CDN biz – What The Right CMS for Your Website? Several years ago, the website was one of the promotional media so that sales were quite difficult to make. To create a simple website you have to learn a website programming script which is quite difficult to master and create a website manually. However, nowadays everyone can create a website more quickly, easily, and affordably with a system called a CMS. What is a CMS?
CMS, which stands for Content Management System, is a ready-to-use website creation system.
In the past, to make delicious dishes, you have to prepare a variety of spices in advance, which is quite troublesome processing and if the composition is not right, your dishes will not taste good. But now there are many instant spices available for various dishes that just need to be mixed with the main raw materials.
Well, that’s more or less a comparison between creating a website manually and creating a website using a CMS.
By using a CMS, users do not need to touch too much with scripts because the basic functions and features on the website are already available and can be used immediately after the CMS is installed. You just need to arrange the layout, change the colors, and fill in the content to create a website. Additional features in a CMS generally implement special functions such as system modules, components, add-ons, and plugins.
The function of a Content Management System is …
simplifies the process of creating a website without having to know detailed programming scripts, so even novice users will have no difficulty when using a CMS. Users only need to register, install the CMS, then customize the display with the themes/template features and any additional extensions/plugins they want.
What kind of website can you build with a CMS?
You can create various feature-rich websites by utilizing the Add on / Plugin / Extension feature in the CMS.
The add-on/plugin/extension to the CMS is an additional feature that has various special functions, which will support the CMS to create the website you want. For example, e-commerce plugins such as hotel bookings, travel bookings, online shops, and others.
How to use a CMS?
Before you choose & use a CMS, you need to know that there are two types of CMS based on the storage server, namely Hosted CMS & Self-Hosted CMS.
1. Hosted CMS
If you are using a Hosted CMS, this means that all website files are stored on the CMS provider’s server. You will not have access to the storage server. Your access is limited to managing the CMS via the backend/administrator page only.
All files and servers will be managed by the CMS provider. To be able to use CMS Hosted, you must register & login to the CMS provider platform to be able to use it.
If likened to a vehicle, CMS Hosted is a bus. You can only ride the bus & follow the applicable passenger rules. The bus facilities that you get such as soft seats, air conditioning, and others depend on the bus owner.
Still related to the explanation above, here are the advantages and disadvantages of a hosted CMS.
Pros of Hosted CMS
- No need to subscribe to your own hosting, because the CMS files are stored on the CMS service provider’s server.
- You don’t have to buy a domain because usually the hosted CMS service provider also provides a free sub-domain that you can use.
- You can create as many websites as possible without worrying about running out of disk space hosting.
Cons of Hosted CMS
- Do not have complete control over your website script, so the script editing process is more limited.
- Website scripts are stored on the CMS provider’s server. Therefore, the provider can delete your website files whenever they want.
2. Self-Hosted CMS
By using a Self-Hosted CMS, all CMS files that you use will be stored on your hosting server. The main advantage is that you have full access rights to all the CMS files concerned so that you can modify the script as needed. The drawback is, you need to pay extra to rent a hosting server and manage it yourself.
For some people, using a Self-Hosted CMS can be a bit of a hassle. You must have a hosting server first, upload the CMS file to the hosting, configure the database and script to connect to each other, before then the CMS can be used according to its function.
Unlike Hosted CMS, Self-Hosted CMS can be likened to your own private car. You have full control over the car you own and are free to determine its specifications. However, you are also burdened with the cost of servicing the car.
Based on the description above, it can be concluded that the advantages and disadvantages of CMS Hosted are as follows.
Pros of Self-Hosted CMS
- Have complete control over the website files that you have.
- You can backup & download your website files to your local computer whenever you want.
Cons of Self-Hosted CMS
- You have to buy your own hosting server to store your website files.
- You need your own domain (and your own sub-domain) if you want to have multiple websites.
- The storage capacity of your website is limited by the hosting server package you are using.
From the advantages and disadvantages of the 2 types of CMS above, you can decide which type of CMS is right for you: whether it is practical but limited, or one that requires a little extra money & effort but you have full control in your hands.
After knowing the type of CMS based on file storage, you can move on to choosing a CMS platform to create your own website.
Currently, there are many CMS that you can use. Some of the best popular CMSs include WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal.
WordPress controls 60% of the world’s CMS market or about 26% of websites in the world. This means, as many as 60% of CMS users in the world use WordPress, while 26% of websites in the world today are created using WordPress. Below that, followed by Joomla with 6% and Drupal at 5%.
WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are multi-functional CMS. These three CMSs are flexible and can be used to meet various needs for creating websites, including company profile websites, e-commerce, education/e-learning, and so on.
Multipurpose CMS
Which is the best? In order to choose which CMS is best for you, you need to know the advantages and disadvantages of each CMS first.
Here are some CMS with specific functions that you can use.
1. WordPress
WordPress is a Content Management System by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little. This CMS made with PHP and MySQL is the most popular CMS that has the most market share of users in the world.
WordPress itself is divided into 2, the Self-Hosted version which can be downloaded at www.WordPress.org, and WordPress Hosted which you can register at www.wordpress.com.
WordPress is widely used because it is easy to use and a simple administration interface but has very good performance.
In addition, WordPress also provides a wide selection of website themes that you want, as well as plugins that allow you to add interesting features according to the function of your dream website.
The advantages of WordPress
- Can be installed easily.
- The admin page menu display is simple & easy to use.
- Multiple plugins and theme support.
- Easy to modify.
- Ease of updating versions in one click.
- Old WordPress versions have compatibility that is not much different from the latest.
Disadvantages of WordPress
- Requires knowledge of website programming for system modification.
- Need additional security plugins to increase website security (changing WordPress admin pages and so on).
Conclusion
If you are a beginner user, WordPress can be a lot quicker to learn, thanks to its simple appearance and operation. Apart from that, you can also have a large selection of features and website appearance because of the developer’s extensive theme and plugin support, both free and paid.
2. Joomla
Joomla is the CMS with the largest number of users after WordPress. Initially, this CMS had a paid version called Mambo, but it ended up being less popular than the Open Source version (Joomla). This is what makes developers prefer to develop Joomla.
Joomla has a display system called Templates, which functions similarly to the WordPress Theme feature. To make website modifications, you can take advantage of the Extension feature. There are three categories of options that can be installed on your website: Plugins, Modules, and Components.
The advantages of Joomla
- Can be installed easily.
- Extensions & Theme support vary.
- The display is easy to modify.
- Has a Legacy feature that functions to use extensions from previous versions.
Disadvantages of Joomla
- The admin page display has quite a lot of menus, it takes extra time to master usage.
- Extensions are prone to bugs, sometimes potentially disrupting the basic functions of your Joomla.
- Updating the latest version is relatively difficult & troublesome.
Conclusion
If you are a user who is accustomed to using WordPress but feel that there are some features that cannot be accommodated by WordPress, Joomla can be an alternative. Make sure to use the latest version to minimize bugs in security. Interestingly, Joomla provides extensions with special functions that will make it easier for you to create the website you want.
3. Drupal
CMS profiles No. 3 in the world today is Drupal. WordPress users will certainly not feel strange considering the appearance and simplicity of the administration is not much different. Apart from being a CMS, Drupal can also be used as a multipurpose website development framework.
Drupal’s Advantages
- Can be installed easily.
- Extensive development apart from the Drupal CMS can also function as a framework.
- Able to create online forms and tables without manual scripting.
Disadvantages of Drupal
- Requires special requirements that are not always available in hosting services.
- The size is quite large.
- Requires extra time to be able to master all of its features.
Conclusion
Even though the user base isn’t as big as WordPress, that doesn’t mean Drupal isn’t worth using. The framework function in Drupal allows you to create a custom website more flexible like creating a website with hard coding/manual but with the functions that are already available so you just need to use it.
Apart from multi-functional CMS such as WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal, there are other CMS that are specially made to handle certain fields such as e-commerce, e-learning, support systems, and others. Because it is designed for special needs, the available features are only made specifically according to the category.
CMS For e-Commerce
E-Commerce CMS is specifically designed to create systems related to online transactions, for example, online shops, flight booking systems, hotel reservations, and so on.
Here are some popular CMS that is suitable for creating e-commerce websites PrestaShop, Opencart, and Magento, the features of this CMS are made to support the creation of e-commerce systems such as online shops, online bookings & the like.
1. Prestashop
PrestaShop is one of the most widely used e-commerce specialist CMS. Apart from its attractive appearance, the PrestaShop admin page is fairly simple & easy to use.
PrestaShop is also equipped with additional module features that function to add additional special features to your website. In addition, PrestaShop also supports the use of Indonesian so that it can make it easier for you to manage.
Pros of Prestashop
- Free and Open Source.
- Has language and currency settings.
- Specific. PrestaShop is indeed a CMS specifically used to create online stores, so its function focuses on online shop functions only.
- Equipped with a shopping cart system that is ready to use and a transaction reporting system that helps you recap sales data.
- Easy installation.
- Support and community forums at home & abroad.
- Lots of add-on support.
Cons of Prestashop
- Limited free theme options.
- Relatively slow and heavy backend speed.
2. OpenCart
Apart from Prestashop, another CMS that is no less interesting & suitable for creating an e-commerce website for online stores is OpenCart. In terms of display design, the default OpenCart theme itself looks very professional. Likewise with the features & administrator menu, complete & easy to use.
This cm is equipped with various payment gateway and shipping default systems, making it easier for you to create an online store website.
Advantages of OpenCart
- Unlimited product categories (Unlimited Categories).
- Unlimited products (Unlimited Products).
- Unlimited Manufactures.
- An unlimited number of pages (Unlimited Pages).
- An unlimited number of modules (Unlimited Module Instance System).
- Has multiple language features (Multi-Language).
- Has a multi-currency feature (Multi-Currency).
- Templates can be changed easily and free and paid templates are available.
- Product pages have descriptions, reviews, and ratings for visitors.
- On the product page, there are Related Products for other related products.
Disadvantages of OpenCart
- Template/module cannot be done automatically.
- Ordinary users tend to have difficulties in terms of installation: chatbox, advertising scripts (this goes back to a lack of understanding of PHP, and so on).
3. Magento
Magento is an e-commerce CMS that you deserve to use. One of the advantages of this CMS is the Multi-Store feature, where you can have many online shop sites from the same admin panel. In short, you can manage all your online stores without having to log in / log out again using a different account.
Magento advantages
- Open Source and available for free (although a paid version is also available).
- Has language and currency settings for various countries.
- Specific. Magento is a CMS that is used to create an online store, so its function focuses on online shop functions only.
- Equipped with a shopping cart system that is ready to use and a transaction reporting system that can help you recap sales data.
- Easy installation.
- Support and community forums at home & abroad.
- Lots of add-on support.
Magento Disadvantages
- With complete and complex features, it takes more time to master.
- Less beginner-friendly.
- When compared to other e-commerce CMS, the Magento system is heavy and slow.
- The file size is quite large compared to similar CMS.
e-Learning CMS
For the purposes of making e-learning websites such as online learning, e-courses, and others, here are some popular CMS that you can use.
1. Moodle
Moodle is one of the e-learning CMS that has the most users and has been used by tens of thousands of e-learning sites around the world. The advantages of Moodle’s CMS include online test and quiz features, forum & chat features for discussion, and tracking of user test results. Interface modifications are quite easy to do here.
Moodle Advantages
- Network and security systems can be set by yourself.
- Access space that can be limited according to the network created.
- The learning system can be adjusted according to the needs (because it is Open Source).
- Complete features for a distance learning process (e-learning).
Moodle Disadvantages
- The default view looks attractive.
- Limited theme options.
2. eFront
eFront is an e-learning CMS that has features not much different from Moodle. Compared to other e-learning CMS, Moodle, for example, eFront’s advantages lie in its more attractive appearance.
The advantages of eFront
- Complete features.
- Basic features that are sufficiently supportive for e-learning creation.
- A more attractive appearance than Moodle.
3. ATutor
Like only Moodle and eFront, ATutor is also a popular e-learning CMS. The main advantage is that the default size of this CMS is relatively smaller than Moodle and eFront. After that, if you need additional features, you can install the features that are really needed so that the usage of space and website speed remains maximum.
Forum CMS
For the purposes of creating a community forum website, you can use the following CMS.
1. vBulletin
vBulletin is a paid CMS that is widely used by large forums at home and abroad. The advantage of this CMS lies in the availability of many add-ons to add various features to the forum as well as the ability to integrate into various other CMS. This is what makes vBulletin have more value than similar CMS.
2. Vanilla Forums
Vanilla Forums is an alternative to vBulletin CMS which is available in two options, Business Version (paid) or Open Source. In the Business Version, Vanilla Forums will manage the hosting for your forum on their cloud servers, and you will also get premium features which the Open Source version does not have.
Meanwhile, in the Open Source version, you have to install this CMS on your own hosting. If a forum crash occurs, there is no live technical support to assist you.
In terms of appearance, Vanilla Forums adopts the current minimal & simple look of the forum.
3. SMF
SMF is an Open Source forum CMS that is easy to use & has features that are no less complete than other CMS. The basic features possessed by SMF are sufficient to create a standard forum in general. SMF also has a script editor menu on the admin dashboard, so if you don’t need to log into Cpanel to do a custom script.
Ticket System CMS
Some business services require a ticket system support service feature. If your business services need it, you can use the following Content Management System.
1. OS Ticket
OS Ticket is very effective in assisting you in providing support assistance to customers.
In general, using OS Ticket is quite easy to use because there are not many settings you need to do. Apart from that, this CMS is Open Source & available free for you.
2. Vision Helpdesk
Vision Helpdesk is a CMS for ticketing systems that comes with a variety of attractive features, even equipped with a billing system. You can split the client into two: free and time-limited paid. You can also share client handling based on the priorities you want.
You can use the Vision Helpdesk with a subscription system. Even though it is paid for use, the license fee is quite affordable.
Conclusions
What kind of content management system is right for you?
Apart from all the options that exist, first, identify your needs according to the website you want. Then, make sure that the Content Management System you choose can accommodate it properly.
Please look again, are your wishes provided by the built-in features? Or is it available via a plugin? Did the editor make it easy for you to view? – These are some of the considerations you need to think about.
Please also remember, there are several Content Management Systems that require a basic understanding of programming so that they can be used as much as possible. If this is the case, you may need to learn little programming basics.
The choice is in your hand. Do not let there be a Content Management System, which aims to make your work easier, even more, troublesome for you.
