As your eCommerce business grows, so too does the amount of content you create for your website. Keeping your website up-to-date can be tricky, especially if you don’t know the intricacies of coding. Most organisations will utilise a content management system (CMS) to make this easier. It brings a helpful element of automation to your website building and content-related work without relying on a tech-heavy background.
But what exactly is a content management system, and how does it work? What benefits does it offer businesses, and how do you choose one that will work best for you?
A CMS software enables its end-users to create and edit digital content, collaborate with others, and archive historical content in the back end. The two most common uses are ECM (enterprise content management) and WCM (web content management). It usually consists of a content management application (CMA) and a content delivery application (CDA).
CMS software is usually used when you are building your own website or online store. Having this software available lessens the need to know or use code. While you previously would have needed a decent understanding of HTML, CSS, PHP, and potentially other languages, CMS software can write that code for you.
Possibly the most well-known example of a CMS platform is WordPress, which has over 75 million sites using its software. It allows someone with no real technical know-how (like a blogger) to create web pages, add content, carry out document management, and add customisation of the design to their preference. WordPress and its CMS capabilities then do all the hard work of coding for you.
To understand how CMS works, it can be helpful first to understand the traditional workflow for updating a website:
While those steps may look simple on paper, the reality is that they can be a process fraught with difficulties. But if you go through the same process using a CMS, digital asset management is quicker, less complex, and mistakes are less likely to happen.
You will often find that a web content management system allows for a domino effect. When a change is made in one place, it causes any other linked and applicable changes to happen with no input. For example, if you add a new product to your page, then that link may automatically appear on other relevant sections (such as a special new products page).
And, on the rare occasion that mistakes are made, archived versions of pages are saved and easily accessed and restored. CMS also allows the main administrator to hand off ‘trivial’ tasks to other staff but retain oversight and final publishing rights.
You will hear many businesses praising their CMS and saying it was the best decision for their eCommerce site. It can make much sense to use a CMS, especially for a small business that may not have the same resources as a larger organisation. We look at five of the major benefits CMS offers you.
You’ve read about the benefits a CMS could bring to your business and decided to invest in a system for your company. But how do you decide which system best suits you?
Before you look at the systems on offer, it makes good sense to consider some relevant questions to make any selection process simpler.
What exactly do you want your CMS to accomplish? Look at the issues and pain points you experience with your old or existing system. It also helps to discuss the new system with the staff who will be using it. What are their needs? Are there certain features they see as a priority and others they see as less of a necessity?
It’s important to look for a CMS that will help you meet your goals and targets. Understanding what you want is crucial in deciding what CMS to buy or if a CMS is a solution you need.
Depending on who will be using it, the degree of simplicity can be a crucial question in your decision-making process. Ask your team what level of technical know-how they have, and compare this to the degree of aptitude needed for a particular CMS? If you want one with more complex features, make sure they’re easy to learn. Systems with virtual training courses can be helpful here, as it’s easy to get everyone up to speed.
As with anything you invest in, you need to consider if the pricing is worth it. For a larger business, you may ask if a more expensive CMS is worth the various costs, including setting up, any add ons that may be needed, and subscription fees. It could be that a free, open-source CMS is a better option, especially if you don’t need any more complicated features.
If you are starting from scratch, then this question may not be important. But if you are an existing entity, you will want to know if your chosen CMS allows you to integrate with other programs and apps you are already using, such as CRM software. Does the CMS have an application programming interface API? If you already have a website, will the new system easily migrate your content to the new platform?
As well as looking for answers to these key questions, there are also common features to look out for. A good CMS programme should always have:
Building your own website may sound daunting if you are a beginner, but the whole process is fairly simple with a CMS.
Believe it or not, it really can be that simple.
As with many software solutions, there is no overall one ‘best’ CMS. What works perfectly for you may not be ideal for someone else. Having a snapshot of the various popular content management systems can definitely help with your selection process. Here are some of the most popular CMS solutions:
Of course, your website and CMS are only one small part of the story. It would help if you also had efficient communication tools that allow omnichannel support. It’s no use having a beautiful, perfect website if your customers can’t get in touch with you!
The RingCentral suite allows easy integration with systems like a CMS solution, CRM software, and other programs. Suitable for everyone from small businesses to larger enterprises, why not book a demo of the system here today.
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