When you have a website built, as a client you naturally want to be in control of it. You want to edit text, update images and create new pages. But how do you do that without getting your hands dirty with the website’s code? That’s where a CMS comes in.
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A CMS, or Content Management System, is a broad term used to describe software that allows you to easily manage the content of your website. With a CMS, you can not only edit the existing text and images on your website, but you can also create new pages, publish blog posts and upload media (such as photos, videos and audio files).
What is the most popular CMS?
When people talk about a CMS, many immediately think of WordPress. After all, it is the most widely used CMS in the world. Almost half of all websites on the World Wide Web use WordPress behind the scenes to power their sites.
WordPress offers numerous advantages:
- It is completely free. The software’s source code is available to everyone.
- There’s a large community. That means you can easily find answers to all your questions. Whatever you’re trying to do with WordPress, chances are someone else has already done it and documented the steps.
- It’s easy to expand. Thanks to the wide range of plugins available, you can easily add features to your website, such as contact forms, an online shop, a booking system and more.
However, WordPress is not the only CMS. Other well-known examples include:
- Drupal
- Joomla
- Ghost
But SaaS solutions such as Wix, Squarespace and Shopify are, in fact, CMS systems too. As you can see, it’s a broad umbrella term.
Why is a CMS important?
A CMS provides a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to manage your website. Without a CMS, you would have to edit your website’s code for every minor change. This also means you would often have to hire a developer, which in turn costs money.
With a CMS, you can make these kinds of changes yourself. The developer builds the website, integrates the CMS and then creates an account for you. All you need to do is log in to the CMS to update your website’s content, without needing to involve a developer.
Can you create a bespoke website using a CMS?
When we talk about CMS systems such as WordPress, people often immediately think of ready-made websites that you can quickly put together using a template. Although you can certainly use WordPress in that way, it is not the only way to use the CMS.
A better option is to have your website built entirely from scratch. That way, you aren’t restricted by the limitations of a pre-made theme. You also won’t need a heavy site builder (such as Elementor or Divi) that slows your website down. Your bespoke website can then be integrated with your CMS, so you can still manage everything yourself behind the scenes.
Conclusion
A CMS (Content Management System) provides you with the tools to easily manage your website’s content without any technical knowledge. This includes, for example, editing existing text and images, as well as publishing blog posts and adding new pages.
Thanks to a CMS such as WordPress, you can easily add new features to your website thanks to the wide range of plugins available. If you have a website where you regularly update or add content, a CMS is therefore essential for managing your website efficiently.