Nowadays, a website is an absolute necessity, whether you are an entrepreneur, a small, middle, or even a Fortune 500 company.
Personal blogging is on the rise as well, but you might be an SME on a particular line of work but lack the knowledge of how exactly to build the website. Technology has come to your aid her as well. Gone are the days you had to spend hours coding on building a website. With updated technology, building a website is a breeze. All you need is a Content Management System (CSM) that suits your needs. Without a CMS, you would have to hire a professional or write web pages using CSS, HTML, etc.
With a content management system, you can not only create your website, but you will also be able to organize and manage your content more efficiently. In simple words, a CMS helps you create a functional website for your brand without the need to build every page using code.
Tons of content management systems are available on the market today. Each has its pros and cons. You should pick the one that represents your needs in the best way possible.
What is a Content Management System (CMS)?
A content management system is a piece of software that does exactly what it promises. It helps you create a website and manage content in a systemized manner.
Typically, websites are built by writing web pages in programming languages such as Java, HTML, CSS, etc. If you were to build a website without a CMS, you would need to learn these languages and write your code.
Content Management Systems solve this problem by allowing non-coders to build their website. Instead of learning how to code, you can work with an easy-to-use editor that will help you publish content.
CMS platforms also help you handle everything on the front end of your website. You can manage blog posts, set up a newsletter, host private forum discussions, sort out memberships, etc.
What should you consider before choosing a CMS?
Before we list the best and most popular CMS platforms, here are a few things you should consider before making your choice:
Budget: Of course, nothing comes for free, and even CMS platforms have costs associated with it. Some CMS platforms are open and free, but you need to pay to host them. For others, you will have to purchase the software from the company developing the CMS.
SEO: Before choosing a CMS platform, you should ensure that the platform gives you the necessary tools to help you rank in Google and related search engines to improve visibility.
Security: Some CMS platforms handle the website’s security by themselves, but others require you to handle it yourself. If you are looking to build a platform that will have payment options for the end-users, especially something like an online betting platform like bet365 casino then having the right security plugins are of essential. Even e-commerce websites need this feature on priority.
Personalization: If you want to build a website that will advance your business, pick a CMS platform that will help you personalize the customer experience and improve your marketing and conversion rates.
Convenience: If you are not a professional web developer or someone with knowledge of programming languages, you will want to pick a CMS that is the most convenient to use.
5 Best CMS Software To Build A Website
Here are our top picks for the best and most popular CMS platforms that help non-developers to build websites with ease:
1. Wix
Wix is the easiest and one of the most popular CMS platforms in the market. It has a lot to offer in addition to its simple interface. Wix has an intuitive drag-and-drop tool that allows users to delete and add elements without writing a single line of code. There are thousands of templates to choose from, or you can also let the Wix Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI) customize something for you.
Wix also helps you keep track of the content you publish and navigate the users interested in your website. It is SEO optimized and has an extensive e-commerce capability.
2. WordPress
What makes WordPress so popular is that it’s free of cost. Initially, WordPress started as a blogging platform, but now it has morphed into a comprehensive CMS platform that helps you build any type of website. In fact, WordPress powers over 37 percent of all current websites on the Internet.
With WordPress, you will be able to control your brand’s image, monetize your platform, use SEO plugins, and so on.
3. Squarespace
Squarespace markets itself as an all-in-one website developer. It is the best CMS platform for creative professionals. You can choose from award-winning templates that can be fully customized to suit your brand’s needs.
There are plenty of services to choose from. It is an intuitive website developer that helps you create your brand’s logo, has built-in marketing tools, SEO tools, mobile optimization, e-commerce and monetization capabilities, third-party extensions, and more.
Their subscription starts from $12 a month and is worth every penny.
4. Shopify
If you are an e-commerce or retail store looking to expand your business online, Shopify is everything you need. Shopify is an open-source CMS for e-commerce sites; they have flexible and robust security and can accommodate all your needs. It also allows you to either build your new site from scratch or switch over from an existing CMS.
Through Shopify, you will be able to manage products, sell from your site, use the built-in marketing tools to promote your site, get unlimited tools and 24/7 support. It has a simple and convenient dashboard that allows you to manage products, orders, take care of shipping and payments, etc.
5. Drupal
Last but not least, we have Drupal. Drupal is known as the best alternative for WordPress. Both the websites have similar features but with a slight edge over the other. Drupal is a free and open-source content management system that is better suited to handle advanced user permissions.
That means if you want to run multiple content types and page templates, Drupal can handle it for you. Their top features include marketing automation, tight security, content authoring, content as a service, accessibility, high-performance, conversions, scalability, and advanced personalization.
If you want a CMS with open-source functionality, Drupal is the one.
Read more:
Best Content Management System To Build A Website