The evolution of a Content Management System (CMS) goes a long way. What started as the ability to create pages on your website through an intuitive interface became a tool to serve all types of channels. A good example of a new type is the angular CMS. For developers working with Javascript, this is an ideal package to work with. In this article, we will dive into the types of content management systems and also compare the so-called ‘headless’ CMS options, where the angular CMS is a part.

Types of CMS you can select

Depending on the needs of your organization, you can select different types of CMS. This is based on the requirements you define for the system.

Defining the needs

When you are a small organization, chances are you want to use a CMS for the development of your website. This could be extended with an eCommerce component, but nothing fancy. For larger organizations, more options could be relevant. For example, you could have a separate application and integrate with multiple third parties (e.g., marketplaces such as Amazon). The needs for content management are completely different, as you need to provide across channels, known as an omnichannel approach.

Traditional or headless CMS

This raises the question: do you need a CMS for a specific channel, or do you want to integrate with many channels? Behind this question is the need for a ‘traditional’ (e.g., WordPress) or a headless (e.g., Prepr) CMS.

With headless, we refer to a CMS that allows the admin to create and format content and publish it. Once published, it can be fed into multiple systems. This is typically done through an Application Programming Interface (API). Hereby you have a single source of truth for the content and can make sure that it is properly reflected across channels. Once you update the content, it is automatically reflected on all channels. This provides you with efficiency and limits the need for replicability. This is especially helpful for organizations that are dealing with different interaction methods with clients, such as apps, physical hardware (e.g., in-store), and third parties. 

A headless CMS comparison

There are many headless CMS providers out there. This makes comparing them of greater relevance, as it will be one of the backbone systems of your organization. Therefore, a headless CMS comparison can help to identify which system suits the needs of your organization. Typical variables you will find in such a comparison are:

• Presence of a rich content editor
• Ability to schedule content and have previews
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Data management
• Personalization and segmentation
• A/B Testing

If your organization is looking to leverage a CMS to differentiate from competitors, it makes sense to look at distinctive capabilities. For example, being able to personalize, segment, and recommend products and services can be of great help to increase conversion. Next to that, you will learn more from user data and improve your products and services accordingly.