Web Content Management Vendors

So, your an enterprise-class organization shopping for a best-in-class web content management system.  What key WCM features should you be evaluating on the solutions being offered by the vendors lucky enough to make your short list?  Here's a list of ten, that, according to my research, many WCM & CMS experts feel are mission critical:

Functionalities for tempalting, creating content components, and managing changes.  It should be simple to build new websites, web pages, micro sites, and templates.  The system should also make it easy to share and reuse content across multiple websites, and ideally, across multiple channels.

2.  Editing Tools
A set of tools for editing content that are easy to use, including a WYSIWYG editor.

3.  Automated Workflow & Approval Process
The ability to manage the content creation process from start to finish with an automated workflow and approval process.

4.  Content Preview
The ability to preview content and check for errors prior to publishing to the live website(s).

5.  Centralized Content Repository
The content repository should make it easy to upload, store, manage, and deliver different types of content, files, and digital assets.

6.  Enterprise Ready Technology
Web content management software should be scalable and upgradeable with minimal effort.  Modules that add additional functionalities and updates should be easy to install.

7.  Check-in & Check-out
Secure library-type tools that allow for easy check-in and check-out of items with version control.

8.  Integration & Connectivity
An enterprise web content management system should "play nice with others".  Meaning that it should easily integrate with other technology and platforms, like, for example, CRM systems, Web 2.0, and social media applications.

9.  Online Marketing Tools
Web content management is evolving and "next generation" web content management systems will offer integrated online marketing capabilities that will help users achieve online marketing objectives, such as increased traffic and conversion rates.  Examples include website personalization for target audience marketing, interactive marketing, and online brand management.

10.  A Solid Company Behind the WCM Solution
Web content management vendors should be evaluated very carefully and due diligence given to your finalists.  Will your selected company be around for the next three to five years to provide service and support?

To be sure, there are other features and functionalities that you will want in an enterprise web content management system.  Indeed, considering the number of solutions on the market, you will have, quite literally, thousands of features to choose from.  Therefore, you might want to consider having three categories of features as you evaluate WCM solutions and vendors: