Selecting the right content management system (CMS) can be tricky, considering the many available options in the market. Lack of a proper understanding of your business requirements can lure you to fancy and sophisticated functionalities that you may never use.
But how does one get the list of all the requirements? What elements or features should you look for when shopping for a CMS? You should strive to answer some of these questions to avoid making an investment mistake.
Although circumstances for every business may vary, there are certain factors that cut across.
Below are some of the points to consider when choosing a CMS:
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Core functionalities
There’s a general belief that all CMS platforms have the same functions like creating and organizing content and pages. Although to some extent this is true, there are several functions such as events targeting, multiple website support, and multilingual support that some systems may not be able to handle.
Unlike what many people think when functions are not in use, it doesn’t mean excess power, rather it is extra weight slowing down your system. The best way to avoid this from happening is to come up with a comprehensive list in terms of requirements that will help you make the right decision.
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The editor
The editor is probably one of the features that you wouldn’t want to leave out. The editor is the interface where content is added and corrected. It also allows content providers to conduct basic formatting like changing color and font.
Most developers today use more advanced editors as opposed to the traditional ones. While compiling your list, ensure that you include an editor that doesn’t give away control to content providers. They should not be able to change the appearance of the dashboard.
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Scalability
Another important factor to consider is scalability. You should ensure that your CMS can be adjusted upwards or downwards. As your business expands, you will also need to scale up your content marketing strategies. This is where the aspect of scalability comes in. Choose a CMS solution that can easily be scaled downwards or downwards.
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Customization
This is also one of the things you should consider when selecting a CMS solution. Technology is always evolving and you can’t invest in a system that can’t be customized to suit your current situation. Some developers are used to traditional methods that produce useless codes. Before you choose a CMS solution, find out how flexible it is in terms of customization.
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User interaction
If you plan to collect user feedback, then you will need to choose a CMS solution with functionalities that permit third-party plug-ins. On the other hand, if you would wish to host a community, then you will need functionalities such as forums, ratings, chats, and comments on your website.
Bottom line
There are many factors that you should consider when choosing the right CMS. Other than looking at various features, you should also consider things such as support, licensing, training, security, and many more.
