Are you unsure about which content management system (CMS) to leverage for your website?
A CMS is a software application that allows companies to easily collaborate on the creation, editing, management, and optimization of their site content. . Because there are numerous CMS options available, it can be difficult to select the best CMS for your needs.
In this article, we’ll explain what is important to look for when picking a CMS and provide our top CMS platform recommendations.
How to Choose the Best CMS for Your Website
There are numerous CMS platforms available, so which one should you choose? Before we jump into which CMS is right for your business, here are some key factors to keep in mind:
Ease of use
A CMS should make it simple to create and edit content. This frequently entails having a drag-and-drop interface that allows site administrators to add different elements to pages quickly and easily after it has been published.
Design options
A CMS platform should provide a wide range of website design templates to choose from. It should also allow for easy customization of those designs to meet specific needs, ideally without writing code.
Data portability
A great CMS platform should include tools that allow easy exporting and management of data regardless of the chosen hosting service. This point is key – the more portable data there is, the more flexibility and freedom it can offer.
Extensions and add-ons
Not every website is the same. As a result, it is impossible for any CMS platform to include all of the features required by every site. Extensions and add-ons, separate pieces of software that can be installed within a CMS to enhance a site’s functionality, solve this issue.
Our Top CMS Picks
Despite each new project having different requirements, here are some of Big Drop’s favorite, and most-requested, CMSs to deploy:
WordPress
WordPress is the most used content management system, powering 38% of the Internet. This free, open-source platform supports everything from small personal sites to some of the biggest in the world. WordPress supports mobile responsive content, it’s SEO friendly, and has powerful media management tools. With no constraints on customization, you’ll have complete power over every part of your site. WordPress is a popular choice among developers and tech-savvy users because of its customization capabilities. WordPress can also be used by non-technical users and features a library of over 57,000 plugins, making it simple to add functionality to your site. But, the downside is that there is no dedicated support; a hosting plan and domain registration are needed from a third party.
Drupal
Drupal is another open-source content management system that is free to use. Drupal is a good alternative to WordPress if you need a lot of different page styles and content types. It’s also better at dealing with advanced user permissions. For developers, marketers, and agencies, Drupal is a popular choice and could be a fantastic option if requirements include robust security, high performance, and scalability.
Contentful
Contentful is a cloud-based content management system that allows users to manage content across multiple platforms. The editing interface enables interactive content management and allows developers to deliver content using their preferred programming language and template framework. Through open APIs and an app framework, Contentful allows teams to unify content in a single hub, structure it for use in any digital channel, and integrate with hundreds of other tools. Contentful’s app frameworks are robust, with open-source editors and design systems, and possess a fully customizable content structure and user interface for management.
Webflow
Webflow is a visual website builder that requires no coding. But, it’s more than just a web design tool; it’s also a CMS and a hosting platform. Designers can use Webflow’s editor to create professional, custom websites more intuitively with all of the benefits of a visual editor and the added flexibility of building a completely unique website from scratch. The designer, developer, editor, and content manager’s use-cases were all taken into consideration when Webflow was created. Designers can now create designs that are based on real content rather than relying on developers. Webflow’s REST API allows developers to add, update, delete, and publish directly from their terminal. In addition, Webflow offers real-time content-editing on-page and easily allows administrators invitations to collaborate.
HubSpot
HubSpot’s CMS, Hub, is a fully integrated content management system tailored to marketers and business owners. Even if you have little to no technical knowledge, the website builder is simple to use. Their drag-and-drop editor and built-in SEO tools make it easy to create and optimize web content. Hub integrates seamlessly with HubSpot’s email marketing tool and sales CRM, allowing you to streamline your operational workflows. Hub is an ideal solution for both small and growing businesses looking for an all-in-one system to manage their website since it’s built on top of HubSpot’s CRM platform, which includes all sorts of marketing automation, sales, service, and operations tools. Hub also comes with built-in security features — including a dedicated security team to keep your site safe from attacks, hackers, and other threats.
Shopify
Another all-in-one hosted CMS platform is Shopify. You will not need to purchase hosting, install software, or manage updates and backups. Shopify has a multitude of extensions and themes to choose from. They too have a simple drag-and-drop interface that supports in-store sales, which is useful if you have both a physical storefront as well as an online store. Third-party apps can be purchased to add a variety of features to your online store. You will not need to upgrade your site if sales exceed a certain threshold, as you would with other eCommerce CMSs. Shopify also provides a 24/7 live chat, email, and phone support.
WooCommerce
Even though WooCommerce isn’t technically a CMS platform, it is the most popular eCommerce extension as a WordPress plug-in. It’s completely free, extremely adaptable, and simple to use, but you’ll need WooCommerce hosting and a domain to get started. There are several WooCommerce themes to choose from, making it simple to customize your site to your liking. WooCommerce features a variety of extensions (also known as WooCommerce plugins) that allow you to enhance your site’s capabilities. WooCommerce allows you to sell both physical and digital products. WooCommerce allows you to fully manage your inventory, making it simple to keep track of what you have in stock. WooCommerce accepts PayPal and Stripe payments; you can add any other payment gateways through additional plug-ins as well.