Blogging Tools Develop Content Management Ambitions

The social media and traditional web worlds continue to converge as more sites add elements for user participation and engagement. It’s no surprise that the systems to support these features are also rapidly evolving.

The latest news from Six Apart reflects this trend. The company has released new versions of its TypePad and Movable Type blogging platforms with features that allow more collaboration, community building and ease of maintenance. (TypePad targets professional bloggers and small businesses, while Movable Type is an enterprise-level tool for larger organizations.)

This InfoWorld commentary summarizes Six Apart’s ambitions for Movable Type:

Not content with being the social software of choice for everything from one-man megaphones to major corporate sites, it now wants to function as a content management system (CMS) for whole Web sites. Two years ago, this would have been laughable. Today, it may not be. Blogs are at the center of many major sites, and a basic template approach to everyday Web pages (not just ones we think of as blogs) is viable.

The TypePad enhancements are also significant, since they allow users to maintain blogs and other web content from a single system.

The well-established CMS tools still have their niche – and most IT departments will have a greater comfort level with them. At the same time, Movable Type’s client list includes the Washington Post, General Motors, Nissan Motors, Boeing and Intel. As the broader online landscape changes, more organizations will undoubtedly take notice as the tools evolve and compete.