Checklist for choosing a cloud CMS

With everything we’ve said so far, you probably have a pretty decent idea of what to look for in a cloud-based CMS solution.

Still, let’s quickly go through the main aspects of a cloud CMS to look out for when deciding on the one that’s right for you.

[Checklist #1] Ease of installation

Ideally, installing your CMS on a third-party server would be a rather simple process.

Of course, this isn’t always the case.

When choosing a cloud CMS, you want to know:

• Whether installation requires technical expertise, or if it’s rather straightforward
• If it does require technical expertise, is the process at least explained well?
• How easily are you able to implement new features and upgrades?

[Checklist #2] Ease of use

Needless to say, you want the members of your team to be able to get full use out of your CMS of choice.

Some aspects to consider here include:

• The amount of programming knowledge needed to accomplish various tasks – from design to security-related areas
• The accessibility of the CMS for non-tech savvy content creators
• The general user experience provided by the CMS

[Checklist #3] Documentation and support

Even if a CMS solution isn’t exactly easy to use, the process of doing so can still be made straightforward given that the provider include proper documentation and support to be used as needed.

When looking at these aspects, you’ll want to ask the following questions:

• Are the instructions for use easy to understand, for tech-savvy and non-tech savvy individuals alike?
• Are the instructions accessible in a variety of formats, each working to supplement the user’s understanding of the platform?
• Does the providing company provide additional support as necessary to its partner companies?
• Do online databases, communities, and forums exist that would help your team gain a deeper understanding of the CMS?

[Checklist #4] Scalability

As your company grows, so, too, will (or should) your website.

The main question is:

Will your cloud CMS provider be able to handle this growth?

That is, as more and more visitors begin flocking to your site, will your web host continue to be able to seamlessly deliver your content?

Additionally, as you begin to get your company (and your website) further and further “off the ground,” you’ll likely want to begin utilizing more advanced features related to your CMS. As we’ll discuss a few times later on in this article, you’ll want to be sure the CMS you choose will allow for all this.

Perhaps the best way to find the answer to this question is to check out other sites that use the same CMS. This will give you a pretty decent idea of what, exactly, the provider is capable of in terms of bandwidth.

[Checklist #5] Flexibility and adaptability

Cloud CMS vendors are, of course, a business like any other.

That said, you want to know that the provider you choose is focused on the future (just as you likely are).

In this regard, you want to take note of the provider’s track record in terms of keeping up with technology, as well as its competitors. Needless to say, you don’t want to choose a CMS provider that doesn’t see the value in upgrading, for example, its security measures (among many other features).

Furthermore, you want to know that the CMS provider you go with will be responsive to requested updates on your end. For example, you’ll want to know if the provider is receptive to feature requests – and how long the provider typically takes to fulfill such requests.

Basically, you want to be confident that your CMS of choice allows you to grow your business on your own terms – not theirs.

[Checklist #6] Security

As we’ve hammered home throughout this article, security is a major issue when choosing a cloud CMS provider (or any CMS vendor, for that matter). Since you’ll essentially be trusting your data – and your customers’ data – to a third-party company, you absolutely need (by law, now) to ensure that this data remains secure at all times.

Some factors to consider, here:

• What built-in security features does your vendor offer?
• How often does the provider release security-related updates?
• Similarly, is the provider responsive to requests for such updates?
• Does the provider ensure that third-party plugins comply with the company’s current security measures?

[Checklist #7] Level of customization

This relates back to what we said earlier regarding scalability and flexibility:

You want to know just how much customization your CMS of choice allows for regarding various aspects of your site (such as theme, functionality, etc.).

Additionally, you’ll want to have a good idea of how easy it is to implement this customization. That is, you’ll want to see the CMS’ user interface in action, as it will provide insight into the level of technical knowledge your team will need to be able to customize your site to your liking.

[Checklist #8] Features for different stakeholders

Recall the graphic we presented earlier, which detailed the features that different stakeholders would be looking for in a CMS.

For your IT department:

• Does the CMS allow for integrations and customization via BitBucket, GIT, or similar distributed control systems?
• Does it limit the team to using a specific front-end framework?

For marketers:

• Is the CMS useable by non-tech individuals? That is, would the marketing team be able to launch new pages without assistance from IT?
• Does the CMS have built-in marketing features, such as email marketing? Does it allow for third-party integrations?

For sales:

• Does the CMS allow for quick and easy audience segmentation?
• Does it have a built-in CRM (or, again, allow for third-party integrations)?

These questions – and more – are essential to tackle before settling on a specific CMS solution. As we’ll discuss momentarily, it’s incredibly important that you solicit buy-in from anyone on your team who will be utilizing the CMS in one way or another.