Using a Content Management System for SMB Growth

You've done the research – or at least read an article or two – and you know relevant content is a must if you expect to compete in the business world. But did you realize providing consistent, valuable information to your ideal audience can increase sales by as much as 50%? If you're planning to start a website or improve your web content in 2020, you're not alone. Nearly two-thirds of small businesses already have a website, and 29% of those without one plan to make the change in 2020. However, finding the time to create an effective website is easier said than done.

It's been said that with today's technology anyone can create a website, but your business isn't a baseball field in a movie from the late '80s. Building a website doesn't automatically ensure you’ll get the traffic you desire. Disappointingly, you can even create a good website with relevant content that will attract visitors but never make it as far as a sale. Why? There are many reasons users abandon a website, including poor navigation (check if yours passes the test), long page load times, unrelated content and intrusive advertisements.

You may be thinking you're doomed to fail. It's difficult, if not impossible, to compete without a website, and you can't take the time away from your business to become an expert.

There's still hope.

Most business owners aren't coding professionals. They simply have the right tools to achieve the results they need to reach their target audience. A content management system can allow you to create and maintain an effective business website without taking the time to become fluent in the mysterious language of coding.

A content management system (CMS) is a platform that allows the user to create and manage digital content. Perhaps a simpler explanation would be that a CMS will allow you to create and edit your business website without becoming a coding expert. You likely already have an understanding of the content and style you want for your business website. A CMS takes care of the heavy coding lift and allows for quick set-up and content entry.

It's not magic, but it can feel like it is when you – a mere mortal – suddenly have the tools to create a stylish, modern website to generate the sales you always knew you were capable of. With a CMS to take care of the coding, you get an easy-to-use control panel that allows you to create, edit, and update content as necessary. Training to use these systems is minimal and multiple users can have access to help your website change and grow over time.

With today's technology, convenience is king. Consumers can research products and businesses without ever stepping inside a physical business, and 82% of people always take advantage of this opportunity. Without an effective website, your business will never reach its full potential simply because a growing percentage of your potential customer base will never realize you exist. If you're still trying to decide if a CMS is a good investment, consider these reasons.

Finding the right CMS for your business doesn't have to be a difficult task. Certain functions are often the key to usability in a website. Consider these important factors when narrowing down your search for the perfect system:

• Ease of use - Ensure you understand how to use the tools confidently.
• Affordability - Consider how the price point fits into your business budget.
• Security - Security is vital when gathering customer information online.
• Support - If you reach a problem, tech support can help you avoid downtime.
• Flexibility - Some CMS tools allow you to work across multiple pages or websites.
• Integration capability - Many CMS tools work with outside tools like Google Analytics.
• SEO Savvy - If you aren't accustomed to using SEO techniques, the right CMS can help with that too.

If your research into CMS has left you drowning in options, try checking out some tried-and-true brands.

• Wordpress - Wordpress has been around for a long time and has the popularity to prove it with 18 million websites using the service.
• Drupal - Drupal offers the most customization but also has the steepest learning curve.
• Joomla - Joomla is more complicated to use but users boast more functionality and friendly community support through forums.
• Hubspot - Hubspot has taken a more thorough approach to creating a CMS with an all-in-one system that covers website pages, landing pages, blog forms, analytics, and email. Additionally, the Hubspot CMS integrates fully with Hubspot's marketing hub offering a personalized customer experience.

If you'd rather face a zombie apocalypse than take on one more thing for your business, you need an ally. Whether you're just getting started, or your current system isn't yielding the results you're looking for, the right web development company can help. Create a website that will show your customers exactly why your amazing business will provide one simple solution in an otherwise impossible day.