How to: Choose the Right Content Management Software

Let's walk through the key factors to consider when selecting the right content management software for high-traffic websites to maximize monthly pageviews and earnings.

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Content management software relationships: "it's complicated"

Content management software (aka CMS, aka "content management system") is a crucial tool for website operators, especially those earning millions of monthly pageviews. A CMS allows publishers to efficiently manage and organize their website's content, while also ensuring a smooth user experience and easy navigation. Without a reliable CMS, publishers can't grow given their vast amount of content needing to remain organized in the eyes of users and audience referral channels such as SEO and syndication.

Furthermore, a CMS provides media operators with the ability to update and publish new, high-ranking content quickly. This is essential for keeping a website fresh and engaging for visitors, which ultimately contributes to the growth of monthly pageviews and earnings. By harnessing the fundamentals of their content management system, media operators can make more informed decisions when upgrading their CMS to suit their specific needs.

Given the close connection to the content, as well as audience, the majority of publishers have visceral reactions when talking about their CMS. It's an intimate, high stakes relationship with some creatives and revenue leaders  overjoyed at creating their perfect vision, while other louder executives have scars from getting burned navigating the legacy technologies that (under)serve media in general.  

Evaluating Scalability and Performance of Content Management Software

When choosing a CMS, it is crucial to evaluate its scalability and performance. As a media operator with hundreds of thousands or even millions of monthly pageviews, the CMS should be capable of handling high traffic volumes without compromising the website's performance. This includes ensuring fast loading times, efficient caching mechanisms, and robust server infrastructure. 

When in doubt, website speed serves as a useful 80/20 parameter. The faster a website, the higher ranks it will receive from Google, and longer session times from visitors. 

Scalability is the second key technical factor to consider. As the website grows and attracts more visitors, the CMS should be able to accommodate the increased demand — without experiencing any downtime or performance issues. By thoroughly evaluating the scalability and performance of a CMS's technical architecture, media operators can ensure a seamless user experience and maintain the growth of monthly pageviews and earnings.

You can access an example technical architecture info summary for a CMS here: flexpress.ai/technical-overview, as well as see the type of engineer-to-engineer dialogue that takes place.  

Analyzing Customization and Flexibility for Content Management Software

In order to attract and retain visitors, it is important to analyze the customization and flexibility options offered by a CMS. Media operators should look for a CMS that allows them to create modern, personalized experiences for their audience. This can include features such as customizable themes, layouts, and widgets, as well as the ability to easily integrate third-party tools and plugins.

By providing visitors with a tailored experience, media operators can increase engagement and encourage repeat visits, ultimately driving up monthly pageviews and earnings. Therefore, analyzing the customization and flexibility options of a CMS is crucial in selecting the right one for growing website traffic and revenue.

Content Management Software: Audience growth via SEO, Syndication, and Recirculation

To maximize monthly pageviews and earnings, website operators should consider how a CMS can support audience growth through various strategies. Search engine optimization (SEO) plays a vital role in driving organic traffic to the website. A CMS with built-in SEO features, such as customizable meta tags and URLs, can significantly improve the website's visibility in search engine results.

Syndication and recirculation are also important considerations. A CMS that enables easy syndication of content to other platforms and encourages recirculation of related articles within the website can help attract new visitors and increase engagement among existing ones. By considering these audience growth strategies, media operators can select a CMS that supports their goals of expanding monthly pageviews and earnings.

Content Management Software: Integrated Monetization and Analytics

For website operators aiming to generate revenue through their website, it is crucial to select a CMS that offers integrated monetization and analytics capabilities. This includes the ability to easily integrate ad networks and manage ad placements within the website. Additionally, a CMS should provide comprehensive analytics tools to track key metrics such as pageviews, click-through rates, and conversion rates.

Affiliate marketing is another avenue for earning revenue. A CMS that supports affiliate integration, such as tracking affiliate links and managing commissions, can help media operators maximize their earnings. By prioritizing integrated monetization and analytics features, media operators can effectively monetize their website and optimize revenue generation.

Content Management Software: Headless For Faster Speeds 

A headless CMS is a modern approach to content management that separates the back-end content repository from the front-end presentation layer. This architecture offers several benefits for website operators looking to maximize monthly pageviews and improve search rankings.

By decoupling the front-end from the back-end, a headless CMS allows for faster website performance. This is because the content is delivered via APIs, eliminating the need to render full web pages for each request. Additionally, a headless CMS enables media operators to embrace a microservices approach, where different services can be developed and deployed independently, resulting in greater scalability and flexibility.

Furthermore, a headless CMS facilitates better search engine optimization (SEO) by providing clean and structured content that search engines can easily crawl and index. This can positively impact the website's search ranking, leading to increased visibility and higher organic traffic.

Considering these advantages, media operators should explore the option of a headless CMS when selecting a content management system to grow their monthly pageviews and improve search rankings.

Content Management Software: Support and Community

When choosing a content management system, it is important to consider the available support and community surrounding the CMS. Media operators should opt for a CMS that offers reliable customer support, including documentation, tutorials, and responsive technical assistance.

Additionally, being part of an active and vibrant community can provide valuable insights, tips, and resources for optimizing the CMS's performance and leveraging its features effectively. This can contribute to the overall growth of monthly pageviews and earnings by staying updated with the latest industry trends and best practices.

By thoroughly exploring the available support and community surrounding a CMS, media operators can ensure a smooth experience and have access to the necessary resources for maximizing their website's potential.

Content Management Software: First Party Data 

In an era where data privacy and ownership are paramount concerns, website operators should prioritize selecting a CMS that allows them to own their own data, distinct from Big Tech companies. This means ensuring that the CMS provides tools and features for data security, compliance with privacy regulations, and the ability to export and migrate data easily.

By having control over their own data, website operators can protect their users' privacy and build trust with their audience. This can contribute to increased loyalty, higher engagement, and ultimately, growing monthly pageviews and earnings.

Considering the importance of data ownership, media operators should carefully evaluate the data management capabilities of a CMS before making a decision.