Introduction
The technology of the internet has significantly changed the way businesses and organisations deliver their products and services, and with its ever-growing dependency, an effective website is an essential tool to success. One of the most effective methods of creating an effective website is to make use of a Content Management System (CMS), which can streamline the building and maintenance processes, saving both time and money. This article will provide an overview of CMS and explore the various benefits of using a CMS to manage your website.
What is a Content Management System
A Content Management System (CMS) is a software application used to store, manage, publish, and update digital content on webpages. It allows users to create and edit webpages without the need for traditional web programming or HTML coding, allowing for easier and faster editing of content.
A CMS is typically divided into two components, the backend and frontend. The backend or ‘CMS interface’ refers to the system’s administrative panel which is typically accessed through a secure web browser. This interface is used to manage the content of the website, from uploading and deleting content to managing pages and users - including setting permissions and interfacing with other web-based applications.
The frontend of the website is the public-facing side and is viewable by your website’s visitors. This is where the content is viewable, creating the user experience and depicting how the website visually looks. This can usually be customised using the CMS either through adding pages, creating styles and themes, or custom coding if required.
Benefits of Using a CMS
There are many advantages to using a CMS to manage your website.
Ease of Use
The biggest advantage of using a CMS is that it is very easy to use, with most requiring no technical knowledge in order to produce a professional looking website. Their intuitive user interfaces are very user-friendly, meaning that creating and managing a website can be done quickly and easily with minimal effort.
Cost
Using a CMS to build a website can save both time and money, as the development and maintenance of the site can be done internally instead of contracting an external developer. Plus, most CMS software is free or relatively low cost, meaning that you can create and manage a website for as little as possible - allowing for financial resources to be invested elsewhere.
Security
Most modern CMS platforms are secure, meaning that you can have peace of mind that your personal data and website content is safe from prying eyes. Security features can often be implemented to make the CMS even more secure - such as two-step authentication, IP address banning and secure data encryption.
Flexibility
CMS are designed to be flexible and adjustable, enabling users to create the website they want without being restricted to what the software allows. This can be anything from changing the theme or style of the website to custom coding and embedding of dynamic content like galleries and videos.
Mobile Responsive
Most modern CMS platforms are designed to be mobile responsive so that the website looks and functions correctly on mobile devices. This means that mobile users can interact with the website with the same ease of use as desktop users, without having to develop a separate website for mobile devices.
Extensibility
Most CMS platforms have thousands of plugins and extensions available to choose from, meaning that almost any type of feature or customisation can be quickly added and implemented. Even if the plugin you are looking for does not exist, developing a custom plugin or applying a solution through the existing plugins is usually possible.
Search Engine Optimisation
CMS usually have built-in SEO features, allowing you to optimise your website for search engines and ensure that it is visible to your target market. This can include customising titles and descriptions of pages, adding meta tags and setting up custom URL structures.
As such, the use of a CMS to build and manage a website can bring with it many advantages, from cost-efficiency to security, flexibility and functionality. Its ease of use makes it suitable for almost any user, from a webmaster to a newcomer to web development. So before settling for a traditional means of building a website, be sure to consider the advantages of incorporating a CMS into your Web presence.
