Digitalisering
12. januar 2022
What is a CMS, and what should you be aware of?
CMS is an abbreviation for “Content Management System”. A CMS is designed to make it easy to maintain digital content on, for example, a website.
Introduction
If a website does not have a CMS, content must be updated directly in the code. However, this is not optimal, as maintaining the content requires an understanding of programming and also creates scalability challenges in the project by typically increasing the amount of duplicate code.
As it is rarely a developer who maintains content on an ongoing basis, a CMS is an excellent solution, as it enables everyone to work with their website without having coding experience.
Typically, as an editor you can change text, images, and videos through a CMS. Today, an editor is often someone responsible for marketing, and therefore there is a strong focus on giving the editor flexibility so it is possible to work strategically with the content on an ongoing basis.
Common CMSs
There are many different CMS solutions. As CMS is not a protected title, and in theory you can use the term as soon as you have a system that can edit a bit of content, this helps increase the number of CMSs in circulation. However, there are some systems that are more widely used than others.
The typical CMS solutions that are widely used around the world are as follows:
Read this article, where we compare different CMS platforms.
CMS structure
A CMS is typically structured as follows:
Website
This is where the content is presented, retrieved directly from the database and through the files uploaded to the website. This is what visitors to a website see, and it is where a designer and front-end developer typically work with the customer to create an attractive and presentable universe for the company.
CMS
This is where you log in and edit the content on the website. Here you encounter a digital interface designed to make it easy for editors to edit and work with the various content on the website. The CMS can either be part of the website (morningtrain.dk/cms) or separate, such as a Headless CMS (cms.morningtrain.dk).
Database
When you save content in the CMS, it is stored in a database. The database is separate from the website and is retrieved dynamically to display the latest content. The database is typically structured by the CMS, as each CMS has different database solutions and structures.
Open Source or Closed Source
The different CMS solutions are built as either Open Source or Closed Source. The difference between the two is as follows:
In Open Source, all the code is open and can be viewed and developed by anyone who wants to contribute.
In Closed Source, the code is closed and cannot be viewed by the public. It is maintained by selected developers, such as an agency.
In addition, you typically pay a licence when working with Closed Source, as it must cover the time the selected developers spend maintaining the system.
Advantages and disadvantages
The advantage of Open Source is that you are not tied to a vendor, and you typically have access to more development options than with Closed Source. However, the disadvantage is that the more people who know the code, the more security vulnerabilities may arise.
With Closed Source, on the other hand, you are more tied to one or a few vendors and typically pay a licence to use the system.
Choosing a CMS
When it comes to choosing the right CMS platform, much of it depends on your own preferences. Below is a list you can use to evaluate your choice and base your decision on:
Agency or DIY
Do you have the budget for and/or need an agency to develop your website? If not, there are alternatives such as Wix, where through their interface you can choose from a range of templates and set up a website quickly and easily.
However, it is worth noting that agencies cannot help further develop on Wix, as the options are very limited because Wix is a Closed Source system. Wix is therefore best if you know you do not need a larger website solution, or if you need a “proof of concept” for an investment before having a website built by an agency.
Technologies
Each CMS is built for different technologies. If you/your organisation have specific preferences, it may be relevant to look for the CMSs that are built on those technologies.
No matter which agency you ask, you will also hear the advantages and disadvantages of each option. However, remember that the agency typically works with X technologies, and they will of course always advocate for those if they are to build the solution.
User interface
Some companies may have preferences for a specific user interface. This may be because employees have experience with systems from previous roles, or because you would like to keep the same as your current one.
The user interface differs from CMS to CMS, and it can be a good idea to do some research on the user interface of the CMSs being considered for your upcoming website solution.
Maintenance
Maintenance and future development are essential factors to include in your decision. As mentioned above in the section about Wix, there are some systems that cannot be further developed through an agency.
There are also systems that very few agencies use, so you must be very clear about whether you want to lock yourself into one agency or prefer to have several to choose from. In addition, you should consider what you have budgeted for future maintenance. With an Open Source solution, you do not pay a licence, but there are typically ongoing updates to close security vulnerabilities.
Future ambitions
Do you have a 5-year plan for your digital solution? And will that CMS solution still fit that plan in 5 years? This is a good exercise to do. If you have big plans for your digital platform within a few years, this can also be decisive for your choice of CMS.
If you want to build an intranet on the solution, it does not make sense to choose Wix, where that option is not available.
Challenges with flexibility vs. design guidelines
As an agency, we often find that too much flexibility can make it difficult to maintain a design guide (a consistent thread). Many editors are not trained in design, and too many flexible options to influence the design during editing will, over time, dilute the visual identity that has been created on a website.
This challenge is typically decisive for how long a website remains relevant, and when it becomes too cluttered and too far removed from the company’s identity.
The typical website redesign projects we receive from customers are driven by evolving trends (renewal), but also by websites that have drifted too far away from the company’s identity.
Therefore, it is important to talk to your agency about how you can achieve flexibility through a CMS while preserving your design framework. Where can design, technology, and flexibility meet in your project?
