Leveraging Popular CMSs for Business Growth

Content management systems (CMS) can be an asset or a liability against the backdrop of a growing business. The best choice will facilitate your ability to maintain your business website, ideally without writing code.

There are dozens of CMS options, so knowing the best-suited ones for your needs is crucial. This article looks at the most popular CMSs and what to look for in the context of leveraging popular CMSs for business growth.

WordPress

WordPress is the most adaptive content management system. It features an intuitive interface, a vast array of plugins and themes, numerous options for customization, and a supportive community. It is suitable for businesses of all sizes, from blogs and small personal sites to enterprises. WordPress can accommodate both novices and experienced developers, making it a great option for a growing business.

You can choose between managed and unmanaged web hosting with WordPress. As the most popular CMS, it is also among the most secure. There are all kinds of hosting plans to meet a growing business’s needs.

Joomla

Joomla is a flexible, user-friendly CMS with a variety of solid features. It is a great option for small to medium-sized enterprises, combining the multiple facets of WordPress with the flexibility of Drupal.

Joomla has extensive integrated capabilities, but you aren’t limited to its options. It has 6,000 extensions, from which you can choose some to download depending on what features and degree of control over your website you’re looking for.

Drupal

Drupal is an adaptable, strong CMS that owners and operators of busy and complex websites tend to prefer. It comes with extensive modification options, making it useful for developers who need complete control over how their sites are designed and function.

Users with technical expertise will be able to use Drupal’s capabilities fully. Working knowledge of PHP, HTML, and CSS is essential, as Drupal was created for developers.

How to Make Sure Your Business Grows with a CMS

You should choose a CMS if you anticipate business growth after carefully considering your specific needs. Consider customization, scalability, security, ease of use, and price.

Scalability and customization

Consider what growth your website might experience and in what direction. Can the CMS accommodate this growth? Will it continue to meet your needs? Think about the customization options built into the interface, if you have source code access, and the number of available extensions. The more customization options there are, the more adaptable the CMS will be, and the better it will be suited for growth.

Security measures

Security is critical if you run an online business and work with sensitive data. You need the right infrastructure to protect your content and customers. The WordPress community is very active in addressing security concerns. Regular updates, a vast library of security plugins, and adherence to best security practices can make WordPress a secure choice.

Drupal is known for its solid security features. It has a dedicated security team, and the platform is designed with security in mind. Regular security updates are released, and Drupal has been used for various high-profile and sensitive websites.

Joomla has a strong community that actively addresses security issues, and regular updates are released to patch vulnerabilities.

Ease of use

Consider the intuitiveness of the interface. Specifically, you need to determine whether you or your staff will be able to manage it without technical knowledge. This will impact your workflow and engagement.

Let’s say your heart is set on a technologically advanced system, but your employees don’t seem capable of working with it. You could offer basic training to familiarize them with essential technologies. Aim to promote continuous learning by providing resources and support for employees to enhance their technical skills. These could include online courses or workshops.

Pricing and budget

Set a budget for continuous maintenance. Your CMS should meet growth demands apart from fitting your budget. Most platforms have different plan levels with increasing capacities. The three popular CMS options discussed here are open-source and free to use, but you might incur costs for premium themes, plugins, or additional features.

Proprietary CMS solutions may require licensing fees. The cost structure for proprietary CMS platforms can vary, and some may charge based on factors like the number of users, the volume of content, or the level of support. The cost may increase as your business grows, especially if you require additional features.

Finally, the cost of hosting and infrastructure can increase as your business grows and your website traffic expands. High-traffic websites may require more robust hosting solutions, which could lead to higher costs.