The first stage of creating a site is directly related to the choice of CMS (site engine). To date, many such free systems have been developed, the variants of which are not at all difficult to find. They also ask themselves – is there a big difference between a paid and free engine? In fact, they are almost identical. But of course the paid ones are always half a step ahead.
So, we propose to sort out this topic together, at the same time saving time.
CMS is …
Content Management System – site content management system / program. Basically, it is the heart of the site, allowing you to co-host, add, edit, and manage content and accessibility. The site engine will help you organize all the information and help you create optimal access to it. This is a great way to involve several employees at once, such as SEO specialist, copywriter, content manager, etc.
A whole range of possibilities opens up while using such a system. Using it, you can not only create a website and fill it with assortments of goods with descriptions, but you can also place video and audio files here.
This multifunctionality is paid and free.
Since the dawn of internet sites has already arrived, of course CMS have become popular, and their number is limitless. No matter how developers talk about the beneficial aspects of their engines, you should know that such a paid system will simply differ in more functionality (usually in a certain direction for solving tasks) than a free one, so it is better to use it for specific tasks. In any case, it cannot be said that a free CMS will not help achieve the goals and will not be completely uncompetitive. Therefore, if your goal is to order an uncomplicated site, then a free engine is the most optimal solution.
How to choose
Usually all developers praise their site engines and talk about their wide functionality. It is difficult for a person who does not understand this matter to choose one of the engines. Therefore, before making a final decision, we recommend that you take into account several criteria.
Content management
Avoiding HTML code means that you want convenient and easy editing of site content. Therefore, the system should be able to immediately modify and publish content using buttons that are understandable even for a teapot, that is, have a WYSIWYG interface (What You See Is What You Get).
SEO friendly
Search engine optimization should take the chosen engine like nothing. Of course, all CMS are understandable by SEO, but you need to evaluate the possibilities from the outside, whether the created one will be enough for the successful promotion of the site. That is, will the developed functions and characteristics allow the site to meet the requirements of search engines.
Customized content
Each such program for the site allows you to quickly publish a page, text, etc. The main thing here is to assess whether he will be able to properly adjust the content to the needs of the target audience. Let’s take an example:
- you are developing an online store – in this case, here you probably need to add product cards;
- information blogging means the need to be able to publish new posts on the page.
Accessibility to users
Additional user experience is always very good. Especially for regular customers. Most often these are:
- group for internal communication and analysis of questions;
- the ability for moderators to edit pages in restricted access.
These ideas are pretty good, and if you are thinking of creating such features on your site, it is important to ensure that the CMS is designed with these capabilities.
Top 3 free website engines
Being the best is a relative concept, so it is difficult to choose the best for everyone at once. Therefore, let us explain – in this case, the choice of CMS depends on your specific needs. Based on the experience of colleagues and from our own observations, we can single out the leading three.
WordPress
CMS was originally created as a blog platform. Over time, the functionality has expanded, and therefore the popularity has increased. Today, WordPress is used to create any type of site: from non-commercial sites (for example, blogs) to large commercial projects on the Internet.
Benefits
- The most popular system for creating a website, and this confirms its good functionality and practicality;
- A huge set of plugins for various types of sites;
- The presence of the WYSIWYG interface, which makes it easier to work with HTML markup;
- Suitable for beginners.
Disadvantages
- A very large set of plugins, so you need to choose the right settings to be able to use only the components you need for your site;
Still, there is one problem for beginners – you may encounter difficulties during installation. - WordPress is a simple and relatively convenient option for website management. If you take a little time and adapt the settings to the desired audience, this CMS is a great option for websites of commercial companies, as well as for blogs and news resources.
Joomla
A very small percentage (about 10%) of users prefer Joomla. This engine is simpler than WordPress and is a kind of middle ground between simple administration and versatility. Despite this, Joomla has a user-friendly interface.
Benefits
- Availability of wide functionality in the administrative panel;
- Supports access restrictions and control protocols;
- It is a functional tool for website development;
- A fairly straightforward setup that a beginner can handle;
- Nice design.
Disadvantages
- The site engine is universal, but rather superficial;
- Not suitable for online stores and will not attract a lot of traffic.
If you are looking for a CMS with a convenient structure and wide functionality, then Joomla is the best option. Also keep in mind that the system has its own peculiarities, which should be understood.
Drupal
A friendly interface and the widest functionality for creating complex sites – that’s about Drupal. Therefore, of course, here you need to prepare that working with such a system will require knowledge and skills.
Benefits
- The presence of hooks will help to avoid problems in administration;
- There are modules here that allow you to create any data types with their display;
- The Taxonomy module will help you divide information into categories, subcategories and levels;
- Even a forum for users of the system, where you can find help or advice, or participate in solving the problem yourself;
- Huge set of plugins that enhance the functionality of the CMS.
Disadvantages
- This is a complex CMS, working with which requires experience and knowledge, therefore, not at all for beginners;
- If your PC has poor performance, you may have difficulty using it;
- The system for understanding clients is complicated, and orientation is not so simple.
So, the system is complex, but at the same time it is a tool with great functionality for site management. Suitable for large and complex projects.
So different, but so necessary engines for different purposes and needs! We can conclude that the best system is the one that can answer your request with the greatest accuracy using its functionality.
So what should you choose?
Before choosing an engine, carefully consider your vision of the site and what functions it should perform. It is also important to evaluate your abilities, knowledge and the amount of time that you are willing to devote to your replenishment of knowledge. Try to be as balanced as possible when choosing an engine – the level of simplicity can be a trick on the way to creating your ideal and practical website for you. Objectivity is important in this case.
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