If you’re planning to build a website, whether for a blog, business, or personal portfolio, you’ll likely come across the term “CMS.” CMS stands for Content Management System, and it’s a crucial tool for anyone wanting to create, manage, and maintain a website without needing deep technical knowledge. In this article, we’ll dive into what a CMS is, explore different types, and help you understand how a CMS can make website building and management easier and more efficient.
What is a CMS?
Content Management Systems (CMS) are software applications that help users create, manage, and publish content on a website. A good CMS provides a user-friendly interface to add and edit the content of your website, like images, text, and videos, and takes care of all the technical aspects of organizing and displaying that content to visitors. Think of it as part file management system, part database, and part content creation tools. Without it, you would be stuck creating individual files for every page of your site, uploading them to your server, and writing specialized code to make sure your files got displayed as web pages when people visit your site.
What Does a CMS Do?
A CMS has two core functions:
Content Management
This part of the CMS lets users add and manage content on the site. The CMS provides a user interface where you can add, edit, and delete posts, pages, and other types of content such as images, videos, and even functional pieces like event calendars or e-commerce. You can typically also use the CMS to do things like manage how your website looks (layout, colors, fonts), add functionality (like sliders, forms, popups), and connect your site to other third-party resources like Google Analytics or a marketing service.
Content Delivery
This part of the CMS takes the content you add to the site and delivers it back to your visitors when they browse your site. It keeps all of your URLs, pages, and other site components organized and generally houses various functions so that your site displays when users come for a visit.
Essentially, the CMS handles all the basic infrastructure stuff so you can focus on the more forward-facing parts of your website, like the content and design.
Benefits of Using a CMS
CMS platforms come with a host of benefits for anyone looking to build a website:
Saves Time
A good CMS saves tons of time by eliminating the need to code everything by hand. And that’s just the beginning. A CMS also saves time after the site has launched, by providing a user-friendly interface for making changes to content, adding new pages, and generally managing your site.
Ease of Use
Most CMS platforms are designed with the non-technical user in mind, making it easy to create and manage content.
Scalability
A CMS can grow with your business; you can start with a few pages and expand to a much larger site without changing platforms.
SEO Benefits
Many CMSs are optimized to help your website rank well in search engines. Features like SEO-friendly URLs, automatic sitemap creation, and meta-tagging are often built-in.
Extendability
With plugins or extensions, you can add custom functions to your CMS, all tailored to your needs without any coding required. Examples might include contact forms, media galleries, or forums.
Support and Community
Popular CMS platforms have large communities. This means lots of resources such as tutorials, forums, and third-party plugins that can help you get the most out of your site.
Tips for Choosing the right CMS
One downside to using a CMS is that it can sometimes be a huge (and possibly expensive) headache to switch to a different CMS down the line if your site has grown significantly. There are definitely ways to minimize that headache, and you should never feel stuck in a CMS that isn’t working for you – if it’s time for a change, don’t be afraid to do so! Nevertheless, starting out with a strong CMS that’s a good fit for your purpose can go a long way to minimizing headaches down the line. The tips below will help you find a good fit, and our handy quiz at the bottom goes a step further with personalized recommendations.
Consider the Purpose of Your Site
Different sites have different purposes – from brochure sites, to e-commerce, to lead generations, to online community, and beyond. Some CMS platforms are better suited for one type of purpose over another, with specific tools and features geared towards helping you be successful in that area.
Design Options
Think about how important flexibility will be for you. Do you prefer to work with professionally designed, plug-and-play templates? Do you want the ability to design from the ground up? What about down the road?
Support
Everyone gets stuck sometimes. Consider how much support you might need and think about how you would prefer to access it. Some platforms offer phone, chat, and/or email support, while others are more about community forums and help docs. Is support free or included in your plan? How fast is support turnaround?
Extensions & Integrations
Make sure the CMS is capable of integrating with other tools you use, such as your CRM or marketing tools.
Performance
Site speed and performance can be impacted by the CMS, so make sure to choose one with a good reputation for site speed and easy-to-use or automated optimization tools.
Built-in Tools & Features
Check to see what tools and features come built in to the platform. If SEO is important to you, what SEO tools will you have access to? What about forms? Media options? Assess whether the tools available are a good fit for your needs. If something is missing though, don’t write off an otherwise good fit; check if there is an extension or plugin available for the CMS that would help meet your needs.
Portability
Some CMS can be hosted on almost any standard hosting service. For example, if you build a site in WordPress hosted with GoDaddy, and then later want to move your site over to Siteground’s hosting platform, you can do that. However, some CMS are integrated with a particular hosting platform and can only be hosted on that platform. In those cases, moving to a different host usually means rebuilding your site in a different CMS.
Try Before You Buy
Whether you’re considering a free CMS like WordPress or a paid system like Shopify, make sure to poke around before you make a final decision. Take advantage of free tiers and free trials to get your hands on the backend of the CMS to check it out for yourself.
Need some suggestions? Take the quiz below!
Popular CMS Platforms
There are many CMS to choose from, catering to different needs and skill levels. Here are a few examples:
Wix
Wix’s powerful drag-and-drop editing system makes it a popular choice with those looking for a balance of customizability and ease of use.
Squarespace
Known for its stunning design templates and intuitive interface, Squarespace is a favorite among creatives who want to get a website up quickly with minimal fuss.
Hubspot
Hubspot’s CMS features drag-and-drop page editing, blog, landing page, and other web services that are all natively integrated with Hubspot’s powerful marketing platform.
WordPress
Many people are surprised to learn that this is the most popular CMS in the world. WordPress is versatile and easy to use, making it an excellent choice for beginners and professionals alike.
Shopify
Shopify’s CMS focuses specifically on e-commerce websites and provides tools and features needed to build an online store.
Learn More
Webflow
This is a particularly attractive option for users who prioritize design and need a high level of customization.
Learn More
For a more in-depth look read: Top CMS Platforms Compared
Conclusion
Choosing the right CMS for your website can seem daunting, but understanding what a CMS can do and what types are available makes the decision much easier. Whether you’re building a simple business-card site or a complex online store, there’s a CMS out there that fits your needs. By leveraging the power of a CMS, you can focus on what really matters: creating engaging content and growing your online presence.
