How to choose the right CMS platform

Don’t leave finding the right CMS (Content Management System) platform for your website down to chance.

It’s an important decision that will impact your website’s performance, plus how easy it is to use and scale up in the future!

 

What is a CMS platform?

CMS (Content Management System) is software that helps people create and manage websites, without requiring extensive coding knowledge.

CMS platforms have tools for creating and organising content, customising templates and design, managing users and SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).

Popular platforms include WordPress, Wix and HubSpot. But, there are over 800 CMS platforms available in 2023, so you are spoilt for choice! It doesn’t make it easy to narrow down which is right for your business though – so we’ve put together the ultimate checklist to consider, before leaping into anything!

 

What to think about when choosing the right CMS platform for your business

 

Define your requirements

The best place to start is by taking some time to think about your specific requirements for your website.

Consider factors such as the type of content you’ll be managing, how much customisation you’ll need, how scalable it needs to be and the technical expertise of your team.

Easy to use

Having a user-friendly CMS platform is essential, especially if you will have non-technical users managing the content.

Look for platforms with intuitive interfaces, drag-and-drop functionality and visual editors that make content creation and editing straightforward.

 

Scalability

It’s one thing finding a CMS matches your needs now, but what about the future?

Finding a flexible CMS platform that can handle increasing traffic, content volume and changing content without impacting performance, will make sure it can adapt and grow with your business.

 

Content management features

Take a close look at the CMS’s core content management features, such as content creation and editing.

Will the CMS support the specific content types you’ll be using, for instance text, images and videos? Does it provide collaboration tools for multiple content contributors? If not and this is important to your business, keep looking for a CMS platform that does!

Customisation

Another biggie is finding a CMS that makes customisation easy. Having a CMS that aligns with your branding and design requirements will save you time.

CMS platforms that allow you to easily modify the website’s design and layout, customise templates and extend functionality through plugins, themes or modules, work really well.

 

SEO capabilities

Choose a CMS that prioritises SEO, so you’ll have all the tools to enhance your website’s search engine ranking and attract more traffic.

Consider the CMS’s built-in SEO features or its ability to integrate with popular SEO plugins. Look for features such as customisable meta tags, SEO-friendly URLs, XML sitemap generation and easy content optimisation options to improve your site’s search engine visibility.

 

Security

Security is one of the biggest factors in choosing a CMS, with so much sensitive information contained on your website, it has to be secure.

Pay attention to the CMS’s security features, including user roles and permissions, data encryption and password protection.

Free photo device protected by cyber security

 

Integration options

If you plan to use other e-commerce platforms, such as CRM systems and analytics tools, make sure the CMS is able to integrate with them!

Seamless integration can enhance your website’s functionality and make your life easier!

 

Cost

Make sure you find a CMS platform that fits with your budget! Beware of any hidden costs, consider the CMS’s licensing fees, hosting costs and any additional expenses related to themes, plugins or professional support.

Our team is experienced in handling CMS platforms and are happy to create and manage your content, on a CMS platform that best suits your business.

 

For a free virtual marketing ideas session with CMS experts, call us on 01962 600 147 or email info@tlc-business.co.uk

/by

TLC Team Day Out

After tucking into some delicious burgers at 7Bone, the TLC team transformed into world-class detectives and headed over to Locked in a Room Southampton to solve the mystery surrounding the disappearance of Professor S. Pottenger. After enjoying the experience so much last time, the team wanted to try their hands at solving the harder challenge. This time, we split into 3 different groups (The Winners, The Real Winners, and The Actual Winners) and went head-to-head in the Parallax rooms.

Despite the successful escape rate being just 50%, all 3 teams managed to escape within the hour! We all came out feeling like winners – especially ‘The Actual Winners’ team – who really did win… The subject is still a sore point for the other two teams!

We’d like to thank 7Bone and Locked in a Room Southampton for making our team day out so fun, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience! Now we are turning our thoughts as to what to do next time, any ideas?

/by

Emerging voice search trend is a game changer for marketing: Are you ready?

It seems hard to imagine a time without smartphones and virtual assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri, but the recent surge in popularity of voice-enabled devices is starting to have a big impact on marketing.

Now voice searches are becoming a common part of everyday life, adapting your content to fit with the changing way people are searching for information is becoming more and more important to stay relevant. Here’s how …

 

Use a different tone of voice

In contrast to traditional text based searches, for voice searches people tend to use more natural conversational language, reeling off longer queries and asking complete questions.

Changing your tone of voice to create more conversational content that matches people’s typical voice commands is more likely to get picked up in voice search results. It will also help to engage with your target audience more and build customer loyalty.

Answer frequently asked questions

When voice assistants respond to a voice query, they often provide a single answer.

To get your content to feature in voice search results, it’s best to throw in keywords and provide concise, well-structured answers to frequently asked questions that relate to your industry.

 

Feature in local searches

Voice search is frequently used for local queries, such as finding nearby restaurants, stores, and services.

To feature in these local searches, businesses should prioritise local SEO (search engine optimisation). This includes optimising location based keywords, keeping your Google My Business listings up to date and getting positive reviews and ratings, to make your business stand out.

 

Focus on mobile devices

Recent stats show that 71% of consumers prefer to conduct queries by voice instead of typing. A large number of those people are using mobile devices, so it’s important to make sure your website is mobile-friendly.

A seamless mobile experience is essential, so it’s worth spending some time to improve your page’s loading speed, as users have come to expect fast voice search results on their smartphones.

Speak to your target audience 

Gaining a better understanding of your target audience, what they are searching for, so you can create content that directly addresses their needs.

Providing relevant search results can increase your visibility, leading to higher web traffic and a boost in sales.

 

New paid advertising format

As voice searches increase in popularity, it could change the future of paid advertising. One to watch out for, is voice assistants potentially introducing voice-based ads.

Businesses need to stay on top of this and look to explore advertising that works with voice search platforms, focusing on new ad formats specifically designed for voice-enabled devices.

One thing is clear, adapting to work well with voice searches is a big marketing opportunity that will give your business a competitive edge.

 

For a free virtual marketing ideas session, call us on 01962 600 147 or email info@tlc-business.co.uk

/by