A CMS is the foundation of your website and allows site editors to create, manage and edit website pages. But choosing the right CMS can be daunting.
There are 2 types of CMS, proprietary (like Kentico Xperience) or open-source (like Umbraco). Proprietary systems are maintained by the company that makes them and often have more features for customer engagement, such as personalisation, user testing or email marketing, straight out of the box. In turn, open-source systems are often simpler, utilising add-ons and modules to incorporate functilnality that you might need (but without the price tag).
When choosing a CMS for your charity or NFP website, there are a few things to consider…
Ease of use
Editors should not have a steep learning curve learning to use the system or creating pages the website.
Security
It goes without saying that all websites need to be secure, but this is especially important when collecting customer data. Choosing a CMS that is known for security, with regular patches and updates, is a must to ensure no data breaches occur.
Solid integrations
Allow for integration with external systems such as a CRM or other custom built systems that run an organisation. The CMS should have the flexibility in technology to transfer data between systems.
Most of the features that you need:
I say ‘most’ because no system is perfect, but if a CMS ticks the boxes on all standard features then it should work for you.
Standard features should include:
- form builder
- customisable design
- SEO configuration
- admin/editor roles
Support:
Support for the system is important for future updates, security patches or if you want to add any new functionality to the site. Make sure that the system you choose is well supported.
Experienced developer:
Hire a developer who is familiar with the systems they’re implementing. Some CMS systems can be complex to set up or require specific training. Make sure the system you choose also has a developer experience with implementing it for the best result.
Zeroseven is experienced with building many solutions for charities and not-for-profits and advising them on content management (CMS) and other external systems that complement their way of working so they can get the most out of funning their business with ease.
Designing a new donation management platform with Zeroseven allowed us to examine how we had always done things and create a new system which enhanced the best bits and took us even further.
Now it’s even easier to donate through GIVIT. We’re continuing to work together to inspire giving, reduce landfill, and connect great donations with people in need, especially in times of disaster.
What you want to know.
What is a Headless CMS?
There a two types of CMS systems, a traditional CMS which integrates content with technology and a ‘decoupled’ or ‘headless’ CMS, which separates the management of content from its display. Standard CMS systems generally output content to pages on the web. If your content is not on the web, then you would have had to input or pull content again into the system that displays it. With a Headless CMS this is not the case.
What is Kentico Xperience?
Kentico Xperience is the award-winning digital experience platform that combines content management, digital marketing, and commerce. Available on-premises or in the cloud, Kentico Xperience is an easy-to-use solution for modern websites. It provides personalised experiences and integrates seamlessly into any technology stack.
What is Umbraco?
Umbraco is an open source .NET CMS that allows flexibility in development and an intuitive editing experience. Umbraco can be coupled with many systems and extensions, supported by a worldwide development community of Umbracians.
Which CMS should I choose?
Choosing a content management system (CMS) for your website can be daunting and there are a few factors to consider.
There are essentially two types of CMS systems - traditional and headless CMS. Within this grouping, there are proprietary systems (such as Kentico) and open source systems (such as Umbraco).
We create websites for NFPs and NGOs.
Explore some of our work at Zeroseven. We’ve helped government clients solve complex problems, streamline their digital presence, and optimise their systems and processes.
