02:45 PM – 03:30 PM</td>
<td>– Soon announced –</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/jahia-stutio-new-development-tools">Jahia 7, enter the Studio, new development tools</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>03:30 PM – 04:00 PM</td>
<td>Coffee break and networking</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>04:00 PM – 04:40 PM</td>
<td>– Soon announced –</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/from-development-to-production">Jahia 7, From development to production, the complete lifecycle</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>04:45 PM – 05:30 PM</td>
<td>– Soon announced – </td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/extending-jahia-with-nosql">Extending Jahia with NoSQL. Demos and Showcases</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>05:30 PM – 06:00 PM</td>
<td>Coffee break and  networking</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>06:00 PM – 06:30 PM</td>
<td><a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/certification-exam">Certification Exam prepping: check of every developer's environment</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>07:30 PM- 00:00 AM</td>
<td>Gala Diner!</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h2>Day 2 : 7 Feb 2014</h2>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>TIME</th>
<th>SCHEDULE</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>08:30 AM – 09:00 AM</td>
<td>Welcome Coffee</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09:00 AM – 09:40 AM</td>
<td>Jahia Professional Services</td>
<td><a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/jahia-hyper-performance">Jahia hyper Performance</a></td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/certification-exam">Free Certification Exam</a>
For experienced Jahia developers (we recommend a minimum of one Jahia project over the past 12 months)
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>09:45 AM – 10:30 AM</td>
<td>Upgrade to Jahia 7 </td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/search-and-query">Search API under the hood</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>10:30 AM – 11:00 AM</td>
<td>Coffee break and networking</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11:00 AM – 11:40 AM</td>
<td>– Soon announced – </td>
<td><a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/external-data-provider">Jahia 7, External data Provider</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>11:45 AM – 12:30 PM</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/test-and-debug-before-live">Testing and debugging your project before going live</a>
</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/new-rest-api">Jahia 7 new REST API</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>12:30 PM – 02:00 PM</td>
<td>Lunch and networking</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>02:00 PM – 02:40 PM</td>
<td>
<a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/MVC-in-Jahia7-Using-SpringWebFlow">MVC in Jahia 7 Using Spring Web Flow</a>
</td>
<td>
20mn : <a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/new-admin-panels">Jahia 7 new administration panels</a> 20mn : <a href="http://www.jahiaone.com/home/program/session/bootstrap-less-integration">Bootstrap and less.js Integration Demo</a>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>02:45 PM – 03:30 PM</td>
<td>Closing keynote – what lies ahead</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
We will be there both days live tweeting, taking pictures and writing about the event. If you are going, be sure to hunt either myself or Kaya down and say hello!

Join us at JahiaOne, The First International Jahia User Conference

A new version of Drupal has been released. This maintenance release, Drupal 7.25, includes bug fixes and small API/feature improvements only (no major new functionality).
There were no security fixes made in this release, likely because none were identified.  
Here are the major changes made in this release:
<ul>
<li>Added an optional feature to the Statistics module to allow node views to be tracked by Ajax requests rather than during the server-side generation of the page. This allows the node counter to work on sites that use external page caches (string change and new administrative option: <a href="https://drupal.org/node/2164069">https://drupal.org/node/2164069</a>).</li>
<li>Fixed a bug in node_save() which prevented the saved node from being updated in hook_node_insert() and other similar hooks.</li>
<li>Added a meta tag to install.php to prevent it from being indexed by search engines even when Drupal is installed in a subfolder (minor markup change).</li>
<li>Fixed a bug in the database API that caused frequent deadlock errors when running merge queries on some servers.</li>
<li>Performance improvement: Prevented block rehashing from writing blocks to the database on every cache clear and cron run when the blocks have not changed. This fix results in an extra ‘saved' key which is added and set to TRUE for each block returned by _block_rehash() that actually is saved to the database (data structure change).</li>
<li>Added an optional ‘skip on cron' parameter to hook_cron_queue_info() to allow queues to avoid being automatically processed on cron runs (API addition).</li>
<li>Fixed a bug which caused hook_block_view_MODULE_DELTA_alter() to never be invoked if the block delta had a hyphen in it. To implement the hook when the block delta has a hyphen, modules should now replace hyphens with underscores when constructing the function name for the hook implementation.</li>
<li>Fixed a bug which caused cached pages to sometimes be sent to the browser with incorrect compression. The fix adds a new ‘page_compressed' key to the $cache-&gt;data array returned by drupal_page_get_cache() (minor data structure change).</li>
<li>Fixed broken tests on PHP 5.5.</li>
<li>Made the File and Image modules more robust when saving entities that have deleted files attached. The code in file_field_presave() will now remove the record of the deleted file from the entity before saving (minor data structure change).</li>
<li>Standardized menu callback functions throughout Drupal core to return MENU_NOT_FOUND and MENU_ACCESS_DENIED rather than printing their own “page not found” or “access denied” pages (minor API change in the return value of these functions under some circumstances).</li>
<li>Fixed a bug in which caches were not properly cleared when a node was deleted via the administrative interface.</li>
<li>Changed the Bartik theme to render content contained in &lt;pre&gt;, &lt;code&gt; and similar tags in a larger font size, so it is easier to read.</li>
<li>Fixed a bug in the Search module that caused exceptions to be thrown during searches if the server was not configured to represent decimal points as a period.</li>
<li>Fixed a regression in the Image module that made image_style_url() not work when a relative path (rather than a complete file URI) was passed to it.</li>
<li>Added a link to the drupal.org documentation page for cron to the Cron settings page (string change).</li>
<li>Added a ‘drupal_anonymous_user_object' variable to allow the anonymous user object returned by drupal_anonymous_user() to be overridden with a classed object (API addition).</li>
<li>Changed the database API to allow inserts based on a SELECT * query to work correctly.</li>
<li>Changed the database schema of the {file_managed} table to allow Drupal to manage files larger than 4 GB.</li>
<li>Changed the File module's hook_field_load() implementation to prevent file entity properties which have the same name as file or image field properties from overwriting the field properties (minor API change).</li>
</ul>
For a full list of changes in this release, check out <a href="https://drupal.org/drupal-7.25-release-notes">these release notes</a>.

Drupal 7.25 Released

Call Tracking + AI 

Call Tracking + AI that Turns Calls into Leads

#ffffff

In advance the upcoming winter release of ImpressPages 4.0, the ImpressPages team have asked us to share with you some of the new features and changes about the upcoming release. And here you go!
 So what's new in ImpressPages 4.0? 
 New MVC engine 
ImpressPages CMS 4.0 has a lightweight and clean MVC Framework under the hood. If you are familiar with MVC, you can start coding on ImpressPages CMS straight away by just having a quick look at the file structure. You’ll have access to Request object and your answer will be a Response object or View as it is with most of the frameworks. 
Other MVC implementation details:
<ul>
<li>
Views are plain PHP files. No templating engine;
</li>
<li>
It is an HMVC, so you can do subrequests;
</li>
<li>
Use a tiny helper to execute operations on the database or take a PDO connection.
</li>
</ul>
 PSR standards-compliant class naming and autoloader 
Forget “require” and “include” functions. ImpressPages CMS now loads all classes automatically. And it is extremely simple as filenames identically correspond to the class names.
 IDE autosuggestions always work 
We care a great deal about the coding experience. For this reason, beautiful class structure and methods as well as a clean workflow in your IDE are all present at ImpressPages CMS 4.0. We took care to make IDE autosuggestions always work seamlessly. Whatever method you use, you will always get autosuggested methods by IDE. You will never want to go back once you try this feature.
 Bootstrap styles 
Nice and clean admin panel based on Bootstrap styles is available in the 4.0 release of ImpressPages CMS. This means you can code your own plugins without worrying about CSS. Want to change the default HTML? All view files can be overridden in your theme or plugin.
 Key-Value storage 
ImpressPages CMS 4.0 provides Key-Value storage for all plugins by default. It is implemented in MySQL and can work on any shared hosting. But if you have a real Key-Value engine on your server, you can switch to use it and to improve the performance. The code on the plugin side doesn’t change because of that. As a plugin developer, you no longer need to care about the engine you’re using. Use the same easy set / get functions and create your superfast plugin.
 Options service 
Add different type options to your plugin and theme using json configuration file or setOption / getOption methods. For language specific options, just use appropriate option type and you will have an option for each separate language on your website.
 Easy plugin development 
In ImpressPages CMS 4.0, everything can be achieved by writing a plugin. Each plugin is a single folder in the “Plugin” directory. Your controllers, models, views and assets will now go there. And so your whole business domain can be in a single place. This is unheard of not only in the CMS world, but also among the frameworks! And still, you can move all your PHP code outside of the public directory.
 New translations engine 
Translate any string in your code with a simple function. It works the same as on most frameworks and CMSs.
 PSR compliant logger 
It is always too late when customers start complaining about broken features on website you have just developed. Yet now you can use the ImpressPages CMS logger to log important situations and exceptions of your plugin by simple functions. PSR standard compliance makes it easy to understand the code, adopt third-party log aggregators and notifiers.
 Grid 
Add create / read / update / delete interface providing simple json config file. Add your custom layout and functions as you go.
 Ecommerce architecture 
Ecommerce support by CMSs is always poor or simply nonexistent. Each shopping cart plugin has its own way to add payment methods and products. Two separate plugins never “talk” to each other. Luckily, ImpressPages CMS 4.0 features an e-commerce interface that makes communication between the plugins easy.
<ul>
<li>
 Payment method interface . Write plugin which implements payment method interface and your payment method will be available on all shopping cart plugins;
</li>
<li>
 Products can be shared. Create your own catalog with products by extending default Product interface. This way your products can be added to any shopping cart implementation;
</li>
<li>
 Checkout methods are also separated from the shopping cart. You can have a shopping cart from one provider and checkout method from another, or even your own;
</li>
<li>
 Format prices and currencies in the way you like even when you use third party currency converter.
</li>
</ul>
 Uploaded assets repository 
It is always a pain to control user-uploaded assets. We solved it in ImpressPages CMS 4.0. Use simple JavaScript method to invoke repository browser and get list of files selected by the user. ImpressPages CMS 4.0 stores all the originals and tracks which plugin uses which files. So you know what resources can be deleted. ImpressPages CMS provides you with methods to get resized / cropped versions of originals on the fly and removes unused files when the original file is removed. Creating thumbnails has never been easier!
<h2>Content management improvements</h2>
<ul>
<li>
 Text can be edited fully inline . We had inline editing previously, yet now it’s made much friendlier to the user;
</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/impresspages-edit-content_02715x0.jpg" />
<ul>
<li>
 Better user interface across all menus. Now ImpressPages CMS has more functionality with twice as little menu buttons. Pages are easier to manage, to create and to delete. Language management has also been significantly improved. Flat design makes everything crisper and clearer;
</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/impresspages-meniu_02715x0.jpg" />
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/impresspages-pages_02715x0.jpg" />
<ul>
<li>
 No need to leave the CMS when downloading translations and installing plugins from our Plugin Marketplace.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>ImpressPages CMS 4.0 in a nutshell:</h2>
<ul>
<li>new MVC engine</li>
<li>
PSR standard-compliant class naming and autoloader
</li>
<li>
IDE autosuggestions always work
</li>
<li>
bootstrap styles
</li>
<li>
Key-Value storage
</li>
<li>
Options service
</li>
<li>
easy plugin development
</li>
<li>
new translations engine
</li>
<li>
PSR compliant logger
</li>
<li>
Grid
</li>
<li>
Ecommerce architecture
</li>
<li>
Uploaded assets repository
</li>
</ul>
Visit them online at <a href="http://www.impresspages.org">www.impresspages.org</a>

ImpressPages CMS 4.0 - Better Interface, New MVC Engine and ECommerce Support!

If you’re in the market for a CMS, you are probably looking for a better way to organize your web content. Beyond managing the assets themselves, have you ever thought about using an editorial calendar?
 An editorial calendar is the perfect way to automatically manage your content schedule. Unlike spreadsheets, where you have to keep track of assignments manually, an editorial calendar allows you to automate several tasks at once. You can work simultaneously with other users, unlike in a manual spreadsheet where it’s difficult to keep track of changes made by other people. It’s imperative to stay informed when a change is made, or when something needs to be finished or published, and using an editorial calendar that is automated can help keep you ahead of your deadlines.
An editorial calendar may be in your best interest if you find it difficult to keep track of users’ changes, send reminders to contributors, visualize your content, or plan for the future.
Cascade Server, an innovative enterprise content management system, comes standard with an automated editorial calendar, which can help with planning, organizing, assigning, and analyzing content for your website, blog, whitepapers and other collateral. It allows for automated email notifications and reminders to be sent to you when something needs to be created or when content needs to be published. If an assignment is “In Progress”, the assigned contributor will receive reminder notifications to finish working on this assignment.
You can filter certain content to customize your view, such as looking at content that is only assigned to you or just a particular content type. Anyone with management access to the calendar can easily add an item to the calendar, including the title of the piece, the publish date, the due date, notes for the author, and an assigned author for the piece.
Let us show you how the calendar can save you and your team time:
<pre>[[hannonhill_form2]]</pre>
The editorial calendar tool makes it so that managers, editors, and contributors can easily and collectively add and manage content assignments and due dates for your site. It’s free for Cascade Server CMS clients, and you can try it for free for TWO weeks! Sign up to try it for free today! No credit card information required.
<pre>[[hannonhill_form3]]</pre>

Cascade Server Now Comes Standard with an Editorial Calendar Tool

In a move that isn't particularly a surprise given the lack of effort they put in the platform, it looks like Limelight Networks has given up trying to be a Content Management vendor and has sold off the rebranded Clickability they  <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/clickability-acquired-by-limelight-networks/"> acquired back in 2011 </a> to Upland Software.
We attempted to get in touch with Limelight a few times during the 2 years they had Clickability under their belt (rebranded as Limelight Orchestrate) but the responses we received back showed they were making no real effort to push the platform. As such, it's not a shock that they've sold off the platform to yet another company. Sadly, all they have managed to do is ruin the Clickability brand by wasting two years of time in the market, something that doesn't lend well to customer confidence when looking for a platform. Now, with Clickability being pushed to yet another company, I'd be surprised if any customers take the platform seriously.
<blockquote>
“As the Limelight Orchestrate Platform grows to support an ever-widening ecosystem of content, channels and devices, the sale of our web content management business enables us to concentrate our efforts on expanding Limelight's unique delivery optimization capabilities, where we see attractive market opportunities and enjoy a leadership position,” said Robert Lento, chief executive officer of Limelight.
</blockquote>
In a nutshell this translates to a “we couldn't hack it so we sold it” statement. Perhaps with Upland Software, we'll see Clickability treated properly and given the attention it needs to be competitive in this saturated market.
To learn more, read the announcement from <a href="http://www.uplandsoftware.com/press-release/upland-software-acquires-clickability-web-content-management-business/">Upland Software.</a>

Limelight Networks Decides Content Management is Not for Them and Sells off Clickability

Nonprofit organizations are a unique bunch. Just as in most industries, the world of nonprofits comes with its own unique set of needs and demands, and these are a critical part of the CMS evaluation process–especially if you want the implementation of a new system to be successful.
<h2>Nonprofit Challenges</h2>
Nonprofits are unique in their needs when it comes to implementing a content management system due to numerous reasons. Nonprofits serve the public, and as a result, are usually presenting and supplying large amounts of content through their websites to their audience. What type of information and whom the audience will be, can vary even within a single nonprofit institution. 
 Using the YMCA as an example, some programs at your local Y may be aimed at funding youth sports programs for kids who normally couldn’t afford to play whereas another program at the same Y may be serving senior citizens who are looking for ways to remain active to aid their health. There are two very groups being served needing two different types of content that will likely be changing throughout the calendar year based on what the Y is able to offer each month or season, for example.
This challenge goes hand in hand with the fact that many nonprofits are membership based. This presents the need for them to be able to present content and collect information in a way which is efficient in order to keep membership functioning and as result keep the nonprofit as a whole in business.
There is also a large degree of departmental disconnect in many nonprofits due to their structure. There may be one corporate office with branches located in a variety of areas geographically. Each of these may be communicating with the public and presenting content on their own. They may each have their own content contributors and subject matter experts at the physical locations who will be working within the CMS.
Lastly, financial restrictions are often a barrier within the world of nonprofits. Nonprofits live off funding and donations, which in turn, results in having small budgets when it comes to purchasing larger items. It’s a constant balancing act. This also means that content must be ever-changing and fresh to motivate those individuals and corporations to see the value in donating their money towards the institution's specific cause. The content strategy is critical here, and the best content management systems for a nonprofit will work to directly support this effort as well.
These challenges along with others specific to nonprofits and the functions a cms should provide to aid in overcoming them are broken down in our Hannon Hill White Paper: Content Management  for Non-Profit Organizations, available free for download by filling out this form:
<pre>[[hannonhill_form]]</pre>
The challenges nonprofits face can be and should be considered when these types of organizations are in the market for their next cms. The good news is that the correct cms can serve these needs and actually result in these nonprofits not only better managing their content but better serving the public and most importantly their cause.

The Challenges Non-profits Must Consider When Selecting a CMS

The <a href="http://www.intelliants.com/">Intelliants development team</a>, who are responsible for the highly successful Subrion CMS platform, have recently launched the latest version of their flagship product – Subrion CMS 3.1.1.
Not too long ago, we also covered the launch of Subrion CMS 3, the last major release for the platform. There were a long list of updates which accompanied Subrion CMS 3, but now, Subrion users can enjoy the benefits of even more improvements, thanks to version 3.1.1.
So, let's take a little look at the basics of Subrion's popular content management system, along with some of its recently introduced features.
<h2>An Overview of Subrion CMS</h2>
<a href="http://www.subrion.com/">Subrion CMS</a> is an open-source PHP content management system with comprehensive functionality, active development, and a reputation for reacting quickly to the wants and needs of their users.
One of the most useful features of Subrion's content management system is the responsive admin dashboard, which can be viewed via tablets and smartphones, allowing you can manage your content wherever you may be.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/subrion1.png" alt="Subrion CMS" />
As well as being responsive, Subrion's admin panel is sleek, modern and uncomplicated, so you can publish, manage and modify your content quickly, and in style.
Yet, the true strength of Subrion lies within its detailed field management system, where you can easily manage any field for almost any item you may have – without leaving the admin panel.
Speaking of managing content, Subrion CMS makes that supremely simple. Pages, widgets, menus and more are all easy to create and place within your website, thanks to the drag-and-drop visual mode.
Subrion CMS doesn't hold back on functionality either. It successfully combines the functionality of articles script, auto classifieds script, realty classifieds script, web directory script, and yellow pages script all in one, manageable package.
Plus, with a healthy range of plugins and templates, Subrion CMS can also help your and your website exercise some flexibility.
<h2>Remote Template Installations, Colour Schemes &amp; More</h2>
So, what's new with Subrion CMS 3.1.1?
First and foremost is the user-friendly remote template installation system. All users now have to do in order to install a new template, is navigate over to the “Extensions / Templates” tab within the admin panel, and choose from a host of free, professional templates for your website.
Subrion have a range of templates readily available, all of which can be inspected and tested via the <a href="http://demos.subrion.com/templates/" target="_blank">Subrion Template Demo page</a>– which is updated on a weekly basis.
Another notable update brought about by Subrion CMS 3.1.1, is the brand new admin dashboard colour scheme – Radiant Orchid.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/subrion2.png" alt="Subrion CMS" /> 
The new Radiant Orchid colour scheme joins a host of other colour schemes already available to Subrion users. It's the small personalization features like these which sets Subrion CMS apart from its competitors.
For a full list of updates and improvements brought about Subrion CMS 3.1.1, check out the <a href="http://dev.subrion.com/versions/86" target="_blank">official release notes</a>.
If you want to know more about Subrion CMS, take a moment to visit their <a href="http://www.subrion.com/" target="_blank">official website</a>. Additionally, you can find out more about <a href="/products/subrion-cms/">Subrion via our CMS Directory</a>.

Feature Roundup: A Look at Subrion CMS 3.1.1

DNN today released the latest version of Evoq Social, an online community solution that fosters and enhances conversations with customers, employees, partners and prospects. The new version ships with responsive web design, which enables online communities powered by Evoq Social to automatically become mobile-ready. The elements of a page adapt and scale dynamically based on the dimensions of the viewing device, whether it is a smartphone, tablet or desktop.
Evoq Social incorporates a broad range of best-in-class social community capabilities including true extensibility and an intuitive and consistent management user interface. The platform gives users the ability to seamlessly integrate communities into corporate websites, instead of driving customers to a third-party social site – enabling organizations to monitor and shape the customer conversation. Thriving user communities have been proven to help reduce support costs, drive product innovation and increase sales and brand awareness.
<blockquote>
“With Evoq Social, we’re making it easier for our customers to create communities that span the range of devices their community members use,” said Will Morgenweck, vice president, product management, DNN. “By eliminating the need for extra steps to optimize a community across varied devices, we are able to save our customers both time and money. This capability gives community managers and site designers the ability to know that their communities’ look and feel will be consistent to their customers across all platforms instantly and effectively.”
</blockquote>
In addition, each module in Evoq Social now ships with responsive design. This ensures a mobile-ready experience across all areas of an Evoq Social online community.
Additional features in Evoq Social include:
<ul>
<li>New editing capabilities, which support HTML mark-up and image upload in Answers,</li>
<li>Discussions, Ideas and related features</li>
<li>Streamlined notifications area, which includes direct links to all content</li>
<li>Enhanced user experience in the Answers and Wiki features</li>
<li>Performance enhancements related to database query optimization and reduced page sizes</li>
</ul>
DNN has a strong expertise in communities. Membership in its own community comes from more than 30 countries around the world and nearly 63 percent are deemed very active. In addition, more than 8,000 new members sign up per month.
For more information on Evoq Social, please visit the DNN website: <a href="http://www.dnnsoftware.com/Solutions/Evoq-Social-Online-Community-Management">http://www.dnnsoftware.com/Solutions/Evoq-Social-Online-Community-Management</a>

Building and Managing Online Communities For Any Device Made  Fast and Simple with Evoq Social

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