
Do you want to create a website for your company, but you’re worried about the need of having coding and design skills? With an intuitive interface, and easy-to-use editor and publishing tools, CMS software can help you with that.
What Is a CMS Software?
CMS is short for Content Management System and, as the name suggests, it’s developed to help you manage and develop content for a website, as well as creating the site itself.
Building a website from scratch requires knowing programming languages such as HTML, JavaScript, and CSS. But, when using CMS software that isn’t necessary, since this type of software provides several features to create a template, use pre-built ones, and add content, for instance.
Often, they offer a drag-and-drop tool to build web pages. You will just need to drag the elements you wish to add, position them, and set up details like the colors, and types of fonts to style the page and content.
A CMS software also has a blogging feature but is different from these platforms because it gives you more control over designing your website, and the content formats you can include.
With CMS software it’s possible to make static pages, ecommerce websites, blogs, landing pages, and much more. You can have a website built through CMS with multiple sections.
Common CMS software features:
- Content creation
- Content storage
- Create a workflow to manage the website
- Publish, edit, organize, and schedule content
Benefits of Using a CMS Software
Doesn’t Require Coding Knowledge
To build a website from scratch, you would have to use HTML to insert the building blocks of a site, images, buttons, and other elements. Then, to style all of these, you would need to add CSS, and probably JavaScript for enabling more advanced functionalities on your website pages.
Every time you needed to make changes, such as edit content, you would have to open the server and alter the HTML code.
For someone who doesn’t know how to code, these steps can be very complicated, and if you don’t have the resources to hire an expert, it could prevent you from expanding your business by having a website.
CMS makes it possible to jump all of those parts and still have your website, focusing on the front-end part. It doesn’t even demand design skills either since many of the CMS software provide pre-built templates and other design tools.
You Can Add Multiple Users
If you are going to count on a team to help you manage your website, with CMS software it’s possible to include all of them in the platform, and assign access permissions according to their roles, for example, editors, authors, and admins.
Multiple users can use the CMS at the same time on each of their computers without having to be in the company office, which facilitates remote work. You and your team can work from anywhere, you just need an internet connection. It’s possible to update or publish content in real-time, and also schedule them.
Pre-built Website Templates
It’s common to encounter CMS software that offers pre-built templates for different types of web pages, such as blogs, home pages, ecommerces, and product pages. You can usually select the template by theme, and, then, customize it to adapt to your brand’s visual identity.
With a pre-built template, it’s easier to know how to organize the page elements, by following a model. Besides, it doesn’t require being a design professional, you already have the base to develop the page, just use your creativity, and make sure that the website is aligned with your brand’s image.
SEO Features
SEO (search engine optimization) is a term that you probably have already heard when it comes to digital marketing strategies, conquering visibility to a website, and increasing organic traffic. You can enjoy the built-in features that the best CMS software provides to optimize your website for search engines.
Usually, they include SEO features like:
- Create page titles and meta descriptions
- Have SEO-friendly URL structures
- Insert image alt text
- Optimize page load times
Aspects to Consider When Choosing a CMS Software
Easy-to-use Interface
When selecting which CMS software you want to use, it’s important to take into consideration if the interface is simple to navigate for you and all of your team. The tools should be easy to find and use, so you can make the most of the platform.
To make sure the CMS provides an intuitive dashboard, check customer reviews and register for a free trial if this option is available. The CMS has to enable you to quickly create, manage and edit content, optimizing the work.
Personalization Tools
A good CMS software should offer you customization tools to allow you to create personalized pages that can enhance user experience, and also design your website to be aligned with your brand’s visual identity.
Customer Support
Check if the CMS software of your choice provides multiple communication channels for customer assistance, such as live chats, and 24/7 support. This way, you can guarantee that, in case of any problem, you will count on expert help to fix problems like a website misconfiguration.
SEO
When analyzing the CMS software features to choose the one that fits your needs best, don’t forget to see if it has built-in SEO features. This way, you can build a website that is optimized to be able to rank on the first search result pages at Google and other search engines.
Scalability
Certainly, you intend to grow your business with time and it may entail the need to add other pages and sections to your website. Considering it, the CMS software must have the necessary tools to allow you to scale up without affecting your website performance such as load page times.
Security
What security measures does the CMS software of your choice take to make sure your data and the ones from your visitors and customers are protected? It’s essential to count on a safe system, which takes all the necessary precautions to prevent hack attacks and data leaks.
Price
The price is another important factor when it comes to selecting CMS software. You will see that many of them offer various plans, which the price varies according to the features it contains. Analyze which tools are your priority and the budget available to invest in the best content management system for creating the type of website you need.
12 Best CMS Software
1. Wix
Wix platform gives you the freedom to create, design, and manage your website the way you want. Wix editor uses the drag and drop feature to enable you to customize each web page the way you desire. Resize, recolor, and rotate elements to create an incredible design.
Wix also offers the Wix ADI (artificial design intelligence) solution, where you just have to answer a few questions, and it will develop the design for you. You can create different page types, blogs, portfolios, online stores, events, and much more.
Wix CMS software has a library of pre-built templates, images, and extensive font selections. You can also upload files of your own to enrich your pages, with videos and custom animations, for instance. Besides, you are going to count on SSL web security, 24/7 website monitoring, built-in accessibility, analytics, and SEO tools.
Key features:
- Wix Editor
- Wix ADI
- Pre-built templates
- Marketing integrations
- SEO tools
- Built-in analytics
- Store manager
2. Bluehost
Bluehost is an intuitive CMS that allows you to build your website as you want and also gives you the necessary tools to manage it. You can start by selecting your domain name, then choose a pre-built template and customize it.
By using the SEO tools provided by the platform, your pages will be more likely to rank in the first result pages in search engines like Google. If you need expert help to solve any problem with the website, you can request 1:1 guidance, and enjoy 24/7 customer support too. Enjoy WooCommerce features to build an online store.
Key features:
- Free domain
- Free SSL
- Free CDN
- Pre-built templates
- Insightful analytics
- Automated security updates
- Backup data protection
- 24/7 support
- SEO tools
- Powerful plugins
3. SITE123
With SITE123, you can count on an intuitive website editor that doesn’t require coding, create mobile-friendly pages, register your domain and host it for free. Define the website type you wish to make, choose a template, select the content, and get it quickly published.
You can create your online store as well, broadcast your products, configure delivery and shipping methods, and start selling. To make sure your website can rank well on search engines, the platform also provides SEO tools.
If you have any doubt, you can contact the 24/7 customer support. The SITE123 team will guide you to help to build a successful website.
Key features:
- Website editor
- Pre-built templates
- Free hosting
- Custom domains
- SEO tools
- Sell globally
- 24/7 customer support
4. HostGator
To help you easily build your website, HostGator offers the Gator Website Builder. You answer a few questions, and the platform makes the website design for you, including layout, images, and even content.
You can use the editor to customize, make the changes you wish, and enjoy the logo maker to have a new logo for your brand.
It also enables you to create your ecommerce website too and use its inventory management tools. To follow up on your website performance, HostGator provides metrics to better understand your visitor behavior, and you can count on SEO features as well.
The platform also gives a 45-day guarantee and offers 24/7 customer support. You can choose the best hosting plan for your website, register a new domain or transfer an existing one.
Key features:
- Easy website builder
- Logo maker
- Inventory management
- Image library
- Search optimized
- 24/7 support
- Multiple hosting options
5. Webnode
Webnode provides a user-friendly website builder, with an intuitive editor that enables you to easily create pages using pre-built templates. You don’t need to install anything to edit your website, it’s possible to manage everything on your browser.
You can get a new domain or use an existing one, and enjoy Webnode’s reliable hosting service. Your website will be kept safe and secure, and you have the option to get more space and bandwidth as you need, there is no limit of pages to create.
All websites created using Webnode have SSL certificates and use HTTPS. To help you grow your traffic, the platform counts on SEO tools, and the system is available in 24 languages. You can have your website in multiple languages if you wish.
Key features:
- User-friendly website builder
- Reliable hosting
- Backup previous versions of your website
- SEO tools
- Pre-built templates
- Intuitive store management
6. GoDaddy
GoDaddy allows you to create different types of websites, from blogs to ecommerce sites, add multiple sections, and use pre-built templates. Customize the pages with the editor, adding texts, images, menus, your brand’s logo, changing colors, and much more.
Create a custom domain, and use GoDaddy’s tools to enhance your website results. It provides a marketing and analytics dashboard, so you can keep track of key performance indicators (KPIs), such as organic traffic and the number of conversions.
Enjoy the opportunity to sell on your own ecommerce website, connect your product catalog with multiple marketplaces and manage everything from the GoDaddy dashboard.
Key features:
- Website builder
- SSL certificate
- Analytics tools
- Online store and marketplace selling
- Inventory management
- 24/7 customer support
7. WordPress
Considered one of the most popular website builders, with WordPress CMS software, you can create any kind of website, use professionally-designed themes, and customize pages with interesting photos, forms, reviews, and maps, for example.
WordPress offers thousands of plugins to help you add more advanced functionalities to your website, manage it and track performance. For instance, to build an online store, you can count on WooCommerce, and, to measure and analyze your traffic, integrate with Google Analytics.
Your website will be hosted by WordPress, and to help you put your website available, you can count on a 1-on-1 quick-start session with a member from the customer support team. If you are still testing which is the best CMS software for you, it’s possible to try WordPress for free.
Key features:
- Website builder
- Custom domain
- Pre-built templates
- Built-in social sharing
- In-depth stats
- Search engine optimized
8. Strikingly
With Strikingly, you can build a website in just a few minutes. Its easy-to-use editor enables you to customize your pages, and also make an online store.
The platform is optimized to help you add selling features, such as connecting to PayPal and Stripe, configuring shipping, adding coupons, memberships, and log-ins.
It’s possible to create a blog page as well, include live chat, forms, and show your Instagram, Facebook and Twitter feed directly on your website. You can also count on analytics and HTTPS built-in. Besides, the platform offers you 24/7 customer support.
Key features:
- Make a website in minutes
- Ecommerce built-in
- Analytics built-in
- HTTPS built-in
- 24/7 customer support
9. Weebly
Weebly provides you with a step-by-step guide on how to build and launch a website through its CMS software, including expert starter guides and planning tools. With the free website builder, you have the possibility to customize your website and choose a theme developed by top designers.
The drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to insert and organize elements on the web pages, you can include images, animation effects, videos, texts, and a search bar, for instance.
To analyze your metrics and know what needs to be improved, enjoy Weebly’s integrated analytics, and use the SEO and Marketing tools to enhance performance.
When it comes to security, you can rest easy since the platform will take care of it. You will have an SSL certificate, DDoS mitigation, and 24/7 customer support.
Key features:
- Drag-and-drop builder
- Image editor
- Integrated analytics
- Free website hosting service
- SSL certificates
- SEO and marketing tools
10. Webflow
Webflow enables you to build a website using an intuitive editor, and easily create and add new content. You will count on SEO tools, for example, to add meta descriptions, page titles and customize URLs.
Work on a team by inviting other collaborators to edit the website as well, you will be able to track the alterations, and who made them before publishing.
To develop your online store, Webflow allows you to customize your cart and checkout, craft custom interactions and animations, to offer a unique customer experience. Set the delivery methods, and integrate with payment gateways such as PayPal.
You can integrate Webflow with your CRM, create workflows and also connect with multiple plugin types for SEO, analytics, marketing automation, and insert forms and surveys, for example.
Key features:
- Intuitive editor
- SEO tools
- Ecommerce management tools
- Integrate with CRM
- Create workflows
- Multiple plugin options
11. Joomla
Joomla CMS software gives you the tools you need to create websites, applications, templates, and extensions. You can easily develop, organize and manage content using its flexible system, where you are also going to find several tutorials and guides to help if you have any doubt.
Joomla also provides powerful SEO features, it allows you to customize the SEO settings for your content to rank on the first positions of the search result pages from Google and other search engines.
The platform is open-source software and is available for free. When it comes to security, you will have two-factor authentication and extensive access control levels. Joomla has more than 70 translation packs, so you can create content in the languages you wish.
Key features:
- Free open-source software
- Create websites, apps, templates, and extensions
- Search engine optimized
- More than 70 translation packages
- Publishing tools
12. HubSpot
HubSpot CMS software allows you to develop your website using a drag-and-drop editor, and integrate it with HubSpot CRM software to offer a unique and enhanced digital experience for your visitors and customers.
You can personalize your webpage for every visitor, easily create and publish content, and empower it with SEO tools. Insert a live chat to engage and other page elements as it fits better to your business.
To include your team in the website management and content creation, you can assign roles for every member inside the CMS platform and control what areas of the website they have access to, to edit, publish or configure.
Key features:
- Website themes
- Drag-and-drop editor
- SEO recommendations
- Fully integrated CRM
- Adaptive testing
- 24/7 customer support
Select the CMS Software that Suits Your Business Best
Having a website for your company is no longer a differential, but almost a requirement in many sectors. What can help you stand out, though, is investing in creating a website that offers high-quality content to your target audience, follows SEO best practices, and is aligned with your brand’s visual identity.
As you could see, there are many CMS software that allows you to get that with just a few steps and no coding. Take a look at them, check their features, choose the control management system that is in your budget, and offer the tools you need to easily make your website available, and publish content.