Do you need a CMS (content management system) for your website?

"I want to be able to change the text myself." It is one of the things I hear most when talking about a new website, and it usually leads to another question: do I need a CMS? It makes complete sense, but it is worth thinking about what you will change and how often, because the answer decides which kind of website suits you.

What a CMS (content management system) is

A content management system (CMS) is a dashboard where you edit the website without touching code: you write some text, upload a photo, press save and it is published. WordPress is the best known, but there are many more, as well as simple custom dashboards built for exactly what each business needs.

What a CMS costs

It is not free even when the software is:

• Maintenance: big systems need frequent updates.
• Security: the login is one more door to watch. More in why WordPress sites get hacked.
• Speed: building every page on the fly is usually slower than serving it ready-made.
• Time: someone has to learn it and remember how it works when they open it three months later.

Do this exercise

Write down what you would change on your website over a year:

• Summer and holiday opening hours.
• A price increase.
• A new service.
• New photos now and then.

If the list fits on one hand, you probably do not need a full editing system: it works out better to ask for those changes and have a faster website with no maintenance.

When you do need one

• You publish often: news, activities, events or articles every week.
• You have a changing catalogue: daily specials, products, available places.
• Several people need to publish without depending on anyone.

In those cases a dashboard makes perfect sense. The good news is that you do not need anything huge: a simple dashboard that only lets you edit what is needed (news, events, photos) and rebuilds the website when you save is enough. Visitors still get a fast, secure static website.

A real example is the website of ACOJER, an association that publishes its news, events and photos from its own dashboard, logging in with their Google account.

When you do not

• Your website is mainly a shop window: who you are, what you do, what it costs, how to get in touch.
• You change things a few times a year.
• You would rather spend your time on the business, not the website.

For most service websites (clinics, firms, studios, schools) this is the usual case.

A third way

Some content changes often but does not need to live on your website: day-to-day photos can go on Instagram, reviews on your Google profile and bookings in a calendar. The website links to all of it and stays stable.

If you are not sure what suits you, tell me and we will work it out together. The process is described in how I work.

How to choose a simple CMS

If you need one, choose a panel that edits exactly what you will change, and nothing more. First, ask to see how you edit a text and upload a photo. If you get lost in the demo, you will get lost later too. Then ask about updates and backups, because they are the hidden cost of many systems.

There are two broad families. On the one hand, full systems such as WordPress, very flexible but with plugins and updates to watch. On the other hand, light panels such as Decap CMS only edit the content. In any case, think about security: see why WordPress sites get hacked. The best CMS is the one you will actually use.

Frequently asked questions

Can I add a CMS later?

Yes. You can start with a static website and add a dashboard for a specific part when you need it.

Is a simple dashboard hard to use?

Not if it is designed for what you will do. The fewer options it has, the harder it is to break something.

Can I change the design with a CMS?

Usually you can change content, not design. Changing the design almost always needs whoever built it.

How do I know whether my website needs a CMS?

List what you would change in a year and discuss it before starting. That is how I approach it in how I work.