Choosing the Best CMS for Your Business

One of your business’s most crucial choices is selecting the appropriate content management system (CMS) for your website. A CMS gives you the framework and capabilities to develop websites and run your business effectively online.

The coronavirus pandemic has made business operations even more digital while placing pressure on budgets globally, signaling the need for CMS solutions to do more with less. This includes lowering overhead and total project costs by implementing open-source CMS platforms free from vendor lock-in and an even greater need to maintain competitiveness in terms of user experience (UX) for both site administrators and end users.

Below, we will guide you in choosing the ideal CMS for the particular requirements of your business.

Why Your Business Needs a CMS

1. A CMS makes developing a website simple and easier to understand if you need experience with web programming, mainly because most offer drag-and-drop editors. Your capacity to upload text and images and change your website’s content is made easier with a content management system.
2. A CMS enables group collaboration on many projects and allows several users to edit your website. Your website’s content can be added to, edited, and updated by several users using their personal devices.  A CMS facilitates workflow modification. It eliminates the need to use separate platforms to communicate with your team and transfer files via email.
3. A content management system with advanced SEO plugins and features can improve your website’s rating in top search engines. Using the CMS’s features, you can adopt an SEO optimization strategy to boost website traffic.
4. You and your customers must be protected by internet security, especially for e-commerce websites. Hackers trying to steal personal information can easily access websites. To help shield consumers from potential security risks, web developers and computer scientists examine content management systems for flaws and problems. Additionally, CMS platforms offer extra plugins and tools to improve the security of your website.
5. You can save time and money by using a CMS. The cost of building and maintaining a website is high. You do not have to wait for a web developer to return your call to make the adjustments you want right away.

There are four different kinds of CMS. The one you select should be based on how advanced you require it, the programming language used to create your website and the technical skill of those who will be utilizing it.

Open Source CMS

Open-source CMS software is free and does not require contracts, licenses, or upgrade fees. However, some services may have a fee, such as:

• Technical support for installation and configuration.
• Outside of the primary service, software customization.
• Plugins, add-ons, and additional templates (free versions might be available).
• Management and staff training Support for users, such as routine CMS software updates.

Common open-source CMS platforms include the following:

1. WordPress
2. Drupal
3. Joomla
4. Joomla

Headless CMS

A headless CMS does away with the content management system’s viewing component requirement. Instead, the data (blog post, customer profile, etc.) is delivered to any device via a configurable API. A headless CMS lacks a front-end or display layer and allows you to distribute data in any way you and your users require or choose.

Common headless CMS platforms include the following:

1. Kontent by Kentico 
2. Contentful
3. Magnolia
4. Agility CMS

Proprietary CMS

Commercial CMS is another name for proprietary. It was developed and is currently run by one business. Costs for proprietary CMS platforms range from $14 per month (Wix) to $300 per month (CMS Hub Professionals).

It could be more difficult and expensive if you already have a back-end system or website.

Common proprietary CMS platforms include the following:

1. Shopify
2. CMS Hub Professional
3. Kentico 
4. Wix

Service-based Software (Saas) CMS

Web content management software, web hosting, and technical assistance are frequently all included in Saas CMS software. It is a subscription-based service that is housed in the Cloud. Pricing is determined per person or per website and often consists of the following:

• The volume of data being transferred
• Storage of content and data
• Technical assistance

Common Software as a Service (Saas) CMS examples include:

1. Zesty
2. Kentico
3. Core dna 
4. CrownPeak

What to look for in the right CMS?

The following elements can help you in searching for a CMS.

Scalability

Remember that one reason you are upgrading your website frequently is to increase your business. This implies that your CMS must be able to handle more users and tasks. Let’s take an example of where you wish to start, including video reviews on your website. That is an entirely new task that may call for various tools and expertise you want to have at all times.

Omnichannel Support

Scalability gives you flexibility, which is crucial given how quickly your business and technology are evolving. For instance, you can create content appropriate for the metaverse as it grows in popularity. Because of this, you must consider acquiring flexibility with a CMS that permits omnichannel posting. 

It makes sense to think about how you’ll be able to support things like the metaverse and virtual reality today since they’re only going to become more popular in the future.

Technologies available

Only seek an engineer who is an expert in one particular language if you need help with your CMS. To put it another way, you need your CMS to support a variety of languages. In this manner, it will be simpler to locate an engineer if you require assistance. 

Furthermore, ensuring that any CMS support you require is provided without interfering with your team’s ability to update your online assets is a good idea.

Integrations

Integrating with other applications and microservices is another method for increasing flexibility. For instance, you could want applications that ensure the leads you collect on your website are put to good use to serve the demands of your marketing personnel. 

To enable personalized content for website users, you should consider e-commerce, business intelligence, analytics, and blogging capability.

Effortless Use

The effectiveness of your CMS depends on how well your team members can use it. Ensure the interface is simple to understand, ideally with functions comparable to those of other programs the team already uses. 

You must ensure team member buy-in and provide the option for a trial run before you purchase since your material is too valuable to chance team member annoyance or even incapacity to update as required.

Security

Creating, maintaining, and attracting website visitors takes time and work. The last thing you need is for all that laborious work to be undone by a security lapse that compromises your visitors’ privacy, content, or brand. 

The recovery from such an attack can take months or even years, and many businesses fail to recover from such a calamity. It would help if you looked into how each CMS you’re considering approaches this crucial program component because security is vital.

Smooth Workflows

You want a system that will enable smooth workflows if your website is complicated or several individuals are working on the content. 

For instance, you must be able to keep a record of the material being created, what has to be published when, what approvals are required, what deadlines are approaching, and which channels to distribute particular pieces of content.

Accelerate Digitizing with Techzir Solutions

Finally, remember that no matter what CMS you decide to use in 2022 to power your website, we will ask you to be aware that you will need to be continually alert and prepared to deal with any potential issues that may develop. Your developers will be your first line of defense if something goes wrong, so make sure to give them the freedom and independence they need to complete their tasks and advance their knowledge.

Similarly, it would help if you considered obtaining the assistance of outside professionals who can offer round-the-clock service for much less money than hiring an entire staff of engineers. Techzir Solutions can help you with these solutions, which is equally feasible if your business has plans to overcome barriers, challenges, or even significant mishaps.