Content management systems (CMS) are at the heart of the majority of modern businesses’ online operations. Well over half of the websites in the world are hosted through CMSs, with the platforms generally acting as the operational base of an online business storefront, allowing for creativity and general function.
What is a content management system?
A CMS is a software platform that allows people to create, edit and publish websites and content, without necessarily having to create bespoke code from scratch. In the past, they were largely used for blogs, but now CMSs are the industry standard for website creation and hosting.
This article will offer insights into what business owners should look for from an enterprise content management system, so they can feel more confident picking between major options based on their needs.
The editorial requirements of a CMS
The primary requirement of a modern CMS is the flexibility to move fast with editorial tasks. Any team or performance marketing agency you’re working with on projects needs the ability to make editorial decisions without the need to wait for developers. Core functions to prioritise include:
- Drag and drop and WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editors, ideally with templates or easily design importing.
- Previewing and staging, so you can easily view exactly how a page is meant to look on desktops and mobile devices before publishing.
- Publishing scheduling, for pre-designed pages to be posted at specific times.
- Multi-channel delivery, for functionality between websites, mobile apps, social media and email newsletters.
- Integrated technical SEO tools, for things like metadata, schema markup and image alt-text.
- AI integration for simple process automation.
These features will make creating your online storefront and all of its components a lot easier, that’s why it’s important to compare CMS systems based on ease of use and customisation.
Technical & operational requirements for a successful CMS
It’s not just about how the CMS supports your creative efforts. It also needs to easily integrate into your tech stack as a reliable operational pillar. Core operational elements you should seek out include:
- API-first architecture, meaning your CMS-based content can easily interact with CRMs, email platforms and analytics tools.
- Scalability supports, ensuring the system will stay robust during traffic spikes. Core elements include aggressive caching and CDN support.
- Developer friendliness, based on modern frameworks that most modern IT teams will be well-versed in.
- Centralised asset management libraries, with automatic optimisation features.
There’s no use having the creative side pinned down if the technical facets are faulty.
CMS security essentials
Rising cybercrime is a universal concern, as is general consistency, so your CMS must have built-in data protection features, such as:
- Approved workflows to ensure proper publishing.
- Granular permissions that ensure only the right staff make major decisions.
- Multi-factor authentication to keep opportunists away from sensitive data.
- Additional security elements, such as automated patch updates.
- Roll back options, in case of disasters and accidental breakage.
Don’t let blind spots compromise a lot of hard work; seek out a CMS that can cover its own tracks.
What are the top content management systems for small businesses?
If you’re looking for some content management system examples to get you started, there are a good few options that are known as excellent for small and large businesses alike.
- WordPress is by far the most popular, with the most flexibility and countless plugins, perfect for any website.
- Squarespace is known for great templates and design options, ideal for creative industries.
- Shopify is the go-to option for those looking to make eCommerce stores that are all about selling, with plenty of enterprise features.
However, even these easy platforms can be difficult to understand if you’re not tech-savvy. That’s why those with less experience might want to contact a marketing agency or development team with expertise to get the best results.
Don’t compromise on the features of the CMS you choose, as you will end up paying for it later.