There are so many different acronyms and systems that are known in the world of websites and content creation, such as SEO, SERP and CRM. However, one in particular, CMS, is the one most people are confused about and what we’ll be focusing on today.
Whether you’re a newbie website owner or simply want to learn more about what a CMS is and what it can do for you, continue reading as our guide will explain everything you need to know.
What is a CMS?
To start off with, let’s answer the question everyone has been asking: What is a CMS? A CMS, or content management system, is a software application that allows individuals to build and manage websites without having to take on the tedious process of coding. Simply put, a CMS makes managing a website a lot easier and makes it user-friendly. If you have a CMS in place, you can customise your website to be just how you like it. You can create and publish content easily, choose a template that suits your needs and add extensions that personalise your website.
What Types of CMS Exist?
There are a range of different CMS out there depending on your needs. The following are the different types of CMS you will come across:
Traditional CMS Platforms
Traditional CMS Platforms were designed to include all aspects including HTML, CSS, content, images and videos, which made it hard to reuse the content that was already posted. As with everything, digital platforms are fast-changing and require content to be updated and shared across other platforms, thus making it impossible for Traditional CMS Platforms to move forward.
Document Management System
Gone are the days where paper was all the rage. Now, with clouds on the web, you can store all of your important documents there. Cue Document Management System, a virtual documentation system where you can file all of your documents online without the need for paper.
Enterprise Content Management System
If you have a business, then an Enterprise Management System will be beneficial for you. Simply put, an Enterprise Management System collects, organises and delivers all of your documentation ensuring it’s delivered to the right people, thus ensuring everyone who needs the documentation, gets it.
Component CMS
Unlike a standard Content Management System that organises content page by page, a Component CMS takes components (words, paragraphs or photos) and stores them.
Designed to be adaptable and for maximum content reuse, a Component CMS is beneficial for those utilising their content on a range of platforms.
Headless CMS
This type of CMS differs from the traditional type as it provides increased flexibility and scalability. A Headless CMS allows content to be used across multiple platforms and sites. A Headless CMS uses an API (Application Programming Interface), a software that lets two different applications connect with one another.
How to Choose the Right CMS
Choosing the right CMS will allow you to deliver great customer experiences across all platforms and devices that fit your business model. Is it especially important nowadays to have the right CMS as businesses are taking more to the digital-first model. Mastering and organising your content can help your business remain competitive and consistent.
So, how do you choose the right CMS for your business?
1.Make a personalised experience for your digital customers. More and more, customers are demanding a unique digital experience from brand to brand. Nowadays, brands are becoming very creative with their approach, which makes the competition higher.
The CMS platform you choose will need to consolidate all customer interactions via multiple platforms across different devices. This will help ensure you are organising your content properly.
2.Globalisation.This is a key concept that should be adopted across your business if you are reaching a larger audience, especially internationally.
3.Flexible and adaptable. With rapid change of technology and the incorporation of AI etc. your CMS needs to be flexible enough to move with these changes.
4.Strong analytical features. Being able to analyse what you do is a helpful tool in knowing what’s going well and what isn’t. A CMS that has strong analytical features will help you make sense of your data. You will be able to see what your audiences engage with, what they like, and when to deliver the right message.
Related: Have you made your website accessible to everyone?
CMS vs CRM
When discussing the different abbreviations used in the digital industry, many people get CMS and CRM confused. So, what’s the difference?
- A CRM (Customer Relationship Management) manages client and customer relationships,
- And a CMS (Content Management System) is used to manage your website.
CMS Platforms
Now that you know all about Content Management Systems, what platforms can you use that support CMS?
- Wordpress
- Sitecore
- Drupal
- Joomla
- Magento
- SharePoint
In Summary
Having a CMS is incredibly important when it comes to having a website as it allows you to easily reuse content by sharing it on multiple platforms. Depending on your needs, there are a range of different CMS applications to choose from. If you’re thinking about starting up a website for your new business, the team at Anchor Digital is ready to help. We’re experts when it comes to everything digital-related, including website design and choosing the right CMS. Visit our website to see the services we can offer you or contact us for more information.
