Before we get into why we recommend using WordPress as your CMS (Content Management System), let us understand what a CMS is.

What is a Content Management System?

A CMS is a software that gives you the authority to create, modify and manage digital web content. Although the CMS features may vary, most include web-publishing, format management, history editing, post scheduling and media uploads to mention a few. So, what you create within the CMS is what people will see once you publish your page.

We hope that was easy enough to grasp. 😊

The CMS bowl

There is a bowl full of CMS’s to choose from out there in the “jungle”. To find the perfect and easiest Content Management System to go with can be a daunting task. With well over between 250 and 350 different programs available on the market, from simple building tools and ready template themes, the possibilities are endless. The most important question to ask yourself before choosing a CMS is…” what do I want to achieve with my online project?”

Application types

There are several three application types for Content Management Systems. The development plan of your project will help you to choose which solution to go with. The three common divisions are known as follows: web content management, blog or vlog (consists of mainly video) publishing/news and social media communities.

IMWTIP: A clear goal and structure for your web project is of utmost importance to help you choose a suitable CMS.

Web Content Management (WCM)

This is a content management software system for web content. As mentioned above, this will help you create/manage a web page without having to have qualifications of any web programming or markup language.

Blog/Vlog news/publishing

Blog (short for web blog) – mainly focuses on blogging, whether it is for personal or business reasons, to share new content material with your existing customers and prospects.

Vlog (a video blog) – the posts are primarily in a video form. (personal or business)

As stats have shown, many people would rather watch a video (vlog) than read an article (blog). No, we are not saying that you should solely focus on vlogging, as publishing articles is the meat of your website. Without having content for your website is like have a car with no engine.

Social Media Communities

Building a social community requires much more than just having a blog. A larger range of functions is required to build an online community.

One of the major functions is to post relevant posts to your existing followers (customers) and prospects, with that being said, the second function is CONSISTENCY. Keeping your business profiles active and fresh is imperative to keep your social community platforms alive.

Many businesses create online social profiles but do not keep them active. Not all business require to have all social media platforms, it all really depends on what you offering and who your target market is.

Let us compare software solutions on a global scale

By far, the most popular and cost-effective CMS to publish web content is WordPress. There are currently over 18 million websites worldwide that are running on the free and open-source content management system. The beauty of WordPress is that it is available in various languages for you to work in. Though there are many CMS’s to choose from, let’s have a look at the stats for the top 3:

WordPress

(first most popular)

  • the latest version (4.9) has been downloaded nearly 20 million times
  • more than 26 million users
  • runs nearly 30% of the entire internet
  • rules the CMS market with 60% market share

Some of the following high-profile companies use WordPress: BBC America, TechCrunch, Mercedes-Benz and Sony to mention a few.

Joomla

(second most popular)

  • market share of only 6,6%
  • used to develop more than 2, 009717 websites and blogs

Popular sites built using Joomla: UK National Crime Agency, Holiday Inn Express and High Charts.

Drupal

(third most popular)

  • market share of only 4,6%
  • used to develop more than 946, 826 websites and blogs

Some popular websites built with Drupal: Linux, GE Transformation and Harvard University.