With more than 77 million websites using a content management system (CMS), you might be considering such a system for your business. But the challenge of choosing the right CMS arises, so in this post, we’ll look at the best CMSs for content teams.
What Is a CMS?
A CMS application allows multiple users to create, edit, manage and publish content. Usually, the application has premade templates you can customize without the need for coding. They allow teams to work on content simultaneously in the back end to produce top-quality content and attract more clients.
Key Factors in Choosing a CMS
If you create content, you’ll likely be spending considerable time on your CMS, so choosing one that suits your needs is important. But what factors should you consider when making such a choice? Here are a few suggestions:
- What is the budget for your CMS?
- How much experience does your team have in managing web content?
- How much content do you plan to publish? Is the system scalable for the volume of content you plan to publish?
- How much customization do you need? Do you need preset templates for your content?
- Do you have additional security needs?
Top CMSs for 2024
Here are six of the top CMSs available in 2024.
WordPress
WordPress is one of the most popular CMSs. You may choose from two options: WordPress.org and WordPress.com. The main difference between the two is that WordPress.com requires external hosting; WordPress.org is a hosted service. WordPres.com has a free option available, but the subdomain will end in .WordPress.com unless you pay for external hosting.
WordPress.org offers better customization than WordPress.com, but the former also requires more maintenance. The free version of WordPress.com is a good option for beginners, but more complicated sites might require an upgrade to WordPress.org. WordPress is particularly popular with bloggers.
Squarespace
Squarespace is another popular CMS choice. Squarespace has built-in email marketing and SEO tools that can help you reach more customers from a single platform. It’s more beginner-friendly than WordPress, but its customization options aren’t as advanced. The option is available to add code to the website for further customization, but this feature relies on the user’s ability to code.
Squarespace provides many customizable templates you can use to build your website and ensure brand consistency. If you’re building a relatively simple site that doesn’t need much customization, Squarespace might be a good option for you.
Wix.com
Wix.com offers a range of customizable templates and design options. Its ecommerce and business solutions allow you to stay on top of sales and take bookings. The website builder creates a draft of the site that you can review before publishing, giving you the option to experiment more. You can create a free version of your website, but you’ll have .wixsite at the end of your URL.
Despite Wix’s claims that it helps users in their SEO efforts, Ahrefs found Wix’s SEO options lacking. Ahrefs concluded that Wix websites attract far less organic traffic than WordPress websites; nevertheless, Ahrefs admits that this shortcoming might be due to Wix’s users tending to be less experienced with websites than WordPress users.
Wix may be a great option for beginners or those wanting to create a personal website only, but if you desire a more complex website, one of the other options may be better.
Joomla
Joomla is an open-source CMS that allows users to download the software and work from Joomla’s server rather than relying on an internet connection. Joomla is search engine- and mobile-friendly. It gives you the option to create multilingual versions of your content, allowing you to extend your reach.
If you have a team of content creators, you can set up permission levels so your team can work seamlessly on the platform. Although Joomla does offer customization, some of the tools are available through extensions only, making the system more complicated to use than that of WordPress or Squarespace.
You can use Joomla for any type of website, but the software works particularly well for small to medium-sized businesses.
Drupal
Drupal’s flexible platform is one of the most scalable CMSs on the market. It has thousands of add-ons you can use to customize your website according to your needs and many themes you can employ.
Drupal’s reliability makes the platform popular among government, health-care, and media organizations. However, Drupal does come with a steep learning curve, more so than other CMSs. The platform also requires more maintenance. Drupal may be a CMS you move on to when you have more experience or when you need more customization.
Contentful
Contentful is one of the most flexible CMSs. It allows users to preview content before publishing, create taxonomies to make content more discoverable, and select different languages or dialects, facilitating a broader audience reach.
Contentful has advanced security features, including EU data residency and enhanced governance options. The system is particularly good for marketers and content creators because multiple users can work on the same content simultaneously.
However, although Contentful has a free option with limited features, the full site is one of the most expensive options, starting at $300 a month. This platform is particularly useful for larger teams.
How to Choose a CMS
Choosing the right CMS is essential to streamlining your workflow and accelerating your content production process.
Before you start, take some time to think about what you need or want from your CMS. Above, we’ve outlined some factors you may want to consider, but you’ll likely have some company-specific requirements.
Being able to try these platforms before you commit is important, and thankfully, most of them offer either a free trial or a free version (to which you can later add a domain). We recommend taking advantage of these free versions. Having a CMS that best suits your needs is important, so take your time and experiment with a few before you decide.
As you take advantage of any free trials, bear in mind the requirements you’ve set out and keep a close eye on how well your chosen CMS meets these requirements.
Conclusion
A CMS is an application that allows users to manage and publish content. Because you’ll likely be using this application regularly, choosing one that suits your business needs is important. You might want to consider factors such as price, your team’s experience, the amount of content you’ll be publishing, and the extent to which you’ll need customization.
The most popular CMSs are WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, Joomla, Drupal, and Contentful. These offer a range of features – such as customizability, ecommerce options, and language options – and cater to beginners and experts. Take some time to experiment with whatever CMS you’ve chosen and take advantage of any free trials the provider offers.
CMSs can greatly speed up your content production timelines, but if you’re looking to increase your speed further, why not consider outsourcing your proofreading and editing? Proofed’s custom proofreading and editing services for content agencies can save your organization time and money. To find out more, chat with us today.
FAQs
What are the key features to look for in a CMS?
Your company will likely have specific needs, but the key features you should look for in a CMS are scalability, customizability, and security.
How do I choose the best CMS for my team?
Choosing the right CMS is important for streamlining your content production process. Take some time to consider what you need from your CMS and make use of any free trials the platforms offer.
Are CMSs free?
Some CMSs – such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal – do offer free options. However, if you want a unique URL that includes your company name, you’ll likely have to pay for your domain. Otherwise, you’ll also have the platform’s name in your URL.
Is WordPress better than Squarespace?
WordPress and Squarespace offer similar features, but they cater to different audiences. Squarespace is more beginner-friendly; WordPress requires more experience or the willingness to learn how to use the features. Neither one is better; the choice really depends on what you’re looking for from your CMS.
Can Wix handle large-scale content projects?
Wix is a fantastic option for smaller, simpler websites, but it struggles with more complicated sites. If you’re undertaking large-scale content projects, Wix may not be the best option.
