What is CMS in Web Design?

What is CMS in Web Design? This question might pop up when you search for ways to build websites and manage content. A CMS is a behind-the-scenes system that simplifies everything from website creation to management.

It helps people with little or no technical knowledge easily build websites and manage web content. If you are curious to learn more about a CMS, how it works, why you should use it, how to choose one, and get a few recommendations, keep reading this content.

What is CMS in Web Design?

A Content Management System (CMS) lets you create, edit, and publish website content without coding. It simplifies web design by separating content from design. While the CMS handles the technical side, you focus on crafting text, images, and videos.

A CMS has two core parts. 

CMS platforms are beginner-friendly, so you don’t need to be a developer. However, some might require you to be a techie to run websites on them. 

How Does a CMS Work?

A Content Management System (CMS) powers your website by efficiently organizing, storing, and displaying content. You add text, images, or videos, and the CMS does the heavy lifting to make it live. Here’s how it works.

First, you access the CMS dashboard. This user-friendly interface lets you create pages, write blog posts, or upload media. The CMS stores your content in a database, keeping everything structured.

Next, the Content Delivery Application (CDA) takes over. It pulls your content from the database and pairs it with pre-designed templates. These templates control your site’s layout and style, ensuring consistency. That’s how a CMS works.

Why Should You Use a CMS for Web Design?

A CMS helps you easily build and manage a website. But that’s not the only reason motivating you to utilize this tool. Here are a few more reasons outlining why you should use a CMS. 

1. No Coding Required

A CMS allows you to create and manage content without touching code. Platforms like Dorik, WordPress, or Wix offer intuitive dashboards. They enable you to add pages, upload images, or write blogs with a few clicks. Pre-built templates handle the design, so your site looks polished without hiring a developer.

You Might Also be Interested In: 

2. Collaboration

A CMS lets your team work together seamlessly. Assign roles to writers, editors, or admins. For example, Dorik allows granular control over who edits or publishes content. Everyone can update the site in real-time, keeping projects on track without endless email chains.

3. Scalability

Your website grows with your needs. A CMS handles everything from small blogs to massive e-commerce stores. Shopify supports thousands of products, while Dorik powers complex sites. As your audience expands, these platforms help you add features like forums or payment gateways.

4. SEO Optimization

A CMS boosts your site’s visibility. A CMS like Dorik comes with built-in tools to create search-friendly URLs, meta tags, and sitemaps. However, some other CMS use third-party software to help you optimize your site and rank high in search engines for organic traffic. 

Related Read: How To Get Your Website Visible On Google Search

5. Time/Cost Efficiency

With a CMS, you save hours and dollars. You can update content instantly. There is no need to edit HTML files or pay developers for minor changes. So, it reduces your startup costs. Plus, reusable templates and plugins cut design time, letting you focus on engaging your audience.

In short, a CMS encourages you to build, manage, and grow a website with ease. It’s cost-effective, collaborative, and optimized for success.

Types of CMS in Web Design and Development

Content Management Systems (CMS) come in various forms, each designed for specific web design and development needs. Thus, choose the right one based on your project’s goals, scale, and functionality. Below, we explore six key types of CMS.

1. Enterprise Content Management (ECM)

ECM systems manage an organization’s entire content lifecycle. This CMS type helps you store, organize, and share documents, media, and web content across departments. 

Additionally, you can connect this CMS with other platforms to extend functionality and security. ECM suits large enterprises needing centralized control.

2. Document Management System (DMS)

DMSs focus on organizing and tracking documents. They allow you to easily store, retrieve, and share files like PDFs or contracts. One such CMS is M-Files, which lets you manage and access documents and data across various systems. A DMS is ideal for businesses prioritizing secure document workflows over web publishing.

3. Web Content Management System (WCMS)

A WCMS powers website creation and management. It enables you to create, edit, and publish web pages without coding. Dorik, WordPress, Drupal, etc., are popular examples. 

They promote no-code website creation and management. They’re perfect for user-friendly, content-driven sites.

4. Component Content Management System (CCMS)

A Component Content Management System (CCMS) is a specialized type of CMS designed to manage content at a granular, component level rather than as whole documents or web pages. 

It breaks content into reusable, self-contained components like headings, paragraphs, images, or product descriptions. These components are stored, managed, and tracked individually in a central repository, allowing you to mix and match them across different outputs.

5. Headless CMS

A Headless CMS is a content management system that separates the backend (where content is created, stored, and managed) from the frontend (where content is displayed to users). 

Unlike traditional CMS platforms like WordPress or Joomla, a Headless CMS delivers content via APIs (usually REST or GraphQL) to any frontend (website, mobile app, smartwatch, or even a digital billboard).

6. Commercial CMS

A Commercial CMS (Content Management System) is a paid software solution designed to help businesses create, manage, and publish digital content.

Unlike open-source CMS platforms, commercial CMSes are developed and maintained by companies that charge licensing fees, subscriptions, or service costs. These systems often have dedicated support, advanced features, and enterprise-grade capabilities.

That’s all about diverse CMS types. You can pick one based on your content needs, technical skills, and budget. Need help choosing the right CMS for you? Keep reading.

How to Choose the Right CMS for Your Web Design Needs

You need to weigh several factors to find the best fit. Below, we break down six key considerations to guide your decision.

1. Overall Cost

You must consider upfront and ongoing costs. Although some CMS don’t charge any fee, you need to spend money on the domain, hosting, themes, templates, and other tools. You may also have to shell out on the maintenance and development. So, check the overall cost and choose a CMS that aligns with your budget.

2. Integrations Facility

Go with a CMS that lets you connect essential third-party tools. For example, you need to integrate a CRM system, an email platform, an analytics tool, and a few payment gateways with your CMS. Hence, pick a CMS that enhances workflow through seamless third-party software integrations.

3. Ease of Use

You want a CMS that’s simple to navigate, even for non-tech users. So, choose a platform like Dorik, which offers a drag-and-drop editor. This intuitive editor lets you build websites and manage content with ease. 

4. SEO Friendliness

Your CMS should support search engine optimization. Therefore, pick a CMS that offers features like customizable URLs, meta tags, and sitemaps. Dorik has built-in SEO tools to help you easily optimize content without using any third-party software. So, try it today.

Related Read: Why Dorik is the Best Platform for SEO

5. Technology

You must match the CMS technology to your project’s needs. Traditional CMSes like Joomla suit content-heavy sites, while headless CMSes like Contentful support custom front-ends via APIs. So, ensure the CMS aligns with your team’s skills and your site’s complexity while choosing one.

6. Support

When issues arise, you need reliable help. Check if the CMS offers dedicated support, such as live chat, email, or phone assistance. Dorik provides 24/7 support and instant solutions.

So, these are the factors to consider while seeking a CMS. 

Top 5 Examples of Content Management Systems 

Below, we detail five top CMS, their pros, cons, and pricing to help you easily determine one for your website building needs.

1. Dorik

Dorik is a user-friendly CMS designed to create a quick website. You can build professional sites using AI. You just need to input a simple prompt, and Dorik will generate a top-grade website by following your instructions. 

Other than this, you can also build websites with Dorik’s pre-designed templates. You can use Dorik’s drag-and-drop editor to design the site as you wish. Hold on! This AI site builder offers more.

It comes with an AI Image Generator to help you generate eye-catching images for your websites and an AI Text Generator to assist you in writing landing page copies, blog posts, and other writing tasks.

This no-code AI website builder supports integration with diverse third-party software, like Zapier or Mailchimp, to automate monotonous tasks. It’s a perfect tool for building any website type, and you can try it today. 

Pros

Cons

Pricing

2. WordPress

WordPress is a popular CMS that powers over 40% of websites. It’s an open-source platform that provides full control over your website. Its charm lies in how simple it is to use. You don’t require any coding skills to build diverse websites on WordPress. 

You can pick from thousands of themes to give your site a unique look and fine-tune it with an intuitive editor. Want extra features? Plugins like Yoast for SEO, WooCommerce for e-commerce, or Contact Form 7 for sleek forms have you covered. 

WordPress integrates smoothly with tools like Mailchimp, Zapier, or Google Analytics, making tasks like email marketing or tracking a breeze. With a massive community sharing tutorials, forums, and support, you’re never stuck. 

WordPress is the go-to CMS for launching a portfolio, shop, or blog. So, consider it when creating a website.

Pros

Cons

Pricing

3. Shopify

Shopify is a leading e-commerce CMS for building online stores. It lets you quickly launch shops with built-in payment processing, secure hosting, and SSL. Its app store adds features like inventory management or marketing tools, and it scales effortlessly for growing businesses. 

You can manage products, orders, and customers through an intuitive dashboard. Shopify’s templates ensure professional designs, and PCI compliance protects transactions. However, its blogging tools lag behind WordPress, and non-e-commerce sites may find it restrictive. 

Shopify suits entrepreneurs who prioritize ease and scalability over extensive customization. If your focus is selling products online, Shopify delivers a robust, user-friendly platform to grow your brand effectively. 

Pros

Cons

Pricing

4. Drupal

Drupal is a robust CMS perfect for building everything from sleek personal sites to complex enterprise platforms. Its user-friendly interface makes creating a site simple. 

It offers thousands of themes to give your site a polished look. Just select your preferred one and customize it with Drupal’s intuitive editor. Not only this, but this CMS provides a vast collection of modules to help you add serious functionalities to your site. 

Last but not least, it integrates seamlessly with tools like Mailchimp, Zapier, or Google Analytics to streamline your work. Backed by a passionate community with many tutorials and forums, Drupal supports you. Hence, it’s got everything to help you build your dream website.

Pros

Cons

Pricing

5. Joomla

Joomla is an open-source CMS  ideal for crafting everything from personal blogs to sophisticated business websites. It lets you easily create community sites, business websites, e-commerce platforms, or any other website type. 

It has thousands of templates to help you quickly build professional websites with a few clicks. Also, it comes with many extensions to extend your site’s functionality. However, these extensions are smaller in number than WordPress or Drupal. 

Like most CMSes on this list, Joomla integrates smoothly with tools like Mailchimp, Google Analytics, or Zapier to keep your workflow humming. Finally, Joomla offers a lively community to support you along your website creation journey.

All in all, it suits medium-sized projects needing robust features. Joomla is a solid choice if you want a versatile CMS with strong content management.

Pros

Cons

Pricing

How to Build a Website with a CMS

Building a website with a Content Management System (CMS) is simple and doesn’t require coding skills. Below, we outline the steps to get you started.

Step 1: Select Your Niche

You start by defining your website’s purpose. Identify your niche, whether it’s a blog, e-commerce store, portfolio, or community site. Consider your target audience and content focus. 

For example, a food blog needs recipes and visuals, while a business site emphasizes services and contact forms. Research competitors to find gaps you can fill. Take time to finalize a niche and seek experts’ suggestions if needed. 

Related Read: How to Choose a Blog Niche

Step 2: Choose a Domain

After selecting a niche, you need to choose a domain name. Pick a name that reflects your brand and niche. Keep it short, memorable, and easy to spell. Ensure it includes keywords related to your niche for better SEO. 

Use domain registrars like GoDaddy or Namecheap to check availability. Secure your domain early to avoid losing it to others.

Related Read: What is .com Domain

Step 3: Select a CMS

At this stage, choose a CMS to build and manage your site. Options like Dorik AI, WordPress, or Shopify suit different needs. WordPress offers flexibility for blogs or portfolios. 

Shopify excels for e-commerce, and Dorik simplifies design for beginners. Evaluate ease of use, cost, and features like SEO tools or integrations. 

Test free plans or demos to ensure the CMS fits your skills and budget. Pick one that aligns with your niche and scales with your growth.

Related Read: How to Use Dorik CMS for Blogging

Step 4: Build Your Website

Now is the time to build a professional website with your chosen CMS. Although we’ve mentioned a couple of CMS in the above section, we’ll show you how to build a website using Dorik AI. It’s the easiest-to-use website builder right now. Dorik lets you create a website in 3 different ways. They are:

You can create any type of website just by writing a single prompt. The builder generates high-quality sites in minutes while following your guidelines! Let’s see it in action. 

Related Read: How to Write Prompt for AI Website Builder

First, sign up for Dorik using a valid email address. Then, choose what kind of website you want to make. Dorik lets you generate two website types: Static and CMS. Select CMS. Now, hit “+ Create New Site With AI” button.

Shorcut: Signup→CMS→Create New Site With AI

A pop-up with a field, a box, a drop-down menu, and a button will appear. Write your site name in “Name of Your Website” field. After that, input a well-written prompt in “Website/Business Description,” select your site language, and smash the “Generate Your Website” button.

Now, wait a few seconds and witness how Dorik AI generates your website magically! 

Note that you can customize this website according to your preferences using the site editor. 

Once you are okay with it, add a custom domain and publish the website. 

FAQs

Is WordPress a CMS?

Yes, WordPress is a CMS. It lets you create, edit, and publish website content without coding. It offers themes and plugins, and a dashboard for efficiently managing blogs, portfolios, or e-commerce sites.

When Should I Use a CMS?

Use a CMS when you need to create, manage, or update website content without coding. It’s ideal for blogs, e-commerce, or portfolios, saving time, enabling collaboration, and offering SEO tools for better visibility.

Do I Need a CMS for My Website?

If you want to manage website content without coding, you need a CMS. It simplifies updates, supports collaboration, and boosts SEO for blogs, stores, or portfolios. 

Wrapping Up

So, now you know what is CMS in web design. It’s your behind-the-scenes tool for easily managing content. A CMS helps you design, update, and scale your website without relying on developers for every change. 

We believe this article enriches your knowledge regarding CMS. If it does, we encourage you to read our other helpful blogs and share this one with your friends, family, and others who need to know what a CMS is and how it works. Thanks for reading.