Content management systems (CMS) are software platforms used to assist users in creating and managing digital content.
These can be as simple as blogs or as complex as enterprise content management systems. In fact, CMS software can be grouped into four categories: blogging, headless, proprietary, and open-source.
The right CMS for you will depend on your specific use case. However, there are some key features that the best CMS options will have in common.
1. What is the primary purpose of your CMS?
The first question you need to ask yourself is why you need a CMS. Are you looking to build a website, publish a blog or manage content for your mobile app? Maybe you need a CMS to manage content for your website and mobile app. In that case, you’ll want to find a CMS that can integrate with your mobile app.
You need to have a clear understanding of why you need a CMS before you can start looking for the best CMS for your needs.
2. What are your specific business goals?
Your business goals will have a big impact on the type of CMS you choose. That’s because some CMSs are designed to help you with specific goals, such as increasing conversions or getting more traffic to your website. For instance, businesses aiming to create branded solutions for multiple users might benefit from a CMS integrated with a white label marketplace platform. This allows them to offer customizable and scalable marketplaces under their own branding, aligning perfectly with their goals.
For example, if your goal is to increase conversions, you might want to choose a CMS that has built-in tools for creating landing pages and calls to action. If your goal is to get more traffic to your website, you might want to choose a CMS that has built-in SEO tools.
Before you start looking for a CMS, take some time to think about what your specific business goals are. This will help you narrow down your options and choose a CMS that is designed to help you achieve those goals.
3. What is your budget?
The cost of a CMS can vary widely depending on the software you choose and the features you need.
In general, open-source CMS platforms like WordPress are free to use, but you may need to pay for things like hosting, themes, plugins, and developer fees.
Proprietary CMS platforms, on the other hand, often charge a monthly or annual subscription fee. These fees can vary widely, depending on the platform and the features included.
When considering your budget, it’s also important to think about the long-term costs of using a CMS. For example, you may need to pay for ongoing support, updates, and additional features as your business grows.
4. How will the CMS fit into your existing tech stack?
If you already have a set of tools and software you use to run your business, you’ll want to know how your new CMS will fit into that tech stack.
Some CMSs are built to work seamlessly with other marketing tools, like email marketing software (e.g., email domain checker tools), social media management tools, and more. For eCommerce businesses, it’s also essential to evaluate how the CMS interacts with the eCommerce backend—ensuring smooth integration for inventory management, order processing, and payment systems.
On the other hand, some CMSs are built to work as all-in-one solutions, meaning they have a lot of different tools and features built right in. These are called “closed-source” CMSs, and they’re great for businesses that want an easy, all-in-one solution.
If you’re not sure which type of CMS is best for you, consider making a list of all the tools and software you use and want to use, and see how your CMS options match up.
5. How much technical expertise do you have in-house?
Finally, you’ll want to consider the technical expertise of your team. If you have a dedicated IT team, you may be able to choose a more complex CMS. However, if you don’t have a lot of technical expertise in-house, you’ll want to choose a CMS that is easy to use and doesn’t require a lot of coding.
You may also want to consider whether you want to manage your CMS in-house or outsource it to a web development agency. If you want to manage your CMS in-house, you’ll want to choose a CMS that is easy to use and doesn’t require a lot of technical expertise. If you want to outsource your CMS, you may be able to choose a more complex CMS.
6. How much flexibility and customization do you need?
One of the biggest benefits of using a CMS is that it makes it easy to build and manage a website, even if you don’t have a lot of experience with web design.
Most CMS platforms come with a wide range of templates and themes that you can use to build your website. These templates and themes can be customized to fit your brand and your specific needs.
However, some CMS platforms offer more flexibility and customization options than others. If you want to be able to create a completely custom website, you’ll want to look for a CMS that offers a wide range of customization options, such as the ability to edit the website’s code.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a more turnkey solution, you may prefer a CMS that offers a more limited range of customization options but comes with more pre-built templates and themes.
7. What is the overall user experience of the CMS like?
Finally, you should consider the overall user experience of the CMS you’re considering. This includes the design and layout of the CMS, as well as how easy it is to use.
A good CMS should be intuitive and easy to navigate. It should also be easy to find and edit content, and to create new pages and posts.
If a CMS is difficult to use, you may find that your team doesn’t use it as much as they should. This can lead to a lack of organization and consistency in your content, and can even lead to a decrease in your website’s performance.
To get a feel for the user experience of a CMS, you can try out a demo version of the software. Most CMS providers offer free demos, which allow you to test out the features and functionality of the software before you commit to a purchase.
8. Is the CMS secure enough for your needs?
Security is a top priority for any business, and it should be a top priority when choosing a CMS as well. You need to be sure that your website and your customers’ data will be safe and secure.
Look for a CMS that offers regular security updates and has a good track record when it comes to protecting websites from security threats. You should also consider whether the CMS offers any additional security features, such as two-factor authentication or an SSL certificate.
9. What type of support and community is available for the CMS?
Finally, consider what type of support is available for the CMS and what the community is like. If you’re going to be using this CMS a lot, you’ll want to make sure that you have access to a support team and a community of other users who can help you out.
Some CMS platforms offer 24/7 customer support, while others may only offer email support during business hours. Take a look at what types of support are available and how quickly you can expect a response.
You should also take a look at the community of users. Is there an active forum where you can ask questions and get help? Are there any user groups or meetups that you can join? Having access to a community of other users can be a great way to get help and learn new tips and tricks for using the CMS.
10. What are the best CMS options for your needs?
At the end of the day, there are a ton of CMS options out there. How do you know which one is best for you? We’ll cover some of the top CMS options in the next section. But, before we do, let’s talk about some of the different factors you should consider when choosing a CMS.
• How much time do you want to spend setting up your site?
• How much time do you want to spend managing your site on a daily basis?
• What features are most important to you?
• How much flexibility do you need to create a unique site?
• How much traffic do you expect your site to get?
• How important is SEO to your business?
• What’s your technical skill level?
• Do you have a preferred tech stack?
Conclusion
It’s important to choose the right CMS platform for your business or personal website. If you’re not sure where to start, think about the features you’ll need and the type of website you want to build. Once you have a better idea of the type of CMS you want to use, you can start looking for platforms and trying out demos.