Understand what is a content management system

Do you already have a registered domain and chose a good website hosting provider? Then the next step is to decide exactly how you’re going to build your page.

For some simpler projects, a great alternative is to use a content management system, known as CMS, like WordPress, for example.

The choice of the most appropriate content management system for your site will vary depending on the type of page you want to create as well as your technical abilities.

The secret is not to define the best system for websites, but rather which CMS will meet your needs most efficiently. Thus, to understand what this system is and what the main examples are, keep reading this post.

Understand the concept of CMS

Content management system (or CMS, a well-known acronym among web developers) is basically a group of tasks used to help with the creation of a webpage.

The main objective of these systems is to streamline both the creation and editing of elements on a page using a visual interface, without any need for the content creator to understand coding. In other words, you don’t need to be a developer to publish your site, since the CMS automates many tasks for you, like adding images, audio, video, and documents to its content.

The system is a very practical and fast option, after all, depending on the use and on the chosen CMS, there’s no need to edit a single line of code.

What makes the CMS very unique is that there are plugins designed to perform and complement tasks such as improving your site’s position on search mechanisms like Google. Not to mention that you can choose ready-made templates and themes, which you can customize with your brand’s traits and also publish your blog in a short period.

The 3 main content management systems

There are three main Open source CMS platforms :

• Joomla
• WordPress
• Drupal

All three of them are free and can be installed very easily on hosting platforms.

Do you want to know more details about them? Check it out!

1. Joomla

It’s a system with features from both WordPress and Drupal, as it has some advanced tools from the later, and the easy edition tools from former. It’s invaluable for those who see Drupal as a technically difficult CMS but consider WordPress too limited.

Joomla has several available plugins and themes just like the other CMS.

Just like WordPress, it has a user community that can help with questions and queries.

It’s a CMS suitable for those who want to build e-commerce websites, as it has tools that support this activity.

2. WordPress

WordPress is the most popular CMS in the market. According to a survey, approximately 40% of all the sites that use a management system end up choosing WordPress.

WordPress is the CMS with most available plugins and themes. In addition, its user community is extremely active, which makes solving problems with the platform very convenient.

3. Drupal

Drupal is the most advanced and oldest platform, providing several back-end customizations and modifications.

It’s still possible to create and edit a site using this system with a certain ease, but, when compared to WordPress, for example, it requires more knowledge about programming.

Because it’s a more complex platform, it allows more alterations and flexibility, so that it can be used in different types of projects.

The benefits of CMS

A CMS presents many benefits for entrepreneurs wanting to create their websites. Check the main advantages below!

Easy opening and updating

The main benefit of a CMS is certainly how easy it is to create a site, and, of course, to keep it updated.

Its access is via browser; therefore, it doesn’t require downloading any specific software.

This allows sites to be created fast, so that it’s possible to better benefit from market opportunities and deliver content with more quality.

Convenience to create possibilities

Do you have a website? If so, you certainly already know that it’s important to always be aware of market tendencies and innovations.

That’s why your pages should always be updated so that they can keep on appealing to customers.

With a good CMS, you can open a new tab on your site, add videos, images, and client testimonials. All this can be done without any deep programming knowledge.

Application of optimization techniques for organic searches

Every entrepreneur aiming to make their website a reference in the digital market should know that it’s crucial to know and apply techniques for optimization of organic searches, or SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

There are many SEO techniques, such as optimizing images, proper link building, using keywords strategically and structuring content.

Regardless of what you do, it’s important to dedicate the due attention to each page of your site. If your site is complex, it might be harder to keep this optimization in a suitable way.

With a CMS this can be done much more easily, which helps you understand what you’ve been doing to arrive at the top positions.

The bottom line on why you should use a CMS

You already know that you should always seek new ways to improve the user experience on your sites, providing new tools, besides managing well its tasks.

These goals are reached more conveniently when you use a content management system. Still, it’s important to make it clear that there are many options in the market and none of them will do all the work for you. The CMS is just a way to automate some tasks that you could perhaps take many months to do.

We’ve shown here the 3 main Open source CMS, but don’t assume that the choice of system can be done randomly.

The most important work, in this regard, is to align your site’s needs with the available tools.

Start working with digital content

Now that you know what a content management system is and what the main ones are, don’t forget to choose one so that you can start working with digital content.