Regularly creating and publishing content is one of the best ways to market your small business. A content management system (CMS) lets you create and manage your website content in one place. Here’s how a CMS works and how it benefits your business.
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What is a CMS?
A content management system lets you build and manage a website without any technical knowledge or coding skills. Once your website is set up, your CMS allows you to continue to create, update, and manage your content.
For example, you can use your CMS to write and edit digital content like blog posts and web pages. You can also upload images and videos to include in your content. CMS software is typically available as a cloud-based solution or an on-premise system.
Over 78 million websites were built using a CMS, and WordPress is the most popular option for CMS users. According to data from BuiltWith, 45% of all websites were made using WordPress.
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The benefits of CMS software
Here are the most significant benefits of CMS software for small businesses:
- User-friendly: A CMS allows you to write, edit, and publish online content without any coding experience. You can also change the design of your site and install extensions for added functionality — all without the help of a web developer.
- SEO: If you choose a CMS with SEO tools, you can optimize your content to rank better in search engines. You can customize your page titles and meta descriptions using built-in or third-party tools and improve your page loading times. These improvements help your content be found by more users and drive more traffic to your website.
- Efficiency: CMS software often comes with collaboration tools and standard workflows. The software is easy to use and train your employees on, making it possible to maintain a consistent publishing schedule. These resources make it easier for you to collaborate with your team and publish content more quickly.
- Cost: CMS software provides all the features you need to manage your content at a low monthly cost. The price will vary depending on the number of features you need, and you’ll pay more for additional plugins and extensions.
- Security: CMS software comes with built-in security features like a firewall, SSL certificates, and two-factor authentication. Some CMS companies even provide a dedicated security team.
Once your website is set up, your CMS allows you to continue to create, update, and manage your content.
There aren’t many downsides to using a CMS, but you do want to watch out for hidden costs. Some CMS platforms charge more for implementation or additional customization options.
Examples of CMS platforms
CMS software can help you improve and scale your content strategy, but finding the right solution can feel like a daunting task. If you’re not sure where to start, here are three CMS platforms you can consider:
- WordPress: WordPress is a self-hosted platform, and major companies like Disney, Spotify, and Time Magazine use it. As you build your WordPress website, you can customize it with thousands of themes and plugins.
- CMS Hub: CMS Hub is Hubpot’s content management system, and it comes with web hosting, a drag-and-drop website builder, and website themes and templates. You can also set up a blog and begin publishing content for your audience. You can get started for free and upgrade your plan as your business grows and you need more features.
- Joomla: Joomla is an open-source CMS and a popular WordPress alternative. It’s known for being user-friendly and is a good choice whether you want to start a simple blog or set up a more advanced e-commerce site.
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