Content Management Systems: Does Your Website Really Need One?
Content management systems (CMS) have been soaring in popularity over the past few years, and website design companies are eager to push it to their clients. Sometimes it’s the business owners and managers who feel they have to have a CMS with their new website. But a CMS is not always necessary, nor is it always the best solution.
What Can a Content Management System Do for You?
There are pluses and minuses to having a content management system on your site. Here are the positives.
Full Control
You have full control of your website 24/7. You are never at the mercy of your design firm or someone who is technical to make website changes. If you can use email and a word processor (MS Word, Google Docs, etc), you can change the content on your website.
Flexibility
Your website can be changed from any computer. Most content management systems have a web-based interface that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. All you need is internet access and you are in control. Imagine having the power to change content from the beach on your vacation! (I don’t recommend doing that during your holiday… but you get the point.)
Multiple-Level Access
Sophisticated content management systems let you assign different levels of access to different departments in the organization. This is particularly helpful for a big business in which several different departments work together on creating content.
Content Version Control & Safety
Multiple developers on a website can sometimes overwrite content causing extra work and tremendous stress. Most Content Management Systems include revision control to prevent this problem. Also, if you website ever needs to be rolled back to an earlier version, with a decent Content Management System it’s easy to do this.
Overall Ease of Content Management
Adding new pages, changing current pages, and even removing pages is easy. You are never at the mercy of developers to make these changes to the website, and the content can be managed at multiple points by multiple teams.
What Problems Can a CMS Cause?
All that sounds great. But make sure you know about the following negatives before making your decision to spend more for a CMS.
Security Threat
Anytime you decide to add a CMS to your website, you are making it more vulnerable to online threats. Anyone with access to the CMS can login, and sometimes even save the login information on a public/shared computer. This can lead to situations where the wrong type of people can wreck your entire website with a few clicks.
Bulks Up the Website
CMS system adds a lot of bulk code to a website. Think of it like an big overcoat you put over an otherwise skinny website. This excess code can lead to several problems at a later stage, especially when it comes to troubleshooting problems. In addition, a simple CSS website will always load faster than a CMS website.
Search Engine Optimization Challenges
A CMS can introduce search engine optimization challenges such as:
- Complicated URLs: URLs with wildcards( !@#$%^&) are not preferred by search engines. Make sure you have the ability to customize them to match your SEO strategy.
- No Access to Meta Tags: Sometimes CMS’s are entirely missing this option. Meta tags need to be used and refreshed periodically to keep up with website SEO targets.
- Duplicate Content Issues: Search engines don’t like duplicated content. Because a CMS has so many access points (for design files and content), version control can be a problem.
- 301 Redirect Barriers: Redirecting non-existent pages can be a big hassle with CMS systems. So can properly implementing Robots.txt.
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Design Inflexibility
CMS-based websites cannot be design- and functionality-heavy. A CMS website must rely on templated pages, where content fits within designated areas accessible by users. Designers have to work within this framework when they are designing (or redesigning) the home and internal pages of your website. You can almost spot templated CMS websites. On the other hand, static CSS websites (without CMS) give designers the freedom to be creative with their design. Properly done coding is clean and uncluttered, making subsequent revisions to the layout much easier.
Cost, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
CMS websites cost more than static websites, as all the extra coding has to be paid for. Additional billable hours are also required for template design, site testing, browser compatibility, etc. Then it takes time to train your staff on using a CMS properly so that they don’t wreck the look of your website.
CMS programs, like any code, will need updates, maintenance and troubleshooting. The cost of maintaining a CMS can sometimes end up being more than the cost of a website redesign.
In conclusion, any investment made in a CMS should be carefully thought out. Buying something that sounds like a no-brainer at the time of purchase can end up being a real drain on your resources a year down the line. Content management systems are a blessing when used the right way, but can also be a curse if you get it for all the wrong reasons. As a broad rule, I’d say that if you only make changes to your website once a month and have a website under 50 pages, a CMS may not be right for you.
