CHAPTER 2
The benefits of a content management system (CMS)
One of the most valuable tools for content management is a content management system (CMS). A CMS is software that simplifies the creation, editing, organization, and publishing of digital content, even for those without extensive technical knowledge.
For content editors and content marketing teams, the main benefit of a CMS is its ease of use, which allows content creators to focus on the content itself rather than getting bogged down in the technical aspects of the user interface. CMS platforms like WordPress and Drupal provide simple drag-and-drop dashboards, where brands can create and manage website content seamlessly.
A CMS facilitates collaboration among teams, streamlining the content workflow. Multiple team members can work on different aspects of content creation simultaneously, ensuring efficiency and minimizing errors in content delivery. Moreover, a content management platform offers the functionality to schedule content in advance, making it easier to maintain a consistent publishing schedule.
Another essential advantage of using a CMS is its ability to handle different content types. Whether you want to publish articles, images, videos, or documents, a robust CMS can accommodate a wide range of formats, providing a unified platform for your content.
Additionally, a CMS often includes built-in SEO features or allows for easy integration with SEO plugins. This helps optimize your content for search engines, increasing the likelihood of it being discovered by your target audience.
Choosing a CMS
One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a CMS is whether the CMS is equipped to scale with your organization. CMS solutions vary in terms of capabilities and flexibility, so it is important to explore the various options available to ensure your organization’s vision and marketing strategy is fully supported. For brands looking for a future-proof CMS that scales with their growth, popular solutions include:
- Headless: While monolithic content management system providers like WordPress couple the front end (where content is displayed) with the back end (where content is managed), a headless CMS separates the front end from the back end. With a headless CMS, content creators and marketers can manage content in one place, while APIs support omnichannel campaigns by deploying that content on any relevant digital channel. By separating the front end from the back end, marketers can independently publish new content, freeing up web development teams to focus in-depth on innovation projects.
- Decoupled: A decoupled CMS uses an API to separate how content is stored from how it is presented. For added flexibility, it also includes a built-in default resentation layer that can be used if required.
- Enterprise: An enterprise CMS is designed with scalability in mind and supports enterprise marketing teams with automated features and advanced capabilities.