The Content Management System (CMS) is used to manage the content of your web site. TheCMS is deployed primarily for interactive use by a potentially large number of content contributors. Members can be assigned to create and update web pages. For example, this web site is maintained by the employees using the CMS.

Easy Access & Updates: A web site can be updated simultaneously by multiple members with privileged access anywhere there is Internet access using the CMS. Information can be cut from a word processors or any other software and paste into the CMS making it easy to transfer your organization information to your web site. 

The site administrator can setup roles and assigned them to members who will be updating the site. Multiple members can be assigned the same role but each member is assigned to one role. An example of a role is a list of admin options to manage members and visitors. Members who are assigned this role would only have access to the admin options to manage the members and visitors.

The CMS is used to do the following:
 

Setup Menus

You decide on the Main Menu and the options for each menu of your web site. The number of sub-menu levels are controlled with the CMS. It can be as deep as you like, but please keep your visitors in mind, the deeper, the harder it is to navigate.

Setup URLs

Creating your site Menus and Options will gererate the landing pages URLs and the default page for display the articles. There is no need to make any changes to the URLs or page links unless you are directed by Hands-On. Changes to the URLs or page links may result in your site becoming inactive.

Please contact Hands-On before making changes to the URLs or page links.

Every time changes are made to the menus and options the "Update and Publish" button must be clicked for the changes to take effect.

Create Pages

The CMS is used to create and manage the web pages. There are four types of pages that can be created.

1. Menu Page
2. Open Page
3. Page Block
4. Landing Page

Create Menu Page

A Menu Page as the name suggests, is a page that is linked to one or multiple menu options. Theses pages can also be linked to other site pages.

Update Menu Pages

The Update Page option is used to edit or delete articles created using the Menu Page option.

Manage Open Pages

Open Pages are pages not associated with menu option. Links in the left, right, header and footer and links imbedded in other pages are best created using the Open Page option. From time to time you may want to create a page that does not fit into the menu / option scheme of things or  this may be a temporary page. You may create as many pages as needed.

Manage Page Blocks

A Page Block is part of a Menu Page or Open Page or simple a block of information that can be embedded in any page. Sometimes you may need to repeat the same information on multiple pages and typing it multiple times is counter productive. Creating a Page Block with the information then add it to wherever it’s needed is a better option. 

Sub-dividing a page into manageable pieces is a good approach and Page Blocks will achieve this. It is easier to assemble multiple Page Blocks than creating complex pages that are difficult to maintain.

Landing Page

Landing Pages are link to top level menus or menu options with decendants or kids. Clicking a Landing Page will either give a summary of its options or the custom page assigned to it.

Manage Surveys & Polls

eSurveys

Hands-On eSurvey is conducted by posting questionnaires and inviting visitors to complete them; this is also referred to as an Internet Survey. Surveys will help to attract visitors to the site and engage them to the point where they want to revisit for more interesting surveys.

ePolls

Hands-On ePoll is used to track the opinions of your members and visitors!

ePoll allows you to add interactivity to your web site by adding questions of your choice to your web site. By adding a Web Poll, you can start tracking the opinions and knowledge of your visitors today!  You can also ask your visitors to suggest poll questions to be considered.

Manage Files

The CMS File Manager is used to manage (upload, download, delete, rename) your media files such as images, Flash, PDF, etc. to be used in Menu Pages, Open Pages and Page Blocks. These files can be uploaded during page creation, but sometimes it’s better to upload them before the pages are created saving you the time to identify them while creating the pages.

Manage Newsletters

This is a CMS option that is used to create newsletters. Any Menu Page article can be included in a newsletter after which the content can be edited. This makes creating your newsletter very easy as current articles submitted by anyone can be included. Multiple newsletters can be created and then choose the one to be published when ready.

A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email (eNewsletters) have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in general is gaining popularity over printed correspondence.

Many newsletters are published by clubs, churches, societies, associations, and businesses, especially companies, to provide information of interest to their members, customers or employees. Some newsletters are created as money-making ventures and sold directly to subscribers. Sending newsletters to customers and prospects is a common marketing strategy, which can have benefits and drawbacks.

General attributes of newsletters include news and upcoming events of the related organization, as well as contact information for general inquiries.

Blog is short for weblog. A weblog is a journal (or newsletter) that is frequently updated and intended for general public consumption. Blogs generally represent the personality of the author or the Web site.

The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.

A content management system (CMS) is a system used to manage the content of a Web site. Typically, a CMS consists of two elements: the content management application (CMA) and the content delivery application (CDA). The CMA element allows the content manager or author, who may not know Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), to manage the creation, modification, and removal of content from a Web site without needing the expertise of a Webmaster.

• Blogs
• Content Management System (CMS)

A newsletter is a periodic publication by e-mail put out only to those people who subscribe to it. The purpose of a newsletter is to provide highly specialized information to a highly targeted audience.

Newsletters are an excellent vehicle for communicating with small to large audiences. Also referred to as an Email Newsletter or eNewsletter.

• eNewsletter

This module can be used to market your products and/or services to you email list. We provide an email blast service promoting your products and/or services to the Hands-on Network consisting of thousands of professionals and visitors to the Hands-on Network web sites.

• Email Marketing

Users can upload their favorite photos to the gallery with description and give other visitors the opportunities to rate their photos. The winner may be rewarded at the end of a period and the contest reset. This will encourage visitors to return to the site.

A poll that is conducted via the Internet.

A survey that is conducted via the Internet.

• Photo Gallery
• Polls
• Surveys

Users can create events that can be sent to anyone with an e-mail account. They can also send event reminders via e-mail, and keep track of RSVPs from within the calendar. People can see their schedules by day, week, and month, for a customized view and display the events on their calendar view.

We provide custom web site design or you may use our Content Management System to create your web site.

• Calendar
• Design

• E-Commerce
    - Database Driven
    - Merchant Account
    - Shopping Cart
    - SSL Certificate
  
  eCommerce is the conducting of commerce with goods and services over the Internet. It includes: consumers using the Internet to purchase goods and services online; as well as businesses selling and communicating with other businesses through the Internet.

• Wiki

  A web site or similar online resource which allows users to add and edit content collectively.

  Like many simple concepts, "open editing" has some profound and subtle effects on Wiki usage. Allowing everyday users to create and edit any page in a Web site is exciting in that it encourages democratic use of the Web and promotes content composition by non-technical users.

  
  

An Internet forum is a web application for holding discussions and posting user generated content. Internet forums are also commonly referred to as web forums, message boards, discussion boards, (electronic) discussion groups, discussion forums, bulletin boards, fora (the Latin plural) or simply forums. The terms "forum" and "board" may refer to the entire community or to a specific sub-forum dealing with a distinct topic. Messages within these sub-forums are then displayed either in chronological order or as threaded discussions.

Popular discussion topics include technology, computer games, and politics, but forums are available for any number of different topics.

Your web package includes a choice of hosting plans.

Organizations that conduct a lot of meetings may have difficulties keeping track of who they see, what they discusss and the resolutions of the meetings. This module can be used to keep track of the meetings.

• Forum
• Hosting
• Meeting Manager