Although there are still a few months left in 2020, it’s important to start planning ahead for the new year. The inevitable changes to the economy and uncertainty of what life will be like requires vigilance and a continued commitment toward evolving with, rather than against, the times. Is it time to update your arsenal of SEO tools? Check out this round up of the best content management software (CMS) on the market and what they can do for your brand.
Do You Need a CMS?
A content management software lets you create, edit, organize and publish all your content in one place. This can be a major shift for people who have been running their sites entirely on their own, usually relying on several different programs to create their content. If you’re working with a team, this can make work even harder as it increases the likelihood of errors, duplicate work and miscommunication. You can use a CMS to improve your content strategy by centralizing where it’s produced, published and analyzed.
From small business blogs to corporate websites, a CMS is adaptable and scales to suit your needs. In 2021, every business that’s serious about their online presence should be using a CMS to produce their content. It’s not really a question of whether you could benefit from one but rather which one is right for the size of your business and type of content you produce. The following selection includes several of the best CMS software for various companies. You’ll be able to find a platform that works whether you’re a one-person operation or the CEO of a company with thousands of employees.
WordPress
WordPress remains the most popular content management system that powers more than a third of all websites currently on the internet. While it’s designed to be primarily used for blogging, it can also be easily switched into an e-commerce CMS and work as a newspaper, digital publication, static web page and more. The incredibly simple UI makes it ideal for beginners, and it can be used for free if you just want a basic plan to learn the ropes. WordPress also offers different subscription plans designed to suit individual needs. They are:
- Personal for $4 per month
- Premium for $8 per month
- Business for $25 per month
- Ecommerce for $42 per month
Note that each package is billed annually, so you will need to put down a good amount upfront, but you’ll have access to all of the CMS features immediately, including a wide host of plugins, HTML editing and analytics.
Pantheon
Pantheon is an up and coming CMS designed to be optimized for speed. It’s ideal for optimizing web pages for better response times, a key factor in modern SEO, as well as deploying and updating content. The developers built Pantheon with agile marketing in mind. This philosophy emphasizes cross-functionality and collaboration, so it’s a great CMS if your content is run by a team. As a scaling software, Pantheon is designed to help you host and manage websites all in one place. Packages start at $29 per month and are prepaid annually. The serverless CMS by Pantheon connects to WordPress or Drupal and supports virtually unlimited growth. Without having to worry about infrastructure, marketers can focus more on the growth-aspect of their strategies and not worry about site malfunctions or other server-related errors.
Drupal
The biggest advantage of Drupal is that it’s a community driven, open course platform that’s entirely free to every user. It can be used for web development, marketing and agencies to build sites from the ground up and manage all their content thereafter. Drupal offers unique features to serve a variety of industries, including retail, tourism, entertainment, sports and tech. You can automate marketing, create multi channel content, analyze customer data and ensure your website’s performance is equipped to handle anything. Check out the Drupal user guide for an in depth look at how it works.
Contentful
If you’re looking for a platform to view all your brand’s content in one place, Contentful could be your dream dashboard. From social media profiles to your website’s blog, you can seamlessly manage all your material with a few clicks. Contentful is also a great place to begin working on a more comprehensive SEO strategy; rather than focusing solely on traffic, intent driven SEO like from Granwehr, drives more conversions through growth centric content. The best way to improve your company’s revenue is to show people through your content what makes your product or service so great. Contentful’s content platform can integrate into multiple frameworks and systems, and it’s designed to grow with your business. At its core, Contentful is about creating memorable digital experiences that turn viewers into returning customers. You do more than just write a blog post or build a website; you make something meaningful that benefits real people.
HubSpot CMS
HubSpot is one of the leading digital marketing software developers in the nation. They have become famous for their inbound and content marketing methodologies, which you can even get certified in for free via the HubSpot Academy. Their eponymous CMS is highly flexible and includes personal SEO recommendations, a drag and drop website editor, adaptive testing for up to five versions of a web page and content reporting. You’ll be able to customize your HubSpot experience from the ground up, and it’s an ideal platform for marketers who want to manage a business’s digital presence without a developer.
In addition to the platform’s versatility, you’ll also have access to a suite of guides, video tutorials and 24-hour phone support. HubSpot is also continually revising and updating their CMS, so you’ll be at the forefront of new trends and be able to seamlessly integrate best practices into your SEO as they emerge. The CMS hub is the most expensive option on the list with a starting price of $300. This makes it quite an investment, but it’s all in one capability may be what you need to develop the most cohesive website and marketing plan.
