Are you curious about what a Content Management System, often known as a CMS, is? Do you like to see some examples of the greatest CMS? Or are you curious about the applications of a CMS? Then you have arrived to the proper destination.
A CMS, or content management system, is a kind of software that gives users the tools they need to create and manage online content or digital material. In addition, when it comes to the creation of websites, they are among the solutions that are utilised the most often. In point of fact, almost half of all websites are constructed using CMS.
If you are just starting out, there is a good possibility that you do not understand how a Content Management System (CMS) operates or what it is capable of doing. You can also be considering how to include it into your website at this point. Don’t be concerned! Everything you need to know about content management systems may be found here.
In this section, we will discuss what a CMS is, how they operate, the features and advantages that they provide, and some common examples of CMS. Next, we’ll provide a concise overview of the stages involved in developing a website using a content management system.
Then, let’s get started right away, shall we?
What is Content Management System (CMS)?
A Information Management System, or CMS for short, is a piece of software that makes it possible to manage digital content in an efficient manner. That is to say, you are able to build, amend, and publish the content of your website without the need for any specific coding abilities. Simply said, it is software that makes the process of constructing a website more simpler.
To be more specific, a content management system (CMS) is a software programme that gives users the tools and capabilities necessary to generate, update, and publish information on the internet. The greatest part is that you do not necessarily need to have prior experience with technologies such as coding in order to use it.
Most crucially, a content management system (CMS) includes all of the tools that are necessary to construct a dynamic website. A powerful kind of website known as a dynamic website is one that has material that can be modified. To be more specific, the content of a dynamic website may have its version updated, deleted, or edited without the need to alter the source code. Additionally, the exposure of your website could be different depending on the user.
The most essential thing to keep in mind is that a dynamic website maintains a continuous relationship with the database in order to save the data and retrieve it. The material is stored and recorded in a database through the content management system (CMS). Additionally, the intuitive user interface makes it simple to incorporate the material into a website page.
Not so long ago, in order to save and show material on your website, you had to first develop the necessary functionality via intricate programming. Now more than ever, content management systems are making it unnecessary to manually code a website from scratch. This is due to the fact that the CMS tools take care of every single function on your website.
WordPress, Drupal, Magento, PrestaShop, and many more are examples of well-known content management systems.
How Does a CMS work? (Explained)
Now, in order to comprehend the operation of a CMS, you need to be familiar with the tasks that it does. If you want to create a dynamic website with the use of hand coding, then you will need to complete a large number of activities.
To begin, you will need to use HTML to construct the foundation of the website. The next step is to adjust the style using CSS, which you may do after that. After that, you will be able to provide your website’s components functionality by using the Javascript programming language.
The next step would be to build database tables to accommodate each of the dynamic elements. After that, you will need to use programming languages such as PHP to link the table attributes to the appropriate spots on HTML web pages.
These days, content management systems are delivered in the form of software that is pre-loaded with all of the necessary code. This eliminates the need of carrying out all of these laborious programmings. In addition to this, it gives the software that you may download and install on the server that you use for web hosting.
You will get access to the highly functional admin dashboard so that you may administer and manage your website. From the dashboard, you have the ability to upload new material, format that information, apply styles to it, and publish it. This includes text, media, web pages, menus, and so on.
With the assistance of the post/page editor, it is not difficult to produce web pages and posts on your website. You will just need to upload the words, photos, and widgets into the website and position them where you want them. Any material that you upload to the dashboard will be saved in the database, and subsequent displays of that item will be retrieved from the database.
Themes and templates, which are both types of design components, are offered to you so that you may create the layout of your website. They are quite easy to modify, allowing you to give the website exactly the style you want. There may be a vast variety of themes available for usage across all kinds of websites, depending on the content management system platform.
In addition, content management systems (CMS) provide a multitude of features, functions, and settings, among other things, that simplify the process of administering your website.
Benefits of Using a CMS (6 Main Advantages)
Up until this point, it’s likely been quite obvious to you that using a CMS is going to greatly improve your experience. Now, let’s look at the advantages of using a CMS in more depth. Among them are the following:
1) Easy Solution for Building Websites
Web creation is now accessible to non-technical persons as a direct result of the emergence of content management systems (CMSs). The practise of employing web developers and other specialists to create a website is becoming more obsolete.
If you use a content management system (CMS), you can simply construct a great website without having to touch a single line of code. Beginners won’t have any trouble creating and maintaining content on their websites because to the intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI) and dashboard that comes with the platform.
2) Multiple Users Access
Utilizing a CMS that allows for the addition of many users is advantageous for a number of reasons. Additionally, the users are able to access the website’s administrative area simultaneously. Additionally, you have the ability to assign several roles to the users, each of which confers a unique set of skills on that user.
When you have a big organisation, there is a greater chance that various users are using the website for a variety of reasons. For instance, one worker may be tasked with building the website, another can be tasked with composing content, and a third might be tasked with ensuring the website’s safety and maintaining its backups concurrently.
3) Plentiful Site Design Options
If you utilise a content management system (CMS), then you will have the ability to build your website in any way that you see fit. You will have access to a huge library of predesigned themes and templates to choose from. Imagine that WordPress offers over 7,700 free themes in its WordPress.org theme repository alone, not to mention a great deal more in its several other theme shops.
You may pick a WordPress theme that is appropriate for your website from the many that are available, then install it and activate it there. Your website will seem different now that the new layout that was given by the theme has been applied. In addition, you may modify the theme to give your website the appearance you want it to have. It can be summed up like that.
In a same vein, you have access to a plethora of themes across the various CMS systems. Before the advent of CMS software, there were not a large number of readily accessible design possibilities.
4) Extensive Features and Functionalities
You are able to design whatever sort of website you want if you have a competent CMS. In order to do this, you need a vast array of features that are tailored to each specific kind of website.
CMSs come pre-loaded with a plethora of capabilities. In addition, you may extend the functionality of the programme by installing other components known as add-ons or plugins. Add-ons are what give content management systems (CMSs) their strength and enable them to be used to create a wide variety of websites.
For instance, WordPress provides its users with plugins that make it simple to expand the functionality of WordPress and add new features. Check out our post that explains what a WordPress plugin is for more information.
5) Cost-effective Way to Build Sites
The vast majority of the most popular content management system softwares may be obtained totally free of charge. It eliminates the need for you to pay to have your website first set up, saving you money.
In addition, you won’t need web developers and designers to keep your site up to date and manage it. Which results in you not having to pay their charge.
6) Full Ownership of Your Site
When you utilise a content management system (CMS), you have complete authority over and ownership of your website. It indicates that you are the one responsible for building and managing your website. There are no limitations placed on the kinds of services that may be used. In addition, there is no indication of the platforms’ branding anywhere on the page.
What is Content Management System (CMS)?
You are now aware of the many advantages that come with using a content management system (CMS). It’s possible that you’re curious about the most important aspects of a CMS. Therefore, in this section, we have selected 5 characteristics that are essential and are found in the majority of CMS tools.
1) Powerful Dashboard
The back-end of your content management system (CMS) is called the admin dashboard. From here, you may add and modify content on your website. The pages, posts, settings, look, plugins, and everything else that needs to be managed may all be found here.
You should now be able to execute all of the operations necessary to manage your content using the administrative dashboard. Imagine that you need to be able to upload material, format that content, schedule posts, improve SEO methods, run analytics and tracking, install themes and plugins, and do other similar tasks.
In addition, users should be able to have access to the source code via the CMS dashboard in order to achieve the appropriate amount of customisation and flexibility.
2) SEO Tools
Search Engine Optimization, often known as SEO, refers to the method of ranking higher in search engines in order to reach a greater number of people. It is an essential component of content management systems. Every content management system (CMS) should contain the capabilities necessary to optimise your site for search engines. Because of this, more people will be able to find your website, which will result in more advantages for you.
There are a plethora of different aspects that go into determining a site’s rating. The following is a list of some of the SEO tools included in the CMS that can help your site rank higher:
- Themes that are responsive
- Title, permalinks, and meta descriptions for search engine optimization
- URLs that are favourable to SEO
- Protection for a website
- Optimization of the image
- Image alt tags
- How quickly a page loads
3) Strict Security Measures
Every website is subject to the ever-present danger of being hacked or attacked.
In addition to this, websites that were designed using CMSs are more susceptible to security flaws. CMSs that are open source include WordPress, Joomla, and others. Therefore, anybody may read the source code, and any vulnerable points can be exploited to launch a security attack. Therefore, the burden of ensuring website security lies with each and every CMS platform.
Check out our post on “Website Security Guide” if you are interested in learning how to properly safeguard your website.
The safety of your website’s data is merely one aspect of its overall security. However, it is important to make sure that the data transfer from the server to the clients is done in a safe manner. Your clients are more likely to trust your brand and your business when they are able to use a secure website.
Every content management system (CMS) need to include built-in security measures such as robust passwords, two-factor authentication, and the barring of anomalous visiting and login patterns, among other things. In addition, further security add-ons can prove to be beneficial.
4) Responsiveness
Another essential characteristic of a content management system is its responsiveness. It refers to the capacity of websites to adapt their appearance to fit the dimensions of any screen on which they are viewed. On the other hand, it should not make the web page more difficult to navigate or change the content in any way, regardless of the device you use to access it.
In the past, most people would browse the internet using devices with huge screens, such as desktop computers. On the other hand, people have been used to using their mobile devices to browse the internet ever since the invention of smart mobile phones. It’s possible that this information may come as a shock to you, yet more than half of all visits to websites are made using mobile devices.
Therefore, having a website that is responsive is no longer a desirable but rather a required feature. In light of this fact, content management systems (CMSs) have begun mandating that template designs be adaptable and suitable to mobile devices.
5) Social Integration
It’s possible that you want people to share the pages on your website on social networking. Due to the fact that millions of individuals use social media every month, a significant amount of website traffic might originate from social networking sites. Therefore, your content management system (CMS) need to include integration with social media in order to expand audience reach.
Therefore, the CMS should make it possible to add buttons for social sharing and following to your website’s pages and articles. And then you may ask your visitors to share your pieces on social media by giving them positive reinforcement. If you have the opportunity, you may also let people check in using their social network accounts instead of their email addresses. Check to determine whether the capacity for social media analytics may be included into your administrative dashboard.
Some content management systems come equipped with all of these social sharing features by default. While it is possible that you will be required to install appropriate plugins in order to add and activate such capabilities.
7 Best & Most Popular CMS Examples
If you Google it, you can find quite a few different CMS systems to choose from. There are many different types of websites that may be hosted on either a free or a paid platform. Now, let’s look at some instances of different content management system systems.
1. WordPress.org
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that is open-source and free, and it can be used to develop a variety of websites. WordPress is by far the most common content management system (CMS), accounting for over 38% of all websites. More than sixty percent of websites that are driven by content management systems are built on WordPress. The majority of users prefer using WordPress over other platforms since it has sophisticated capabilities that are yet user-friendly.
WordPress.org and WordPress.com are two entirely separate systems, despite how easy they may be confused with one another. They make use of the WordPress platform, but their organisational structure is quite different. The.org version is a self-hosted platform, whilst the.com version is a fully hosted site builder that allows users to sign up for an account and construct a website in a few simple steps.
If you are interested in learning more, you should read the post comparing WordPress.org to WordPress.com.
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that comes pre-loaded with a tonne of functionality that can be used to create different kinds of websites. Because it was first developed as a platform for blogging, WordPress has a robust foundation that is ideal for blogging.
wordpress Pros and Cons:
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2. Joomla
Another excellent content management system (CMS) platform, Joomla, has around 4% of the market share. Joomla is a content management system that may be self-hosted and operates similarly to WordPress. It offers a wide variety of templates and add-ons that may be used for the development of a variety of websites.
It has a high degree of adaptability in a number of different respects. However, it cannot compete with the ease of use offered by WordPress for novices. In point of fact, if you want to work with Joomla, you could need to engage a developer.
joomla Pros and Cons:
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3. Drupal
Drupal is another another open-source content management system that we have included in our samples. One of the most prominent aspects of it is the versatility with which it can create webpages. It is the driving force behind around 2.4% of all websites on the internet. On the other hand, it is the option that major organisations and businesses like NASA want.
It is often built to withstand a significant amount of data together with a high number of traffic flow. To manage constructing and administering a Drupal website, however, you will need to have a fair deal of expertise and understanding in the relevant technical areas. If this is not the case, you may want to consider hiring a professional.
drupal Pros and Cons:
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4. Magento
Magento is another content management system (CMS) platform particularly designed for the development of eCommerce websites. Adobe is the owner of this software, which comes in both a free and a premium edition. It is often understood that the main Magento platform consists of the open-source, free, self-hosted version known as Magento Open Source.
It is an extremely versatile eCommerce platform that can be used to build and create an online business. On the other hand, much like Drupal, it is not the easiest thing to pick up.
magento Pros and Cons:
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5. Shopify
Shopify is yet another well-known platform for developing eCommerce websites. This is a completely hosted solution, which means that everything is handled on your behalf. You won’t have to worry about taking care of the domain, hosting, or any of the other difficulties that may arise.
Both the setup and the operation of it are relatively simple. Getting started with creating is as simple as making an account, selecting a plan, and getting to work. It has an editor that works using a drag-and-drop interface for adding goods and positioning them in the correct locations.
It’s one of the most formidable rivals to WordPress, and more especially to the WooCommerce plugin for WordPress. Creating an online shop in WordPress is a breeze when using the WooCommerce plugin. Read our in-depth essay on the comparison of WooCommerce vs Shopify to get an understanding of the differences between these two platforms.
shopify Pros and Cons:
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6. Ghost
Ghost is a content management system (CMS) as well as an open-source platform for blogging. Its primary goal is to simplify the processes of writing and publishing. You will need to pay in order to utilise the Ghost service. There are three distinct options to choose from: Basic, Standard, and Business, with prices ranging from $29 to $79 to $199 correspondingly.
It has a straightforward navigation structure, making it simple for even inexperienced users to quickly grasp its fundamentals. However, in comparison to other content management systems, such as WordPress, it does not provide nearly as much freedom.
ghost Pros and Cons:
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7. Blogger
Another content management system (CMS), Blogger was first launched in 1999 as a blogging platform. Blogger is a free platform that is owned and operated by Google. It comes with a subdomain and web hosting that is maintained for you. In addition to that, it gives you a free SSL certificate to use on your blog.
It’s a good platform for getting your blog started, and it comes with tonnes of features. The feature set, on the other hand, cannot be compared to that of WordPress.
Check out our comparison guide on WordPress vs. Blogger for a more in-depth look at the two platforms.
BLOGGER Pros and Cons:
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Choosing the Best CMS for Your Site
After going through several content management system (CMS) platforms, the last step is to choose the CMS that is most suitable for your website.
There are a lot of things that might play a role in determining which content management system application is going to be the most suitable for your needs. You will, of course, be required to search for all of the fundamental CMS functions. In addition, some of them are as follows:
Cost:
The first step is to choose how much of your money you will put into it. It’s possible that mastering the software’s interface will take some time at first. Therefore, do you have the option of investing in your own education or hiring a developer?
Ease of Use:
You will be required to decide on a platform that is simple to use. Even for first-time users, figuring out how to utilise the platform shouldn’t be a difficult or time-consuming process.
Website Niche:
First things first, you’ll need to make a decision on the kind of website you want to build. The next step is to locate the most effective CMS that can be used to build the one.
Extension:
Check to see whether the content management system supports a wide variety of extensions. in order to allow you to enhance the functionality of your website from basic to complicated. For instance, if you already have a shop, you could wish to expand it by including a blog.
Features:
The content management system (CMS) platform that you choose has the essential fundamental characteristics such as customization, social integration, SEO, analytics, and so on.
Experience:
Do you have experience with any particular CMS? Have you ever used their services before? If the answer is yes, then you should continue using the same platform until you find that it no longer meets your needs. It may take some time to get familiar with a new platform.
