Why Do I Need A Content Management System To Build My Website?

Why Do I Need A Content Management System To Build My Website

If you want to create a compelling website that attracts people from around the globe in the easiest way possible, then a content management system (CMS) is the perfect tool for you. 

The purpose of a CMS is to help simplify the process of running a website. Thus, for creators busy taking care of their families, a CMS can help save you time on managing your services. 

Successful websites, such as law office portals, utilize search engine optimization (SEO) techniques provided to them by a CMS. 

While you are learning the ins and outs of a CMS while being a busy parent, BetterHelp’s parenting resources may be of use to you by visiting: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/parenting/parenting-tips-on-how-to-handle-difficult-behaviors-without-negatively-affecting-your-children/

If you would like to learn more about what a CMS is, its features, and even cost, consider reviewing the following information.

What Is A Content Management System (CMS)?

A CMS manages your content by giving multiple users the ability to contribute and edit content depending on the different levels of permissions.

 In addition, both the editing and the website are part of the same platform. With a CMS, you can edit or add content such as text, images, and videos to make your website stand out.

Without a CMS, you would need knowledge of HTML or other computer codes to craft a website from scratch. A CMS allows non-technical people to design their websites. 

Another option is hiring someone with the technical knowledge of HTML to boost your site’s traffic.

One more thing to consider is that a CMS does not have to be built into your website. For instance, you can create a blog article, but then use another static website to push content so that you can easily separate your content and how it is delivered. 

How Does A CMS Differ From HTML?  

Although a CMS has the same purpose as building a site with HTML, the former requires more steps than the latter. 

HTML lets you build a site from scratch by employing various technical computer code strategies. The step-by-step process may look similar to the following:

  1. Start with HTML to add text, images, and other features for a basic website.
  2. Use CSS to add flourish to each of your website elements.
  3. Write up JavaScript to add specific SEO features, such as a slide-in call to action. 
  4. Upload the HTML file to your server so it can be filed away in your database.
  5. If you want to make changes, download your files from the server, change the HTML code by hand, and make sure that you didn’t break any other links before uploading the files into the server.

If you possess coding skills, then HTML may be the best way to create a website with total freedom. 

But for those who do not have the technical skills or the time for HTML, a CMS can help you perform many of the functions you would need to do by hand with HTML.

What Are The Features Of A CMS?

If you have decided on a CMS because of its accessibility, compared to HTML, and its purpose of managing your content, then there are few key features of CMS you should know about first. 

Most CMS platforms share the same helpful resources, while a few platform holders have unique functions. The basic components of a CMS are all helpful for your website design.

SEO Features and Extensions 

CMS platforms will offer features and add-ons built into the site to help optimize your content for search engines. You can also incorporate third-party tools, as well. 

The features may include:

  • Optimizing page load times
  • Creating page titles and meta descriptions
  • Meta descriptions are the short blurbs that appear below the results of a website searched on Google
  • Adding image alt text
  • Including breadcrumb navigation
  • Implementing call to action

Predesigned templates

Many CMS platform holders will give you a selection of pre-designed templates that you can use to quickly get started on your website. Choosing a responsive template will ensure that your site looks attractive on both desktops and mobile devices. 

There are templates for a variety of website types, including blogs, cooking sites, business pages, and more.

Templates not only save you time but can also help you overhaul your website design later down the line. 

If you start with a blog but want to transform your hobby into a career, then you can use your CMS to choose another template and change the design without requiring you to update code with HTML. 

Simple updates

Website redesigns are one of many changes you can make easily with a CMS. You could switch out your image on the home page, edit the text on a call to action button, or add information about new employees with relative ease by going into the dashboard of your CMS to update the content. 

The simple updates keep your content fresh and relevant for all changes you make throughout your career

Furthermore, you can opt out of hiring a freelance developer or trying to manually edit the code, which gives you time to focus on your product. 

Cost Of A CMS

Thankfully, you can use most of a CMS’s features without needing to pay for anything. Drupal and WordPress, two of the most popular CMS platforms, are free to download because they are open source. 

WordPress provides a variety of plugins, but setting up one of its prebuilt themes can be challenging without following a tutorial. 

On the other hand, Drupal is helpful for those with a larger membership, but the site is not as user-friendly as WordPress, regarding the content manager.

While both sites are free to use, there are paid elements to each of them. For WordPress, certain modules are not free. Since they require a cost, the module is not open source, which can pose a security threat. A module could be made by a random person who may not know what they are doing. 

Drupal also contains modules, but the creators are backed by Drupal, which ensures that it is more secure than WordPress’s modules. Also, all of Drupal’s modules are free. 

Whichever platform you choose, keep in mind your expenses and how much you are willing to spend on your website.   

Do You Need A CMS?

Having read the information above, you should have some introductory knowledge and useful information about CMS platforms. This can help you decide whether or not a CMS would help you, based on the time, money, and technical skills you have to use on your website.

When you are choosing a CMS for your website, choose one that will help shape your website into what you dream it could be.