CMS, what is it? Even if you don’t know what it is, there’s a good chance you’ve dealt with it. This mysterious acronym stands for Content Management System, which is a quick and easy way to create, edit and update content on your website without even knowing HTML.

What is a CMS and how does it work?

The acronym CMS stands for Content Management System, which in Polish is known as content management system. It is software with the help of which we can easily create and maintain a website. Its advantage is that it allows for later expansion or upgrades via the user interface. Integrated with tools, i.e. TMS and CAT enables continuous localisation.

The CMS was developed in 1995. It was then that the founders of an American company called CNET created the PRISM system, or Presentation of Realtime Interactive Service Material) – it contained the solutions we find in today’s content management systems. At the same time, Vignette moved from England to the US to find a developmental site publishing environment for itself. It is these two companies – CNET and Vignette – that have joined forces.

What is the CMS used for?

WhatCMS.org emphasises that the CMS offers much more than content and image management. Among the system’s additional capabilities, he mentions: page design, user session tracking or search handlingⁱ.

The most basic functions offered to CMS users include, for example, search and download, format management or publishing.

With the help of this system, you can add articles to your site, insert videos or graphics, update your offer and change the appearance of your site. The best part is that you will do each of these activities yourself, without the need to hire a specialist to do it all for you.

Currently, the most well-known, and also the most popular, are: WordPressⁱⁱ, Joomlaⁱⁱⁱ, Drupal^iv.

What makes CMSs popular is that they are intuitive, convenient, will allow you to make changes quickly and, on top of that, give you independence. From the point of view of the average person, their great advantage is that they do not require programming knowledge.

Remember, a good CMS ‘helps’ you to create a website quickly, the way you want it and without having to complete special courses. It is good to pay attention that they have SEO tools and plug-ins. Of course, such a system should always suit you and your needs!

Types of content management systems

Do you realise that there are many different CMSs? It is worth being aware of this in order to choose the one that ‘meets’ your needs and best ‘fits’ your needs.

CMSs by application can be divided into:

• document management systems,
• knowledge management systems,
• digital asset management,
• enterprise content management systems,
• web content management systems.

We can further divide content management systems into the following types:

• purpose-dependent systems – these are systems designed for a specific type of site, such as a shop, business card or company website,
• Open Source – e.g. WordPress, this is the kind of system that gives you access to the files and source code, allowing you to make changes yourself,
• A subscription system, SaaS – e.g. Shoper, is the kind of software that is shared by many customers, but thus they do not have access to the website code,
• Dedicated proprietary CMS – in simplest terms, this is a bespoke system.

Key features of a good CMS

Would you like to learn the key features of a good CMS? Wondering what to look out for on this topic? You will find this information useful!

• Above all, the admin panel on the site should be easy to read and allow efficient editing and configuration of the various elements on the site.
• Easy and intuitive to use.
• However, a good CMS does not limit itself to visual matters or those relating directly to content, but gives scope for changes relating to technical issues (SEO and SEM).
• A high-level CMS is a tool that allows you to manage your content comprehensively – from structure to link editing to image editing.
• Easy editing with no knowledge of HTML, PHP or CSS required.
• Ability to manage sub-page url addresses.
• Ability to create accounts in the system that have different permissions.
• Possibility of installing additional modules, e.g. chat rooms, photo galleries or maps.
• Creation of pages in multiple languages.
• The CMS should also improve the visibility of your website in web browsers.
• It should have analytics configurations.

How do I choose the best CMS for me? First of all, consider whether you are interested in the free variant or whether you can afford the paid variant. Think about what you want such a system to ‘give’ you – so pay attention to the functions (content editor, user management, integrations with external tools in the CMS, e-commerce and marketing type functions). It is also good to ‘test’ different options and, once tested, set yourself up to go down a particular route. Also pay attention to whether the content management system in question is developmental. Rate the ease of use, level of security or technical support. Always look at how a particular CMS ‘fits’ your needs (it’s good to answer the questions: what kind of site do I want to build? What should it look like? What should be on it? Do I manage it myself or pay a third party to do so?). Don’t forget your skills either – if you don’t know HTML, for example, you have different options to someone who is familiar with it.

One thing is for sure, there are so many CMSs out there that you have a lot to choose from. It may be good to delve deeper into the issue, find people who have been in a similar situation to you in the past or simply ‘protest’ some options.

The most popular CMS

Security, functionality, performance or system stability are decisive factors in why some content management systems are more popular than others.

Here are the CMSs that are popular:

• WordPress – without the slightest doubt, we can say that it is the most popular CMS not only in Poland, but also worldwide. It is an open source platform. The popularity of this system is linked to its ease and intuitiveness of use – almost any person who does not have the faintest idea about programming matters can easily handle it. Importantly, the number of free plug-ins and themes available is so large that anyone can develop their website independently and without financial outlay. Where will it work best? First and foremost, it is a CMS ideal for creating blogs or not-so-complex websites.
• Joomla – widely regarded as a very good website management tool. It is more advanced than WordPress and gives access to the source code and other add-ons. It also offers a number of tutorials. It has been translated into dozens of world languages!
• Drupal – is a tool that is widely considered to be very good for managing an advanced website. An extensive administration panel allows various modifications to be made and the site to be managed. However, it must be taken into account here that in advanced situations, HTML, PHP and CSS must be known.
• Blogger – is software dedicated to blog-type websites. It is a simple tool that is designed more for people who are just starting out in blogging, which also has the effect that its capabilities are limited.

We will also mention that among these most popular CMS are online shops, including: PrestaShop, Shoper, WooCommerce i Magento.

and WhatCMS.org, “What is a CMS?” , https://whatcms.org/, updated 16.01.2020.