Content Management System
Content marketing is one of the most important disciplines in modern online marketing. A content management system (CMS) is a simple way to post high-quality web content and data on a page. Such software allows authors to collaboratively publish text content, images, or videos on a website without any programming knowledge. Thus, a content management system serves as the foundation for almost every website—regardless of its purpose, topic, or industry. A CMS can also be used for search engine optimization via plugins. For WordPress, a very popular system, this would be the Yoast SEO plugin.
In addition to WordPress, there are many other popular content management systems. Well-known examples:
TYPO3
Drupal
Neos
HubSpot CMS Hub
Use of a CMS
Anyone who wants to set up and edit a website needs a Content Management System—regardless of whether the system is for individual or shared use, meaning administrative and editorial rights (usage rights) and accounts must be set up. There are CMS that come with a design included—such as WordPress. Here, the webmaster can install a web design on their website that is already supplied with a WordPress CMS. In this way, there is no need to develop a custom design for the site. Alternatively, for those who desire a custom site design, there are Content Management Systems without design—such as Typo3, Joomla, or Drupal. While the latter software is preferably used for homepages, company sites, and similar, WordPress was originally developed as a system for blogs. However, smaller websites can also be realized with its functions.
Easily create a website: Working with a Content Management System
In the context of a content management system, one speaks of a frontend and a backend. While the frontend of the software describes the display of the website and web content in the browser, the administrator or editor can edit the design and content in the backend. To do this, he must log into the system with his credentials. CMS are usually configured so that they can be accessed via a corresponding addition in the URL through the browser. This means the author can work from anywhere, needing only an internet connection and the login data. Pages, categories, and content can be created and edited using appropriate functions. No programming skills are required for this. Content such as text content can be edited, for example, through the WYSIWYG editor (e.g., bold, headings, italics, etc.). In WordPress, for instance, the classic editor and the HTML view can be chosen. The latter allows changes to the HTML code to be made. This is useful, for example, for embedding a YouTube video. This works by inserting the embed code of a clip. Hyperlinks can also be easily integrated via CMS. Images can also be adjusted. Often, a content management system is modular, allowing a website to be created like a kind of building block system. A modern CMS also offers the possibility to enter important SEO data such as meta tags. These include meta descriptions, focus keywords, titles, alt texts, and image titles.
Advantages of a CMS at a Glance:
Intuitive operation without programming knowledge and without intervening in the page code
Simple creation of web content
Systems in different language variants
Customer Relationship Management (this is the case with HubSpot's CMS Hub)
SEO extensions and other plugins to extend software functionality
Planning of content, publication at the desired date
When multiple authors work collaboratively on the content for a website, there is the possibility to establish a hierarchy through so-called usage rights for the systems. Depending on the CMS, there are various options:
the user must authenticate themselves to make changes in the Content Management System
the user can only compose content, but not delete or publish on the website (e.g. editor)
the user can edit and publish web content
the user can work with the CMS editor and customize page functions or website design through the software
the user has all rights (e.g. administrator)