How do I Choose the Right CMS for me
Overview
Choosing the right content management systems (CMS) is important because it defines the quality of your website. A high-quality website is a valuable marketing tool and one of the best ways to attract and retain clients. CMSs are web applications that allow website owners to create and edit digital content. With a good CMS, one is able to build designs without high-tech coding skills. However, choosing the right CMS can be a complex and daunting task. Below are some pointers that can guide you in choosing the right one.
Open Source Vs Closed Source CMS
Open source platforms are built by a community of developers and are customisable. Closed source CMSs are developed by commercial enterprises with a private code that can’t be modified. Open source website builders have a great advantage over closed source because of the availability of diverse design possibilities and functionalities. The most common open source CMSs include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
WordPress
WordPress the most common open source CMS powering nearly 28% of all websites. It is easy to install and setup. In addition to that, it is very user-friendly even for beginners, and has a strong community support. It’s highly customisable with over 4,000 themes and 50,000 plugins. The main concern is that it is a popular platform and thus vulnerable to hackers. Therefore, if you choose this platform, ensure that you install security plugins.
Drupal
Drupal is another open CMS platform that powers over one million websites. Its strength lies in advanced functionalities and high-level security. Just like WordPress, it is highly customisable with premade plugins. With Drupal, you can easily give other users administrator rights. The platform allows you to either give full license or various levels of editing permission.
Joomla
Joomla is the second most used open source CMS after WordPress and is great for social networking and e-commerce. Customisation is easy with a variety of plugins and themes.
Functionality
Content management systems come with different functionalities. Many people assume that all platforms have the same functionalities for creating, editing and organising content. This is however not the case, and thus you should never invest blindly. For instance, with some platforms, it is not possible to structure your content in a tree hierarchy format.
Usability and Accessibility
When selecting a CMS, it is very important to consider the usability. The platform you choose should be easy to use and offer you the functionalities you need. Such a system allows anyone in your company to get things done simply and quickly. With a simple-to-use and intuitive solution, there will be no need to involve the IT support or third party agencies when updating content.
eCommerce and Marketing Automation
If your website has an extensive list of products or business processes, then you should look for a platform that allows eCommerce and mobile app functions. Such a platform makes it easy for you to automate functions, streamline operations and provide the end users with quality services.
Conclusion
Choosing the right CMS platform is the best way to ensure that your needs do not outgrow the platform within a short period. When you outgrow the platform, it will become difficult for you to keep up with the needs of your customers. This might create a bad image for your website. In addition to that, choosing carefully prevents you from spending on functionalities that you do not need.