A Content Management System (CMS) allows you to manage your website on a day-to-day basis. A CMS is a software system that lets you edit your website. You can use a CMS to add new content, edit existing pages, add imagery, upload videos, share documents on your site and change the menus via an online portal that links to your website. Adding content via a CMS can be as simple as copying and pasting. You can also assign members of your team as admins to help you carry out these tasks.
When it comes to selecting a CMS, there are a number of options available to you. Your choice should be based on what you want your website to do and what level of technical ability you possess.
For SMEs, WordPress, Squarespace and Wix are common choices as they are relatively inexpensive and easy to use. For larger companies, who have more complex demands such as large-scale e-commerce Drupal and Magento can be good options.
Which CMS is the right one for my business and me?
Let’s take a closer look at some of the main CMS offerings.
Self-build website options offered by our accredited dot ie Registrars
A lot of our accredited dot ie Registrars provide website builders to help you get online. They also provide hosting and domain registration services and are generally a great place to start your online journey. Their hosting packages will also allow you to work with most of the CMSs mentioned below.
WordPress
Globally WordPress is the most popular CMS for creating blogs and websites. It is open source software that is free to use at entry level. It is quite intuitive and straightforward and can be easily set-up, even by a novice user.
It is a popular choice for businesses in Ireland and there are plenty of developers available who understand how to install and operate this system. If you run into any problems, chances are somebody has already experienced it and tips and fixes are often already available at their support centre.
The core WordPress software is free so the only real cost is web hosting and the domain name. However, unless you have the skills in-house, then it is a good idea to hire a designer to ensure a professional look and feel. Additional WordPress plugins, such as adding contact forms or integrating an SEO system, will cost money.
Squarespace
Squarespace bundles a content management system, website builder, blogging platform and hosting service into one. It offers a wide selection of template styles, catering for everybody from the freelance photographer to the fully-fledged online retail store. Social media integration, responsive design and e-commerce functionality are also built-in. It can be a little tricky to navigate the site-build process; however, they provide many comprehensive video tutorials to help with this. Monthly costs vary from $12 for a basic site to $46 for a more advanced e-commerce site.
Wix
Wix is another free website builder/CMS and is considered quite easy to set up and use. It offers visually impressive layouts, which have been designed for small businesses, online stores and freelancers such as musicians and photographers. All their templates have a responsive design to cater for mobile and tablet users.
Wix is available at no cost for as long as you want, but if you require professional features like your own domain name or priority support, you will need to opt for one of their premium plans. Monthly costs vary from $7 for a basic site to $20 for a more advanced site.
Drupal
Drupal is a CMS that enables developers to create bespoke websites. It involves coding and programming; therefore it is not a system that can be easily used without having the necessary skills and experience.
Drupal is great for structuring and managing large amounts of content – it provides efficient ways of organising and filtering this content. In this regard, Drupal is more suited to larger businesses, where there might be multiple content requirements across business units.
Magento
Magento is mainly used by online retailers to provide their customers with an e-commerce option that includes bespoke shopping carts and integrated payment solutions. It is designed for websites that have large volumes of e-commerce traffic. Again, this software requires coding and programming skills and is most suited to large organisations.
Whatever you choose, it is important that the solution fits your budget, your unique business needs and the skill sets available to you in setting up your website.
Read our recent blogs for more tips on setting up a business online.
