A Look Back at Web Content Management in 2011

By Barb Mosher (@barbmosher) Dec 28, 2011

Web Content Management has seen some major changes this year, but while many are looking to the future of content management, just as many are working hard to stay the course and get the basics under control.

A Changing of the Web CMS Guard - Or Not

Well, if you go by Forrester and Gartner, there's not much change in the leaders for web content management from a year ago:

or the Open Source CMS report:

2011 Open Source CMS Market Share Report: Wordpress, Drupal, Joomla on Top

A New Focus for Many

What's changed is how vendors are talking about web content management. It hasn't really been about the basics this year, it's been about where content management needs to go to deliver a complete customer experience. And it's that term "customer experience", that has been primary theme for this year.

We also took notice this year that a number of small- to mid-sized vendors have adjusted their prices and market focus, demonstrating their ability to meet the needs of larger enterprises.

Sitecore, Ektron, Mid Market Web CMS Vendors Raise Prices, Switch Focus

and the demand for cloud-based solutions:

Where are All the Azure-Hosted Content Management Systems?

But while demand for cloud-based web content management is increasing, organizations are cautioned that all the hype may not necessary be fact:

SaaS Web Content Management Systems Are No Panacea

But Don't Forget the Basics

It has been important for web content management to define its place within the greater strategy of customer experience, and it does play a critical role. But this year it was also clear that while many organizations have their content management processes under control and are moving to the next step, there are just as many who still have a lot of work to do.

Part of this "getting the basics right" is the recognition that maybe you aren't using your Web CMS to its full potential. Which is why you should consider how you use the one you have before you decide it's time to get a new one: