For those who don’t know, a content management system (CMS) is a piece of software that allows publishing, content editing as well as maintenance for your website all from a central interface. Content management systems are often used to run news websites, blogs, and eCommerce websites, but can be used for any type of website. The most popular CMS today is WordPress.

So, let’s go over the most common reasons why people will tell you that you need a CMS:

  1. ~They can charge you more money for developing it.~ It increases your bottom line, and increases your productivity. You won’t have to pay an expensive developer to make small text changes on your website for you.
  2. It’s easy to use ~(after you’ve been sold training on how to use it)~. You don’t need to learn any web languages or programming, and you don’t need a degree in computer rocket surgery. Anyone who can use a word processor can make new content for your website and easily update it too. ~Except for when you forget how to make changes and you have to pay for more training, or just pay to have a developer update your website… again.~
  3. A content management system will increase your competitive edge by using built-in search engine optimization ~(that the other 20,000,000,000+ CMS pages use)~.
  4. Stand out from your competitors! Get a unique look with the easy to use plugins and themes available ~that everyone else also uses~.
  5. Your website stays safe and secure with free updates when new versions come out ~because a terrible exploit was discovered in the CMS that allowed hackers to deface your site~.
  6. Ensure higher quality control. You are in charge of what goes on your website, and you can make it look how you want it to look. ~Even if it’s a little lop-sided, because you aren’t a graphics designer.~
  7. Increase the suspense, make your customers anxious while they wait for your website to load. ~A properly written website is going to load much faster without the bulky weight of a CMS strapped onto it.~
  8. More often than not you get to pay more for web hosting, great!

Okay, I admit I’ve been getting a little off track, but have you ever wanted to pretend to be a web designer or a web developer? Now you can! Just spend less time running your business, or pay someone to do something they’re not very good at instead of what they were hired to do. These guys do the same thing when it comes to auto repair, and look how well it’s worked out for them.

On a serious note, I acknowledge legitimate uses for a content management system where they make perfect sense… I’ve even recommended them in some situations. That being said, if you don’t absolutely need one, it’s best to stay clear of these overused, bloated, more expensive, generic, hackable pieces of software that require what seems to be weekly security updates.