Opinion

I've been so busy lately that I haven't had time to put out a plug for my review of the Magnolia CMS on CMS-Connected last month. This was probably one of the easiest shows I've done in the sense that the Internet connection was good and the rest of the show seemed to complement my own segment well. My thanks to Boris Kraft, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer for Magnolia, for briefing me well about their product and spending some extra time with me during the demo.

Whether you’re searching the web for the most updated news items, or you’re looking to shop on your favorite websites, deep linking has become an integral part of the internet experience. It’s a tool that allows for true convenience and fast navigation, but many people simply aren’t aware of it. Deep linking is only just starting to provide that same convenience and simplicity to mobile applications, and as the technology spreads, it is opening new avenues for mobile marketing.

Whenever a content management system first appears on my screen, I always look at whether the developers' initial claims are true. In this case, I'm looking at Microweber and its claim that their software offers a "new generation" CMS with "cool features and innovative concepts".  Given that most of the software development in Microweber CMS is recent, from 2012 to present, the goals and claims are ambitious. Impressively, the CMS has already been translated into seven languages so far by its contributors. As word about this CMS beings to spread globally, it's time to dig a little deeper into Microweber.

As of Q4, 2013, more mobile smart devices are being purchased around the world than desktop and laptop computers. Surprised? Well, you shouldn't be. After all, how many times per day do you see someone pull out a pad or smartphone to while away a few minutes or to quickly check a fact? The simple truth is that the sale and use of mobile devices has absolutely skyrocketed in the past few years, and shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. As such, marketers are making sure to take advantage of this new medium.

If you're an insider of the content management industry, you're well of aware of the recent claims by some that the content management system is dead. If you're still using CMS as part of your vocabulary, you must not be keeping up with the times because it's all about customer experience management (CEM or CXM).  This is what some want you to believe. It's wishful thinking by those that want to be at the cutting edge of something new and believe you do that by diminishing the value of what we know currently works. Every few years we go through this movement and every time history has shown that the demise of the CMS is exaggerated.

Data is one of those boring but essential components of a successful, modern business. Business leaders rely on research to make marketing and sales decisions, and data records all of the interactions within the business. Since data has so much potential to guide an organization to success, it is surprising how many companies store data that is completely useless to them. It’s not that the data is inherently worthless, but the organization doesn't have the capacity to handle or analyze the data for the information to have value.

When Google announced in 2012 that they were bringing Google Fiber to Kansas City, my father called me and said he was interested. As an information technologist, I was excited. I told the “old man” that Google Fiber was going to change everything. Last month, Google Fiber finally came to my parents' neighborhood, and I made the six-hour drive to visit the house I grew up in.

In September's CMS-Connected show, I once again had the privilege of being a guest reviewer for their "CMS In the Spotlight" segment. This time around I reviewed e-Spirit's FirstSpirit CMS. Never heard of it? Honestly, I hadn't either until CMS-Connected Producer Gary Eisenstein assigned me the gig. Come to find out, FirstSpirit CMS helps run a number of international sites from companies like Bosch, KLM, Speedo, Sterling Jewelers, and Nintendo of Europe. While doing my homework, I walked away from the demo impressed with the amount of effort e-Spirit had done to improve usability for authors and editors. 

Businesses have seen the value of data for years. Thus, businesses have collected survey, transaction and marketing data all with the hope that by analysing it they can improve their business processes and become more profitable. The problem is that some companies end up paying more than the data is actually worth, due to poor business practices or relying on a data warehouse that simply can't keep up with today’s influx of data. For business leaders who find the following five signs familiar, it may be time to switch to big data as a service, such as Qubole, to get the most out of the data they collect and the money they spend.

Those who dismissed cloud computing a couple years ago as a passing fad are quickly learning that the cloud is here to stay. Just like Twitter and Facebook evolved from a college student “fad” to key marketing tools, cloud computing is a viable business solution. CIOs and CTOs who embrace the cloud and create a plan for their company’s transition to the cloud will provide a valuable asset to their company. Those who don't will soon fall behind and find themselves replaced by someone who knows how to incorporate the cloud.