Ultimately, the reason for going with a content management system (CMS) is to make it easier for you and your team to control the publishing flow and management of your Web content. A typical CMS facilitates the addition, editing, and removal of content without requiring the help of a webmaster. So the question is, what is the best content management system for your business, and how do you choose one?
What choices are out there for CMS systems?
There are literally dozens of choices for CMS out there, but when it comes down to it, most people end up going with three main software systems: WordPress, Joomla or Drupal.
Each of these have all of the bells and whistles you could possibly want, and the difference often lies in what you’ll be asking of your site. A small to medium-sized blog or store would do well with WordPress, whereas, if your site is complex and will be growing larger, you may want to consider Drupal, which is more powerful and offers the most scalability. Joomla falls in between.
The choice often comes down to either how technical you and your staff are, or if you are willing to pay for help with the more complex options when you need them.
Questions that need answers when choosing a content management system
To make an informed decision, with a view to your long-term plans (because switching out your site to another platform is a headache) there are several questions you’ll want the answers to:
Can I publish and edit content easily?
The entire point of a CMS is to make publishing and posting content very easy, even for a relative novice.
Can my web analytics be integrated into the platform?
Will you be able to employ your favorite analytics or tracking software? Most of the time the answer is yes, especially for Google Analytics and Google Webmaster tools.
How does it do with SEO out of the box?
Some are more
SEO-friendly than others, but the key here is to make sure you can make it so if it is not already.
Is platform security an issue?
There have been many issues, in the past, with CMS security, in particular with WordPress, but this seems to be less of an issue now.
Is it customizable?
You’ll want your site to be unique and stand out, so, very often, you’ll want the platform that offers the most choice. At the moment, WordPress is top dog, with significantly more plugins and themes available. Moreover, whenever new functionality is created, it is usually created first for WordPress, as it accounts for about 76% of the market.
How easy is it to get help?
Look for the resources available for help when you need it. There are many resources for WordPress. Joomla also offers a great help forum. Drupal is one where you’d need to hire help.
Does the CMS integrate with my customer relationship management (CRM) system or other important software?
Making sure you can sync your CRM, shopping carts, email autoresponders, and more is essential.
A CMS can be one of your best tools for building and maintaining a vibrant and thriving hub for your customers to buy and interact with you. For more information on how HireAWiz can help you make this a reality,
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