Knowing Which Content Management System To Choose

Web design has become far more accessible to mass audiences in recent times, as you no longer need to have an in-depth knowledge of HTML and/or CSS in order to get a decent looking site up and running. Content management systems (CMS’s) have made designing a website far easier, as you now only need to install the CMS and pick a visual theme. All the user then needs to do is add content, via the built in management system.

However, how do you know which content management system is best for you? There are a huge variety of content management systems available to users, although most people will probably be well advised to go with one of the major open-source systems. In order to help you select the right CMS for you, here’s a quick look at the main systems available.

WordPress is the most popular and widely utilised CMS’s in the world, and is generally a good option for most people. As well as having a huge selection of visual themes (some paid, some free), WordPress also has thousands of user created, open-source plugins. There are numerous SEO related plugins, meaning you can easily optimise your site for search engines.

Magento is a good choice if you’re looking specifically for an e-commerce CMS, as it’s designed specifically to handle online payments and selling. Most users argue that Magento isn’t as versatile as some of the other systems available, but it’s still an excellent tool for e-commerce websites.

Two other excellent CMS’s are Joomla and Drupal, although they’re not as widely used or as versatile as WordPress (for example). With that said however, the overall look and functionality of these two content management systems is excellent, and both will give you the professional look and ease of use you’re after.

Probably the best way for you to choose which one is best for you is to try them out for yourself, giving you a much better idea of how the CMS works with your requirements. There are more CMS’s available to users than just those mentioned above, however it’s worth noting that these four are the most popular and generally considered to be the best CMS’s available.

Written by John: A freelance copywriter specialising in SEO and website copy.