The pros and cons of using a custom content management system

Websavers Inc

As a web hosting provider we see many websites every day and there is without a doubt a growing number of websites that use a content management system. If you are considering building a new website the decision is no longer whether to have a content management system, but which one to choose.

There are a variety of free content management systems and an equal number of custom cms. Some of the most popular free options include WordPress, Drupal, Joomla, and PHPNuke. However, many web design and development companies have developed their own customized content management system to better serve their clients. There are both benefits and downsides to using a custom CMS. Here are just a couple of each:

[+] A Custom CMS gives you the ability to get exactly what you want

This is the whole idea behind using a customized solution and one of its major benefits. If your business needs the ability to customize processes and have more flexibility with what the system can deliver you are better off choosing to pay for a content management system and have a company develop exactly what you need.

[+] A Custom CMS can be easier to use for the end user.

I know many designers that love using free content management systems. Unfortunately we also communicate daily with many businesses and end users who find them extremely confusing to use and maintain. If you are not looking to go through a potentially challenging learning curve, a custom solution is your best bet.

[-] With a custom content management system you are typically stuck with the same company.

If you are using a cms that was customized specifically for your website it will be more difficult to find other developers that are comfortable working with the system. This makes it important to build a good relationship with your existing developer as you will be in business with them for a while. This can also be a blessing in disguise, however, as you know you will get the support that a paid service brings.

[-] SEO Focus?

One of the biggest boons to using WordPress (and to a certain extent, other free CMS solutions) is that there are multiple great SEO focused plugins that help an SEO company manage their customers’ SEO more effectively. Unfortunately many custom content management systems are built with ease of use in mind and the developers forget about power users, including the features necessary to optimize a website for search engines.

[-] Small community and a higher security risk.

The popular free content management systems all have a huge community following and many developers who work on developing plugins and modules for each. This type of community ensures that the system and company will be around for years. When you commission a custom cms to be built, you run the risk of having that developer or company go out of business or stop the development of the system. It is important that you choose the company carefully if you do decide on a customized solution, making sure they have been around for a while and are not leaving the scene any time soon.

We work with many developers that use both free and custom solutions so don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about managing content or finding the best solution for your website or business.

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Adam Bate

Adam is a former owner of Websavers Inc. He departed in 2014 to focus his time on online marketing. Adam currently owns and operates a business-to-business SEO agency.
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