What Is CMS and How it Can Help Manage Your Website

Do you know what is CMS? This type of software has been more and more used by multiple companies, of different sizes, to optimize work when it comes to maintaining their websites always updated and with fresh content. 

If you are looking for a solution to help you manage your website, automate tasks, enhance its performance and analyze results. A CMS software may be the solution to assist you and your team. 

What is CMS?

Short for Content Management System, a CMS can be defined as a software application that enables you to create a website, publish, edit, and manage its content. Instead of having to develop a system from scratch to build your website, by using a CMS, you can skip that part, and you don't need to know how to code or design to make your pages.

The CMS gives you all the infrastructure necessary to put a website online, and you can focus on the content and visuals of the website. The software usually counts on pre-built templates that you can select and customize with a design editor to personalize the pages. 

The CMS also provides a content editor where you can modify, review, and publish texts, images, and videos on your page. Besides, it usually gives the option to add multiple people to the same website project. You can include your team, assign roles to them and configure access according to it.

How to Create a Website with a CMS

Now that you know what a CMS is, how can you enjoy its features to have your own website? It takes just a few steps to build your pages with a content management system. You will need to choose the platform that suits your needs best, according to your website and company demands. 

Once you have done it, chosen the CMS plan, and made your account, it's time to start. You need to buy a domain name, then you can opt to build the whole layout design by yourself, or with your team, or choose a pre-built template. 

In this second case, it's easier because the design is pre-structured, all you need to do is arrange the details, choose the color palette, insert the page elements you wish, position and resize them. 

CMS software often provides an easy-to-use website builder with an intuitive interface that will facilitate that process. After you have made the pages, review them, test the usability, and publish. 

With the website available, you can use the content editor to create and publish new blog articles, for instance, and also modify what was already published. Many Content Management Systems allow you to build online stores as well and provide ecommerce management tools.

Benefits of Using a CMS

Doesn't Require Coding Experience

One of the great benefits of using CMS software is that you won't have to rely on programmers every time you need to make a change on your website. Everyone on your team, from marketing to web writers can access the web pages, and use the content management system to edit or publish what they need, without having to write any piece of code. 

It Facilitates Collaborative Work

Whether your team is working remotely or in the same office, you have the opportunity to add all of them to the content management system software. Everyone can keep track of the website updates inside the same platform, easily take care of their tasks that involve the website content maintenance, and follow up on what others are doing as well. 

Optimize Your Pages For Search Engines

The best CMS platforms available provide you with SEO tools, which are extremely important to conquer organic visibility and make sure that your pages are seen as relevant by search engines. This can help them to appear on the first search results pages of keywords related to your products and company sector, increasing the number of visitors to your website, and even the number of sales. 

Blogging Functionality

Counting on a CMS makes it much easier to create a blog and maintain it since you will count on the content editor to publish and edit articles. The editor usually gives you several tools not only to personalize the text, such as organizing it in headings, putting words in bold and italic, and choosing the font type, but also to put hyperlinks, images, and videos. 

And you can do all that quickly, review how the content is going to appear on the page, and publish, It facilitates the task of updating the blog regularly, 

How to Choose a CMS: Aspects to Pay Attention

After understanding what a CMS is and knowing some of the benefits it can offer, you may be wondering how to select a content management system. If you make a quick search on Google, you will find a wide range of this type of software, but it's important to pay attention if it meets some criteria.  

Easy-to-Use

When selecting a CMS, make sure it provides you with an intuitive interface that allows you and your team to enjoy all the features and easily learn how to use them. Most content management systems offer free trials, test them before making the final decision. Remember a CMS is supposed to facilitate the tasks of creating and managing a website, not complicate it. 

Integrations

Does the CMS software offer plugins with the option to integrate with other applications such as marketing tools, analytics, and CRM (customer relationship management)? If you are going to manage an ecommerce, for instance, integrating CRM with the CMS will optimize the work, and save you time. 

Beyond that, it's simpler to work with the main platforms you use daily integrated, with all the information aligned, it reduces the chances of errors. So, check which integrations the CMS supports.  

SEO Tools

Take a look at the CMS software to make sure it provides you with the following SEO tools:

• Customize URLs;
• Write meta titles and meta descriptions;
• Add alt text to images;
• Have a responsive design.

Web Analytics Tools

How are you going to measure the performance of your pages? To do that, it's important to count on web analytics tools that give you valuable data, such as conversion rates, main sources of traffic, average time spent on each page, exit pages, bounce rates, and much more. 

The CMS software should provide those tools or allow you to integrate them. Through it, you can analyze the KPIs, identify what needs to be enhanced on your website, and get to know your customers' behavior better. 

Scalability

Does the CMS software give you flexibility in case you need to expand your website? For example, when it comes to storage space and bandwidth limit, it's important to be able to increase it.

As you invest in marketing strategies to promote your brand and website, your traffic may grow considerably, and that's what you wish for, right? So, the website needs to have a good infrastructure to avoid downtime in case of traffic peaks. Therefore, the CMS must enable you to scale up.

Customer Support

The CMS of your choice should provide you with great customer support. In case of any doubt or problem. It's fundamental to count on a team of specialists that will be able to give you the necessary assistance, avoiding having your website unavailable, for instance. Check the contact options the CMS company offers, and if it's 24/7. 

Cost

You are going to see that there are CMS software plans with a wide range of prices available on the market. It's necessary to set your budget, then list the essential features you need in a content management system. After it, research the options available and, if necessary, test more than one of them. 

22 Best CMS Platforms

1. Wix

Known as one of the best CMS in the world, Wix allows you to create your website, including online stores, using pre-built templates and personalizing everything at the drag-and-drop editor. You will find multiple tools to help you manage your website, such as an SEO toolset, analytics, and reports features, app integrations, and marketing solutions. 

Highlighted features:

• Easy-to-use interface
• Wix Editor
• Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence)
• Custom domain name
• Logo maker
• Analytics and reports
• SEO tools
• Ecommerce management tools
• App integrations
• Free hosting

2. Bluehost

Bluehost is an easy-to-use website builder. Start by choosing your domain name, then select a pre-built template and customize it. You can install multiple plugins according to the features you wish to include in your pages, such as forms. The platform will take care of your website security by providing automated security updates, backup data protection, malware detection, and free SSL.

Highlighted 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

Website editor, predesigned templates, free hosting, SEO tools: those are just some of the features SITE123 offers to enable you to create and manage your website. The platform allows you to have your online store as well, and grow your business online. Besides, you can count on 24/7 customer support to guide you through the process and help with any doubt. 

Highlighted features:

• Pre-built templates
• Website editor
• Responsive design
• Free hosting
• SEO tools
• Custom domains
• Sell online
• 24/7 customer support

4. Hostgator

With Hostgator, you can develop your website, publish and edit content and find the best web hosting option for you to avoid problems such as downtime or slow page load. It offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee, unmetered bandwidth, and a free SSL certificate. You will count on an intuitive website builder and ecommerce management tools too.

Highlighted features:

• Web hosting solutions
• Unmetered bandwidth
• Free SSL certificate
• Intuitive website builder
• Logo maker
• Image library
• Search optimized
• 24/7 customer support

5. Webnode

Webnode provides you with a user-friendly website builder that enables you to use predesigned pages to create your website, customize the layout, and add different types of content. It isn't necessary to download or install anything to use the CMS, you can enjoy all the features through your browser. 

Highlighted features:

• Website builder
• Intuitive editor
• Predesigned pages
• Reliable hosting
• SEO tools
• Extensive image gallery
• Responsive design
• Traffic overview
• Store management

6. GoDaddy

GoDaddy allows you to create your website for free, then scale up, as you see the need for it. You will find multiple mobile-friendly pre-built templates to start with, then use the editor to customize your pages. If you want to have an ecommerce, the CMS software also provides inventory management tools and enables you to sell on several platforms. 

Highlighted features:

• Website editor
• Pre-built templates
• SSL certificates
• 24/7 customer support
• SEO tools
• Online store creation and management
• Multiple hosting options
• Marketing tools

7. WordPress

Considered one of the most popular CMS software, 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 of 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. 

Highlighted 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, and 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.

Highlighted 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 this CMS, 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.  

Highlighted 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. 

Highlighted features:

• Intuitive editor
• SEO tools
• Ecommerce management tools
• Integrate with CRM
• Create workflows
• Multiple plugin options

11. Shopify

If you are looking for the best CMS for small businesses to open your ecommerce, Shopify deserves to be on your list. The platform provides over 70 professional online store themes that can be easily customized using the drag-and-drop store builder, with the tranquility of knowing your pages will be mobile optimized.

Use Shopify Payments to set up payment options with the guarantee your customers' data is secure and protected by the platform. To manage your store, you will count on multiple tools, including a comprehensive dashboard that gives you a detailed view of your business to understand the sales process and get to know your audience better. 

Shopify also provides SEO and marketing tools to help you make your brand stand out and reach your goals. You can sell in different marketplaces and social media platforms too, such as Amazon, eBay, and Instagram, and manage everything at Shopify with an inventory that is synced to all the channels.

Highlighted features:

• Drag-and-drop store builder
• Pre-built templates
• Designed for mobile devices
• Shopify payments
• Comprehensive dashboard
• SEO tools
• Shopify apps

12. 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 doubts. 

Joomla also provides powerful SEO features, it allows you to customize the SEO settings for your content to rank in 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. 

Highlighted features: 

• Free open-source software
• Create websites, apps, templates, and extensions
• Search engine optimized
• More than 70 translation packages
• Publishing tools

13. 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. 

Highlighted features:  

• Website themes
• Drag-and-drop editor
• SEO recommendations
• Fully integrated CRM
• Adaptive testing
• 24/7 customer support

14. BigCommerce

With BigCommerce CMS software, you can design with freedom, operate with no worry, and enjoy its features to innovate. You will get fully customizable themes with built-in HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and be able to edit them using the drag-and-drop editor. 

The platform also allows you to customize the checkout process to make it simpler for your customers, encouraging them to finalize purchases, also you can make your website mobile-friendly. To make sure all the sections are configured properly, use the Stencil CLL tool to test the website. It can be integrated with WordPress as well. 

To boost sales, BigCommerce enables you to provide multiple payment methods and create more than 70 native discounts and promotions, without requiring scripting. The SEO tools, such as creating customizable URLs, enable you to optimize your online store to be found easily on search engines. 

You can also make your products available on multiple sales channels, in marketplaces, and on social media. If you have a B2B company, BigCommerce has specific solutions for that too, including quote management, bulk pricing, and customer groups. 

Highlighted features: 

• Page builder visual editor
• Theme customization
• Checkout customization
• Preview before publishing
• WordPress integration
• SEO tools
• B2B tools 

15. SquareSpace

With SquareSpace, you are going to see how easy it can be to have an outstanding website. You can start by choosing among their industry-leading templates, then choose the color palette, and fonts to make each page aligned to your brand's visual identity.

If you intend to have an online store, you can count on SquareSpace made for that and also add third-party plugins. Besides, the platform offers tools to create email campaigns and use social media to promote your website. You may create different types of pages, such as a blog, portfolio, curriculum vitae, and online store.

Highlighted features:

• Wide range of templates
• Marketing tools
• Ecommerce tools
• Logo maker
• 24/7 customer support
• Free trial

16.  Duda

Duda is a CMS software focused on the creation of digital marketing agency websites. There is no need to know how to code to use this platform. Enjoy the drag-and-drop tool to customize each page of your website and leave it with your brand's identity. 

You can choose among the pre-designed templates, so you don't have to design everything from scratch. All the websites built through the Duda platform have a responsive design, which means they will perform well on desktop computers and mobile devices. 

Highlighted features:

• Drag-and-drop tool
• Dudaflex editor
• Responsive design
• Pre-designed templates
• Showcase your portfolio

17. Jimdo

With Jimdo, you can have your own website for free. Use the built-in design features to personalize every detail of your site web pages. Add the images, logo, and text, and position every element to make it easy for users to navigate through. You can choose your domain name through the platform too.

All the websites are developed with a responsive design, so the user can enjoy them whether they are on their mobile devices or desktop computer. Count on Jimdo's free image bank to use high-quality photos that will make your website more appealing. 

Highlighted features:

• Built-in design features
• Responsive design
• Copyright-free photos
• Connect with social media
• SEO tools

18. Dorik

"Build beautiful websites in minutes, without code", that's what Dorik proposes to its users. You will have a single platform to not only build your pages but also maintain them always up to date. For example, by inserting new articles and features as you see necessary.

The platform offers more than 60 professional templates and over 250 UI blocks. You will have a free SSL certificate, and the website will be hosted on AWS and Digital Ocean. If you plan to build an ecommerce, there is the option to integrate PayPal, Stripe, and Gumroad. You also can add subscription forms to your website.

Highlighted features:

• More than 60 templates
• Over 250 blocks
• Free SSL
• Payment integration
• Custom domain
• Export code

19. Simvoly

Simvoly allows you to create your own customized website using the drag-and-drop tool. It offers several assets to become even simpler to design the pages the way you wish, which includes more than 200 templates, custom blocks, and elements. Choose the fonts, color palette, add images, and make A/B tests too. The design is fully responsive.

If you intend to make an ecommerce, tools like sales funnels and custom checkout will be very useful. You have the option to customize the buyer journey. Besides, you will have access to detailed analytics to get to know your target audience better and understand how to improve the website.

Highlighted features:

• Page builder
• Drag-and-drop tool
• More than 200 templates
• A/B test
• Responsive design
• Sales funnels
• Custom checkouts
• AI assistant

20. Volusion

Volusion is a platform focused on enabling you to create your own ecommerce website. You will find beautiful themes for different types of stores. All you have to do is choose the one that suits you best and start customizing it. 

To help you make your website stand out, you can count on a team of experts, including SEO experts, web designers, and marketing professionals. To enhance the user experience when browsing through your website, Volusion offers several options to personalize the layout, you have different types of displays to showcase your products. 

Highlighted features:

• Ecommerce website themes
• Responsive design
• Customize layout
• Product display options
• Home page slideshow
• SEO tools
• Fast loading

21. Ionos

With Ionos, you can build your website the way you want. It's possible to make one with just three steps, first choose a design, then add your content, and just click publish. In each one of those steps, you are going to count on several tools to help you customize every page, and get a high-performance website. 

Ionos provides multiple industry-specific templates, for example, to online stores, restaurants, real estate businesses, travel agencies, and much more. You also can edit the images and texts as you prefer, and enjoy the free image bank that contains more than 17,000 photos. 

Highlighted features:

• Professional templates
• Customization tools
• SEO tools
• Free SSL certificate
• Responsive design
• Easy analytics
• Built-in privacy tools

22. Web.Com

Web.Com has an intuitive interface, so it becomes easy to build different types of websites the way you wish. Use the drag-and-drop tool to customize every detail of your pages, including the text, photos, and where you will put every button. 

If you have any doubts, you can even count on one free hour of web design support. Web.Com provides you with more than 150 professionally designed templates,  and ready-made content blocks too. They have multiple website plans, so you can choose the one that fits your needs and budget. 

Highlighted features:

• Customizable templates
• Easy drag-and-drop technology
• Built-in web hosting
• SSL certificate
• Expert support 
• User-friendly marketing tools

What Is CMS: The Tool to Grow Your Business

Now that you have a better understanding of what a CMS is, what about testing content management systems to see the one that suits your business best? Creating and managing a website may be no easy task, but it becomes simple when you count on the right apps to optimize the work. 

Remember that a business website is strongly connected to how your brand is perceived by the public. So, you must pay attention to developing pages that have a high-quality design and content. It will impact your brand's credibility and authority in its sector for the worse or the better. It's up to you and your team to make good use of the CMS you choose and deliver an incredible user experience.