A website content management system (CMS) is a software system which provides website authoring and administration tools designed to allow users with little knowledge of web programming languages or markup languages to create and manage the site’s content with relative ease.  GeoNorth has implemented many content management systems for clients in Alaska.  You can view websites we have created with the Drupal CMS here, or for more information, please feel free to contact our Anchorage, Alaska office at (907) 646-4535.

Current CMS Software  

Some current CMS software solutions include Drupal, Joomla, and Sharepoint, and .NETNuke.  Drupal and Joomla are used as open source solutions, Sharepoint is a higher end solution, and .NETNuke is a Microsoft platform solution. 

Most content management systems such as Drupal or Joomla use a database to store content, metadata, or artifacts that might be needed by the CMS.  Content is frequently, but not universally, stored as XML, to facilitate, reuse, and enable flexible presentation options.  A presentation layer displays the content dynamically to website visitors based on a set of templates.  The templates are sometimes XSLT files.  Most content management systems use server side caching, boosting performance.  This works best when the CMS is not changed often but visits happen on a regular basis.  Administration is typically done through browser-based interfaces, but some content management systems require the use of a fat client. 

Unlike website builders, a CMS allows non-technical users to make changes to a website with little training.  Content management systems typically require an experienced coder to set up and add features, but once that has been done, they are primarily a website maintenance tool for non-technical administrators.  Systems such as Drupal intentionally generalize the approach to doing things.  Instead of creating a specific solution, Drupal provides modules and tools that allow users to quickly assemble their own custom solutions and tweak them to do exactly what they like.  Because these solutions are generalized in their approach, they don’t lock the client into a specialized solution. 

CMS at GeoNorth

GeoNorth utilizes the Drupal Content Management System as the CMS of choice when developing client websites.  GeoNorth has found Drupal to offer the most features and functionality when compared to CMS's such as Joomla and Sharepoint.  Drupal's PHP based framework allow GeoNorth’s clients optimal flexibility, scalability, and expandability when considering future website needs. 

Current Alaska CMS Examples

The Alaska Aces professional hockey team CMS website is an e-commerce site developed to not only contribute to the Anchorage team's stream of revenue, but to also provide the ability to update news and events, and offer the site visitor game highlights, statistics, and schedules.  www.alaskaaces.com 

The Firetap Alehouse, one of the more popular restaurants in Anchorage, was GeoNorth's first CMS website development project.  GeoNorth was able to utilize the Drupal CMS as a solution to allow the client the ability to maintain content on their own.  www.firetapalehouse.com

The Sitnasuak Native Corporation is one of many native organizations located througout Alaska.  GeoNorth applied a variety of contributed modules and custom content types to deliver a Drupal CMS that was attractive, efficient, and user friendly.  www.snc.org

The Alaska non-profit organization Coastal Villages Region Fund, called upon GeoNorth to develop a CMS quick, and with full-featured functionality.  GeoNorth was able to deliver on time, and under budget.  www.coastalvillages.org

FM Recording Studios is one of very few full-service recording studios in Anchorage, as well as the entire state of Alaska.  With a Drupal CMS, GeoNorth developed a client site that was elegant and appealing, allowing the client to showcase their audio and video services.  www.fmrecordingstudios.com

The Alaska Fisher House is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a place of healing for those Alaska and Anchorage service members returning from active duty.  GeoNorth selected a CMS to allow the organization the ability to maintain their site independently.  www.akfisherhouse.org 

Army Staff Sergeant Trevor Jones from Anchorage, Alaska is on a mission; summit the tallest peaks on every continent in the world, and do it for the Wounded Warrior program and those service members it benefits.  GeoNorth's chosen Drupal CMS provided everything Sergeant Jones needed to raise the funds and awareness necessary to support his cause.  www.armymountaineering.com

GeoNorth also launched the All Dream Properties Real Estate and Team Up World websites for the same client using Drupal CMS.  Once the first site was complete, GeoNorth was able to create the second in less than a day by reusing the theme and making modifications.  www.alldreamproperties.com and www.teamupworld.com

Contact Us

For further information about GeoNorth and Content Management Systems, please contact our Anchorage office at (907) 646-4535