What Is CMS?  

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Content is an inseparable part of any website. It can be anything from written text and images to audio and graphics. We all see content, including social media networks and podcasts, wherever we visit. If we are talking about it, we also need to talk about content management systems, or CMS for short. You might have heard this term for the first time, but don’t worry. Today, we are happy to introduce this essential term to you. Let’s start with “What is CMS?”.

CMS Definition 

First thing first. A content management system or CMS can simply be defined as software or a platform. They are designed to help not only businesses but also individuals in a long content process. This process includes creating, editing, organizing, and sharing digital content. So, it doesn’t matter if you create, edit, organize, and share text, images, videos, audio, or documents. Content management systems are the place where you can manage all the content processes in one place. Also, don’t forget to take a look at different types of files here.

common functions of a CMS

Common Functions of a CMS  

Once we understand the CMS meaning, and answer “What is CMS?” now, it’s time to check the common functions of a CMS. But before starting, it’s important to note that some features are commonly found in all CMSs available on the Internet. However, some can provide more specialized features depending on users’ needs.  

  • Content Creation And Editing: Enables users to easily and quickly create and edit the content.  
  • User Management: Enables admins to manage users, roles, and permissions for collaborative content creation and editing. 
  • Publishing: Lets the software or platform know when and where the website content will be shared. 
  • Plugins and Extensions: Allows third-party add-ons to improve the functionality of the content creation process. 
  • Media Management: Enables content creators to store the final content in one place. 

You can also learn what makes a good website structure here.

what does CMS stand for

What Does CMS Stand For? 

Up to now, we have covered “What is CMS?” and its standard functions. We can quickly look at what CMS stands for by explaining its benefits.  

One of the most essential features of a CMS is that it offers collaborative work opportunities. This means that the creator or editor can manage and schedule content before publishing. When you are the admin, you will have control over who can access, create, and edit the content.  

Another great advantage of a CMS is that you don’t need complex technical skills and knowledge. That’s why if you don’t know hard-to-learn programming languages like HTML or CSS, don’t worry. Thanks to most CMS websites’ drop-and-drag features, you can easily and quickly create and manage your content. 

Besides, you don’t need to go from one website to another one while creating content. That’s because content management websites allow you to manage all content processes in a single platform. This perfect advantage simplifies updates and reduces the need for multiple tools. 

Moreover, most CMS lets you create your media library. So, this makes it easy to store and embed any type of content, from images and videos to documents to audio files. Furthermore, the CMS platform or application enables you to manage and update your content in real time. Since you don’t need to wait for a developer, you can immediately eliminate the waiting time and see your content. All these benefits of answering “What is CMS?” offers allow you to reduce content development time and effort. Also, check out what is a blog here.

content management system examples

Content Management System Examples 

We hope you’ve understood “What is CMS?” its functions, and the benefits we’ve discussed. Now, we would like to provide a few examples to clarify the topic in your mind further. At this point, we can say that hundreds of CMS platforms are available on the web. Each one has its unique features and functionality. However, some CMS websites are the best ones compared to others. Here are the most popular CMS platforms that help you in your website’s content management process.  

  • WordPress 
  • Wix  
  • Shopify 
  • Squarespace 
  • Drupal 
  • Adobe Magento  
  • TYPO3 
  • Joomla 
  • Ghost 
how to select the best CMS website for your website

How to Select the Best CMS Website For Your Website 

Now, we perfectly understand “What is CMS?” When selecting your website’s most suitable content management systems, we accept that your task is challenging. But you indeed need to select the most effective one for your content creation and management process, right? 

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You should always search for some essential features. For example, a user-friendly editing interface and smart search functions should be your priority. You should also consider how many people will use the CMS platform. So you can make sure that your business’s size will be no problem while meeting all content process requirements in one place. Besides, it might be necessary to multilanguage support the CMS you prefer if your editors are diverse language speakers.  

Finally, you should also consider the level of control as an admin. At this point, some CMS allows the administrators to use a wide range of control over the editors, from permissions to editing restrictions. If security and privacy are essential for your business during the content management process, preferring a suitable CMS plays a vital role. 

Our Final Thoughts on Content Management System 

We hope that you were able to find answers to all the questions about CMS in your mind. After answering the question “What is CMS?” we listed the standard features of any content management system. Some features like content creation and editing, media management, and plugins and extensions are standard functionalities of any CMS. However, many CMS websites have their unique functionalities as well. That’s why the best system changes based on your needs and expectations. Especially if you don’t have extensive technical skills, you should start with a CMS which has a simple interface and design.

To help you, we also listed the most popular CMS in today’s guide. Some are WordPress, Drupal, Squarespace, Wix, and Shopify. You’ve probably already heard these names if you’re in the content world and searching for an answer. Your task is to choose what suits you best; the rest will follow. 

Frequently Asked Questions About

Using these software or platforms enables you to simplify the content management process and reduce technical complexities. So you can effectively and efficiently create, edit, publish, and update your website content. 

Okay, having technical skills and expertise can benefit the content creation process. However, many CMSs offer user-friendly interfaces and designs. So, you don’t need deep technical knowledge to manage your content.

Of course, there are hundreds of CMSs on the web. But, as we listed above, WordPress, Drupal, TYPO3, Joomla, Wix, Shopify, Ghost, Magento, and Squarespace are the best ones.

No way! While talking about in this article we said that CMSs have some standard functionality; each has its unique features. For example, some can be used for simple content creation processes, whereas some meet specific and complex needs.

Yes! As we said above, most CMS platforms offer plugins and extensions that allow you to optimize your content. All these have a positive impact on your website performance and speed.

Ayşenur Tekin

Posts: 35

After completing my undergraduate degree in Translating and Interpreting, I became curious about digital marketing and started to improve myself. This led me to work as a content editor in digital marketing. Currently, I continue to work as a content editor and write informative articles.

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