Content is king, as they say. But if you are still using traditional content management systems, your kingdom is being left in the dark ages…
A content management system (CMS) is a publishing tool for creating, managing, delivering, and adapting online content. No doubt you are familiar with WordPress; a ‘traditional’ CMS which has been around for aeons and still powers almost half of the websites on the Internet today.
Traditional CMSs like WordPress - and Wix and Joomla - provide intuitive interfaces and clickable buttons, making it easy for anyone to create a website, regardless of their technical knowledge. They have undoubtedly been revolutionary in democratising the Internet.
There are, however, some significant downsides to using platforms like these. As Internet technology has evolved, it has exposed many of the limitations of traditional, monolithic and ‘legacy’ CMSs: bloat, slow site performance, and over-reliance on plug-ins to name but a few of the issues that cause marketing, design and development headaches for businesses.
The headless CMS - a real no-brainer
So, unless you have a legitimate and highly specific need to use a traditional CMS, it makes sense to look at a more modern, flexible alternative. A headless CMS should be your first consideration. It’s a more tailored approach to content management that separates where content is stored (called ‘the body’) from where it is presented (called ‘the head’). But without getting bogged down in the technical details, this is what you need to know:
Fundamentally, a headless CMS creates a better experience for everyone, from authors to designers, to customers. And using one could prove to be a game-changer for your business by improving your site’s performance, increasing customer satisfaction, and lowering the costs of your digital marketing spend. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages.
The ultimate in flexibility
Developers are free to build the perfect user experience around the demands of your business rather than be restricted by the limitations of legacy, traditional CMS platforms. This means your website can have a unique, custom-designed interface that stands out from the competition
Your business, future-proofed
Simply put, a headless CMS is a future-proof investment. You aren’t tied to a specific technology stack and won’t need to overhaul your entire platform when new devices and platforms emerge. Adapting and delivering content to these new channels is imperative, but far easier with a headless CMS.
Greater security
A slightly technical point, but because headless CMSs remove the link between your back-end and front-end, there’s less opportunity for cyber attackers to access the content and data held by your business.
Scalability and ‘stretchy pants’
Headless CMSs are designed for modern web traffic. Scale up to meet high demand and deliver content quickly and efficiently, with greater site performance and higher user satisfaction. And scale down just as easily during fallow periods or times of change.
Consistency and customisation, everywhere
A headless CMS ensures that your content is consistent and optimised for each channel and gives you a seamless user experience whether on mobile, desktop, or any other device. And because every audience is different, you need easy customisation and localisation of content to provide a personalised experience that resonates with every customer.
Streamlined workflows
Content creators and editors benefit from a headless CMS’s streamlined workflows which are more efficient and enable an easier, faster publishing process.
Ultimately, legacy systems have had their day in the sun. When it comes to flexibility, security, and scalability; ie. everything your business needs to thrive, a headless CMS means you’re not only keeping up with the times but staying ahead of the curve.
