WCM Allows Company To Provide Ideal User Experience On Global Scale

Friday, November 13, 2009 by Brad Davis


As a general practice, we don't post press releases to the SDL Tridion Blogosphere.  The IHS story is an exception becuse it is a perfect example of a company moving beyond basic online content management and selecting a next generation web content management system as the foundation for their online marketing strategy.

IHS To Implement World-Class Web Sites With SDL Tridion


IHS, a leading global source of critical information and insight, has selected the SDL Tridion enterprise Web Content Management system (WCMS) to manage its global network of websites.  With full implementation planned for the second quarter of 2010, IHS is undergoing a massive online overhaul that will merge 45 business unit-specific sites and domains into a single enterprise-level Web experience.


"We've had several substantial acquisitions at IHS in recent years," says Kevin Spiller, director of Web development and strategy at IHS. "This created a difficult situation for getting people to the right information or demonstrate the full value of IHS. We knew that it was integral to reorganize our Web content in a system that helps to maintain a robust global presence. Starting with 14 different WCM systems, we whittled the selection down to three. SDL Tridion was the best fit for a company like ours with a wide range of customers."

The IHS Web site reaches users and customers across a diverse array of business units. From engineering, geology and oil prospecting to supply chains, military, security and financial analysis, its goal is to provide potential users from many industries with an ideal experience across the site. IHS plans to accomplish this by using SDL Tridion's workflow, translation management and website personalization features. As Spiller explains it, IHS wants to implicitly understand where users are coming from and what they are seeking.

"We're planning on using SDL Tridion to ensure that our Web experience flows seamlessly across all channels," says Spiller. "Whether we are providing data or taking more of an advisory role, it becomes important that users and customers understand the breadth and diversity of our business solutions. SDL Tridion provides a personalized user experience that will accomplish that goal while protecting our brand and localizing updates. This allows more flexibility on a bigger Web site that meets all of our governance needs."

"SDL Tridion is very pleased to welcome IHS as a customer," says Jan Jaap Kolleman, CEO of SDL Tridion. "In many ways, the IHS site is an exemplary case that demonstrates the scalability of our enterprise web content management system. Our software will help them streamline their Web presence by transforming marketing sites into a large, global Web presence that reinforces the IHS brand. Now, a subject matter expert in Europe can update content directly for local users in a specific industry while sharing design, layout and branding elements with the rest of the Web site. For a company that's rapidly expanding such as IHS, this capability becomes an invaluable tool for growth over multiple years."

About IHS (www.ihs.com)
IHS is a leading global source of critical information and insight dedicated to providing the most complete and trusted information and expertise. IHS product and service solutions span four areas of information that encompass the most important concerns facing global business today: Energy, Product Lifecycle, Security, and Environment, all supported by Macroeconomics.


Top 3 Business Drivers Behind Web Content Management (WCM)

Friday, October 30, 2009 by Brad Davis
In March of 2009 the Aberdeen Group released a report titled "Maximize Business Results Online: How Web Content Management Technology is Transforming Digital Marketing".  The report was based upon an in-depth survey of B2B and B2C businesses.  The executive summary of the report states:

"This reports serves as a guide for identifying best practices in online content management and maximizing the business benefits of the web.  The findings highlight the strategic value of web content management.  The report links the technology and practices of Best-in-Class organizations to top line revenue, customer loyalty, and the customer experience".

Optimization and Distribution of Online Content a High Priority

According to Aberdeen "70% of respondents indicated that the optimization and distribution of online content is a high priority".  They conclude that "Today, organizations are looking to influence business results through the online channel.  Whether the web is a vehicle for information or a source of sales, all organizations must focus on the development, execution, and distribution of online content to maximize sales in a global recession".

In addition to exploring the strategic value of web content management and outlining the best practices for maximizing online results, the Aberdeen report took a serious look at the business drivers behind web content management- and why Best-in-Class organizations are much more likely to deploy an enterprise web content management system.

Top Marketing Channels to Reach Customers


It's not surprising that a majority of survey respondents reported that the website and email marketing are the top marketing channels that they use to reach their customers.

Top 3 Business Drivers Behind WCM

According to Aberdeen's research, the top 3 business drivers behind web content management are:
  • Improve the customer experience (44%)
  • Improve website traffic (35%)
  • Improve overall return on marketing investment (33%)

Aberdeen found that "Marketers are looking for technology that will empower them to deliver impactful, engaging customer experiences online.  Therefore, improving the customer experience is a top pressure driving the adoption and use of web content management.  This is followed by a desire to increase website traffic and increase the overall return on marketing investments by improving the productivity and processes surrounding web properties".

Increasing Conversion Rates

It stands to reason that if you improve the online experience, you will convert more visitors into leads and sales.  The question is, how do you improve the customer or visitor experience on the web?  Personalizing online content is one answer.  Another answer, agreed upon by most WCM and CMS experts, is to deliver rich, engaging content that is relevant to your target audience.

Download the Entire Aberdeen Report Free of Charge

If you are in the market for an enterprise web content management system or looking for solid data to help with justifying web content management, you will find the Aberdeen report a most valuable resource.  Download the report by clicking the link below, compliments of SDL Tridion, a recognized leader in enterprise web content management solutions and technology.

Abdereen Report
Maximize Business Results Online
How Web Content Management Technology is Transforming Digital Marketing


Maturing (or just changing?) Content Management Landscape

Friday, October 23, 2009 by JanJaap Kolleman
Continuing on our "crystal ball" conversations about the present and future of content management, let's take a look at how the content management landscape is changing with the not-subsiding merger and acquisition/market consolidation activities and the rise of mid-market and smaller vendors. That's not to mention commercial and free open source CMSs and the (at times) cloud-friendly SaaS Online Content Management options.

As the CMS space is maturing, we see not only Web Content Management products change, but also the vendors themselves evolve.

Who would've thought 5 years ago that we will see architecturally different RedDot and Vignette under the same ECM vendor umbrella, and the traditional proprietary vendors will be facing competition from OSS CMS vendors.

Although there's still considerable uneasiness about "cloud" computing and storage, more and more vendors and customers are making strides into this direction. More organizations are looking to educate themselves about the pros and cons of the "cloud."

Then, we have this whole new beast of social media, social networking and social collaboration changing the way we do web content management... But let me save that for a future post. 

Forrester Reviews Top Web Content Management Vendors and Systems

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 by Brad Davis
Searching for an Enterprise Web Content Management System?  Start Here.

In an earlier blog post, I suggested that you begin the web content management vendor selection process by doing some research and developing a "short list" of vendors to evaluate.  If you're like most organizations, you will probably begin with a Google search using phrases like:
  • Web Content Management Reviews
  • Web Content Management Vendors
  • Enterprise Web Content Management System
  • Global Web Content Management
  • Best Web Content Management
Search on a WCM related phrase and you'll get a mind blowing number of results-over 184,000,000.  And most  of these will be  from WCM companies who want to sell you their wares.  Of course that includes your friends at SDL Tridion :)

Want Factual, Unbiased WCM Research?  Go Straight to Forrester.

Forrester Research, a renowned web content management industry analyst, publishes a report that evaluates leading enterprise-class web content management vendors and their solutions.  Their latest report is "The Forrester Wave™: Web Content Management for External Sites, Q-2 2009".  The detailed report is used by many organizations to develop their "short list".

About the Forrester Report

Forrester evaluates 10 web content management vendors across approximately 115 criteria, which they grouped into three primary categories:

  • Current offering
  • Strategy
  • Market presence
Results are summarized in a clear concise manner with easy to read charts, diagrams and tables.  If you are looking for a best-in-class enterprise web content management system from a leading web content management vendor, this report is definitely a "Must Read".

Download the Forrester Report for Free

Click here to download the web content management reviewed report by Forrester, compliments of SDL Tridion, a leader in enterprise web content management and online marketing solutions.

Selecting the Best Web Content Management System

There are hundreds of web content management products, systems, and solutions on the market today from hundreds of different vendors.  Hopefully, you will find the Forrester report helpful in narrowing the playing field and developing a short list of enterprise web content management vendors to evaluate.

Which enterprise web content management system is right for you and which vendor should you select?  This depends upon the specific needs of your organization.  In any case, be sure to select a financially strong company with the ability to provide excellent web content management support and service.

Beyond Web Content Management

In addition to looking at the features and benefits of different web content management systems, I would also suggest that you take a look at how they will help you achieve your online marketing objectives, such as increasing conversion rates.  Look for web content management software tools that will assist with online brand management, target audience marketing, email campaigns, and website personalization.

The bottom line:  Top web content management vendors will help you do much more than basic online content management.  They will help you realize the many benefits of web content management, the most important of which is ROI.

WCM + SEO= More Traffic and More Conversions

Thursday, October 15, 2009 by Brad Davis

Increasing Conversion Rates and Numbers

SEO is one of the hottest topics circulating in the online marketing and online content management communities- and rightly so.  Most organizations have online business objectives that include increasing conversion rates, but if you have low traffic you will still have low conversions.  So, obviously, a key requirement of increasing conversions is to increase traffic.

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the most effective way to increase website traffic.

Avoid the #1 Traffic Killing SEO Mistake

A common misperception, even in enterprise level organizations, is that once a website is optimized, it's optimized and will stay that way.  Wrong.  As content is added and modified over time a lot of things can happen including:

  • Misspelled words
  • HTML errors
  • Meta data problems
  • Broken links
  • Improper key word usage
These issues spell SEO trouble and will significantly decrease your search engine visibility.  And decreased search engine visibility means decreased traffic and conversions.  When this happens, ROI flies right out the window.  Not good.

If your an enterprise or global organization with multiple websites with thousands of pages...which may be translated in multiple languages... Wow! You have a lot to watch out for.  To MANUALLY keep your uber network of websites fully optimized, converting visitors, and generating maximum revenue...sounds like Mission Impossible.

Automated Testing of Search Engine Visibility & Performance

It is, in fact, Mission Impossible to manually check and keep a network of enterprise websites fully optimized.  The good news is there are tools that can automate the process.  One solution is Safeguard, a powerful tool that is integrated with the SDL Tridion Enterprise Web Content Management System.

Safeguard monitors your entire network of websites, regardless of country or language.  User-friendly dashboards provide detailed feedback of your online performance, reporting SEO issues in real time.  Safeguard also automatically checks title tags, meta data, key word use, and links to keep you at the top of search engine rankings.

Click here for more information about Safeguard and SDL Tridion's Enterprise Web Content System

Managing Global Websites

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 by Brad Davis

Global Web Content Management

Organizations face many challenges when creating a network of global websites. They need to maintain brand consistency while allowing for variations that reflect local cultures. Creating truly localized websites can be a daunting process in which corporate and local marketing teams need to collaborate to provide relevant information to different target audiences.

BluePrinting™:  A Unique Web Content Management Feature

BluePrinting is a unique technology from SDL Tridion that allows organizations to manage their networks of websites. The separation of content, layout and other website elements enables organizations to adapt these elements separately to match the needs of local audiences.

Organizations can manage localization by cost effectively using an inheritance model that allows multiple Web sites to use consistent structure, branding and content while allowing for localization of content, as needed.

Free Website Globalization Resource

SDL Tridion has produced an excellent whitepaper to assist companies who are seeking to improve their global online content management.  It provides examples of how organizations can use BluePrinting technology to achieve a smooth, global Web operation- and how they can combine enterprise web content management with translation technology for even greater efficiency.  Click this link to download free of charge:

http://www.sdltridion.com/downloads/white_papers/managing_global_websites.asp

Beyond Web Content Management

Successful global target audience marketing requires more than web content management and localization of content.  It requires a global marketing solution with tools for interactive marketing, multichannel marketing, email campaigns, and online brand management.

Global Web Content Management Vendor Selection

If your in the market to globalize your websites and purchase a new global web content management system, carefully review each vendor's offering and look beyond basic  features and technology.  Your best bet is to select a vendor that best meets your needs by offering a fully integrated global marketing solution.


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