What is a CMS and do beginners need one?
How a CMS works
A CMS separates the design of your site from the content you add. You log in to a dashboard, write or upload content, and the software displays it on the site. Many CMS tools include templates, plugins and built-in tools for managing pages and menus.
Hosted website builders are a type of CMS too, though they often handle hosting and updates for you. Self-managed systems give you more control but require you to handle updates and security yourself.
- Lets you edit content from a dashboard
- Usually includes templates
- Hosted builders handle updates for you
- Self-managed systems need more upkeep
Do you need one?
A small, simple site with a few pages may not need a CMS at all. A blog, online shop or site that will grow often benefits from one, since updating content becomes much easier.
Choose based on how often you plan to update the site and how comfortable you are with maintenance. Many beginners find that a hosted builder is the easiest starting point. Try two or three palettes side by side on a test page before you pick the final one. Saving the chosen colors in a note makes future pages consistent.
Common mistakes
- Installing a complex CMS for a site that only needs three static pages.
- Ignoring updates, which can leave a self-managed site open to security problems.
