Choosing a CMS for your needs

Types of CMS

In general CMS platforms fall into three main categories:

1. Full site CMS: These are the traditional CMS platforms that manage every element of the site, including back office, server, and database.They offer a web content management solution that includes the design, layout, and functions.
2. Website builders' CMS: Mostly suitable for micro websites, these platforms focus on drag-and-drop capabilities making them ideal for non-technical users.Simple sites are a good option for them, but they may not be flexible enough for multi-faceted projects.
3. Headless CMS: A CMS which is completely separated from website engine. It only manages the content, and never touches presentation. It is the right solution for a sophisticated website or application where speed and efficiency are of utmost importance.

In addition to the aforementioned aspects, you should determine whether you need an on-premise CMS or cloud-based one. Cloud-based systems are easier to deploy, whereas on-premise systems are appropriate for organizations with strict data protection and physical security issues.

What is a headless CMS?

Such a type got well developed recently, but soon became the primary choice for bigger teams seeking flexible and maintainable solutions. This kind of architecture decouples the frontend from the backend part of the website, focusing solely on the management and storage of the content.

Unlike traditional CMS, which tightly couples the backend with the frontend, headless CMS functions independently, where it manages content creation and organization but without controlling presentations. This separation of concerns enables the marketing team to deliver content to any device or platform by way of APIs set up by dev team. Also it's going to be perfect for those businesses looking to extend the seamless experience across websites, mobile apps, and IoT devices.

Headless CMS offers perhaps the greatest advantage in that it allows developers to work with the best technologies and frameworks out there, which reduces time in development and allows businesses to adapt to emerging market trends faster.

Which one to choose?

For us there is no question about choosing between headless or full CMS. For various reasons we always prefer a headless CMS. But what about choosing between hosted or on-premise? For most companies, a hosted CMS fits best when it comes to the convenience, cost, and capability. They deal with the upkeep and the upgrades so that your team can focus on developing. If you are dealing with sensitive data, then on-premises CMS may be a better option. Ensure that you have the right skills and infrastructure to manage it well.

Among the variety of hosted solutions these three are the most popular:

• Contentful . Provides enterprise-level features for large-scale projects. It's quite expensive, so pick this one if you know exactly why you need it.
• Prismic . Offers a simpler and more affordable solution with GraphQL API capabilities, though less flexible than others do.
• Strapi . Open-source and highly customizable, available in both cloud and on-premise versions. It's a flexible choice for companies unsure if they need to handle hosting themselves in the future.

Conclusion

Don't underestimate what a content platform can do to your business processes. It is an integral part of your company's online presence. Choosing the right CMS with caution can definitely bring in a great improvement in your marketing team's performance, save costs, and boost productivity for your development team.