Choosing the Right CMS for Your Business
WordPress, custom solutions, or headless CMS? We break down the options to help you choose the best content management system for your needs.
One of the most important decisions when building a website is choosing the right Content Management System (CMS). The CMS you select will affect how easily you can update your site, what features are available, and your long-term costs.
WordPress: The Popular Choice
WordPress powers over 40% of all websites, and for good reason:
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Small to medium businesses, blogs, portfolios, and most standard websites.
Custom Solutions
Building a custom CMS or using frameworks like Next.js gives you complete control:
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Businesses with unique requirements, high-traffic sites, or those needing specific functionality that off-the-shelf solutions can't provide.
Headless CMS
Headless CMS platforms like Contentful or Strapi separate the content management from the presentation:
Pros:
Cons:
Best for: Multi-platform businesses, companies with development resources, or those building complex digital ecosystems.
E-Commerce Platforms
If you're selling online, specialized platforms might be best:
Shopify: Great for beginners, all-in-one solution, but less flexible.
WooCommerce: WordPress plugin, very flexible, requires more setup.
Custom E-Commerce: Maximum control, but highest cost and complexity.
Our Recommendation Process
At Amadeus Web Design, we don't push one solution for everyone. Instead, we ask:
1. What's your budget and timeline?
2. Who will be managing the website content?
3. What features do you need now and in the future?
4. How important is customization vs. ease of use?
5. What's your technical comfort level?
Based on your answers, we recommend the CMS that best fits your situation. For most of our Salzburg clients, WordPress provides the perfect balance of functionality, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. But we're equally comfortable building custom solutions or implementing headless architectures when that's the better choice.
The right CMS isn't the most popular one or the most advanced one—it's the one that meets your specific needs and helps your business grow.