Publishing a large volume of content requires the use of a website content management system. The content can include simple pages, intricate pages dynamic information derived from databases, instructing resources, online manuals, and broad business records. The diversity of websites can vary in scope from ecommerce sites to personal journals or "blogs", from educational instruction to commerical sites. A limitless numer of pages exist with intricate linking between them.

Prior to deciding which website content management system to use, it is advised that you should evaluate what are your needs and what would you would like to accomplish. It should be noted that there isn't a universal checklist available that spans everyone's interests. Each person and each organization differs in that each have different standards and concerns.

To make the process easier, the requirements can be classified into groups: Content creation; Content management; Publishing; Presentation; and Contract & business. This list covers the full life cycle of a website content management system, from initially creating the content, through to delivering it to end users.

The material present ion websites is written by authors who facilitate of content creation. A content management system's (CMS) success is measured by its ability to enable easy content creation and providing maintenance for content. The CMS' core functionality is content management which is facilitated by a central repository and is supported by a variety of tools for modifying and managing content. A CMS provides version control, archiving, workflow, and reporting. It must do this securely with integration support with external systems.

The publishing engine takes the content stored in the repository, and generates the final pages. Key requirements include stylesheets and page templates. It may be required to support multiple formats such as html, print, pdf, wap, etc. Personalization and usage statistics are going to be needed on large sites.

An important element of a web page includes the appearance of the subject matter. This greatly influences the overall design and look of the web page. Several particular standards appeal to users and the presentation of the web page must adhere to the users' expectations. The most important requirements include usability, speed, convenience, cross-browser support, metadata, and navigation.

The final requirement, contract and business, relates to the project management and business procedures when the website content management system is being implemented by a third party or vendor. Some of the parameters which need to be addressed are training for using the cms, skills required for running and maintenance, documentation, resource requirements in terms of hardware/software or any specific databases, cost, scalability, etc.

The success of a website may be determined by the content management system. Because this system may be a multi-million dollar effort, in the case of an enterprise-wide endeavor, it is imperative the system conforms to current and future needs. Perhaps the most critical task is to determine your goals and requirements. Accomplishing this task should include the involvement of all relevant stakeholders.