Choosing the Right CMS for Your Website

Content marketing has consistently demonstrated that it is more cost-effective than traditional advertising. You’ll need a suitable content management system (CMS) to make content marketing work online. Investing in the incorrect CMS, on the other hand, can be costly, harmful, and difficult to reverse. That’s why we’ve put up this guide on choosing the best CMS for your company.

In this article, we’ll go over some key points to consider when building a new website and deciding on the ideal CMS platform for your needs.

Related: 2 Incredibly Simple Ways To Increase Organic Web Traffic 

What is CMS?

A Content Management System (CMS) is a technical term for an interface that allows you to manage the content of a database in a safe, secure, and user-friendly manner. The purpose of your website, your needs, your budget, and your business goals all play a role in picking the ideal content management system for your firm.

There are currently a myriad of content management systems to select from, which can be classified into two types:

Open Source CMS

Open Source Content management systems are free to use for any purpose and do not require the purchase of a license. In contrast to proprietary CMS, you have the freedom to modify your open source CMS without the need for any special authorization or license.

Examples of Open Source CMS include WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, etc. WordPress runs on approx. 40% of the websites on the Internet.

Advantages of Open Source CMS

• There are no licenses to purchase, no upgrading fees, and no long-term commitments.
• There are numerous free modules and plugins to pick from as a result of the large number of people involved in the development of open source CMS. Many of these modifications and plugins do not necessitate the hiring of a developer.
• When you utilize open source CMS, you have access to thousands of free and paid templates.
• Many open source content management systems are designed with a specific audience in mind. WordPress is a fantastic example, as it caters to personal blogs and small businesses, among other things. Because open source CMS focuses on a small set of requirements, it is simple to alter and adapt to your own requirements.
• Open source CMS is well-liked by search engines. Unlike proprietary CMS, Some open source content management systems such as WordPress are extremely simple to optimize for search engines, requiring only a few plugins and add-ons.

Cons of Open Source CMS

• Many of the open source CMS templates are free, and the quality reflects this.
• There is minimal, if any, technical assistance available. While any open source CMS has a vibrant community of contributors, none of them are working on your project specifically. Any additional technical support for your website must be handled by your developer.
• You can choose to move your site and content to another developer, however, due to design ownership concerns, adjustments, and design considerations, the process may take some time. In general, each developer has their own preferences, and switching developers will almost certainly demand a complete website overhaul and redesign.
• You must ensure that your design is unique, even if you are using an open source CMS. If you want to shift to a different platform, transferring a template website with a design that isn’t fully your own can be difficult, if not impossible.

Proprietary CMS

These are content management systems that are held by a corporation that has complete ownership of the system and all of the rights associated with it. These companies then sell licenses to users that allow them to access and use their content management system.

Sometimes, even with a license, users are banned from duplicating the CMS or making any changes to it until they purchase a costly “Developers” license, which allows them to duplicate and modify the CMS.

Examples of the Proprietary CMS include Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, etc.

Advantages of Proprietary CMS

• They are an excellent choice if your company consists of more than just your website. Although you may want to use a custom content management system (CMS) if your online presence defines your business and you are primarily concerned with the content rather than the technological functionality, this may not be the best option.
• Under a comprehensive hosting plan, the firm that created the content management system (CMS) takes care of all the nitty-gritty technical parts of maintaining your website, such as updates, upgrades, security issues, and bugs.
• They frequently come with eye-catching designs that truly enhance the overall appearance of your website. A superb design symbolizes the complete breadth of everything you want for your website, and this works perfectly.

Cons of a Proprietary CMS

• Proprietary content management systems (CMS) drastically restrict the amount of control you have over your website. You have a restricted number of possibilities for program changes and enhancements. Anything along these lines will almost always be limited to standard modules and functionalities unless otherwise specified.
• The use of proprietary CMS increases the likelihood of losing access to and ownership over your content and website design in the event that you decide to leave your company for any reason. Before you make a commitment, you must be certain that things are guaranteed. Licenses are typically highly expensive.
• Because many web hosting companies do not support proprietary content management systems, you may find yourself with fewer options for where to host your website if you decide to switch providers.
• Many proprietary content management system websites will only function properly if they are hosted by the CMS’s creator.

Which Type of CMS Should You Choose?

That decision is dependent on your budget and the specific requirements you have. However, open source content management systems (CMS) are currently dominating the market in terms of both demand and capability, and this trend appears set to continue for the foreseeable future.

Ford, CNN, eBay, TechCrunch, and the White House are just a few big names that use open source content management systems.

The benefits of using open source software are numerous, and they include being easier on your budget as well as having a more manageable learning curve than proprietary software.

If you’re a complete beginner, you might want to start with WordPress, which powers 40% of all websites on the internet.

Sakar Bhusal

Sakar is an IT professional with over 15 years of experience working in the field of information technology, web administration and technical customer support for e-commerce and IT companies. Sakar holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science from DeVry University, Houston, and a Masters degree in Geographical Information Systems from the University of Salzburg, Austria. Sakar’s specialty is in freelance web designing and SEO/SMM support, and he has provided his services to companies and individuals around the world. Sakar has a background in offering extensive support functions, including managing web content, communicating with teams, sending newsletters, and coordinating general operations, all while maintaining a consistent level of professionalism and accuracy. Sakar prides himself on providing regular communication with clients via phone, email, and video conference, ensuring reliable ongoing contact throughout the workday. Sakar’s varied background makes him an asset to any business. He has experience in web design and maintenance, execution and monitoring of online advertising initiatives, graphic design software such as Photoshop and Indesign, and brand development. He currently resides in High Point, NC with his wife and two-year-old son.

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