How to choose a Software as a Service (SaaS) CMS: 9 things to look for
Choosing to invest in a SaaS CMS can be a big step. For that reason, we’ve compiled a short but robust checklist so you can put any SaaS CMS through its paces. Get that pen and paper ready!
[SaaS CMS checklist #1] Is it really a SaaS platform?
As the customers discover the benefits of borrowing platforms instead of building them, vendors are shifting their legacy platforms to the cloud and calling themselves SaaS. But all they’re really doing is moving you from your current hosting provider to a new hosting provider.
The key to identifying a SaaS platform is seeing evidence of continuous innovation and improvement. No period releases, no versions, no upgrades, a continuously evolving system that can grow and change as your business changes and grows.
[SaaS CMS checklist #2] Is it flexible?
With a SaaS CMS, you’ll have a central hub to manage your website or an entire fleet of websites. As well as this, the platform should allow you to easily be able to add new users, deploy new websites, and add new features to your site at speed.
[SaaS CMS checklist #3] Are there fixed fees?
Most SaaS CMS offer a few different price points to meet the needs of your business. Pricing is typically based on the number of users, the size of your organization or the overall feature set you require. If you demand customization to a current SaaS CMS, then some do allow for package customization before calculating your monthly fee.
But make sure you find out sooner rather than later about what those fees are, and how long they’ll remain fixed — or be prepared for crooked financial projections on your end.
[SaaS CMS checklist #4] Is it scalable?
You’d hate the growth of your business to be limited by technical needs.
With a traditional or on-premise CMS, you’ll need to draft in additional bandwidth or buy larger servers to expand the size of your online project. As for building a new site and managing multiple sites at once, well, let’s just say it can get tricky.
SaaS CMS vendors often boast about how easy it is to scale their product, but be sure to ask for examples and demonstrations. Also, look into whether or not the platform can handle multi-site management from the same dashboard.
[SaaS CMS checklist #5] Is it reliable?
Security and uptime are two major areas you need to focus on. SaaS CMSs are engineered for reliability and scalability, but that doesn’t mean every SaaS CMS vendor can live up to their own hype.
A SaaS CMS should be able to easily handle traffic spikes and multi-site traffic without having to downgrade user experiences. Ask for proof or case studies to make sure.
[SaaS CMS checklist #6] Can marketers use it?
If you want a smooth transition process, be sure that the people in your organization who will use the CMS most — your marketers and content writers — will be able to use it.
Is it a purely headless CMS with no frontend templates or WYSIWYG interfaces? If so, be prepared for that with the right tools to help your marketers adjust. If those tools are available (Yay for decoupled CMSs!), then all you have to do is ensure those features are up to scratch.
[SaaS CMS checklist #7] Is it future-proof?
Speaking of headless and decoupled content management, it’s wise to adopt a CMS that fits into at least one of those categories in some way, shape or form.
As new devices and channels emerge over the years, you’ll want your CMS to be able to deliver content wherever you want it to appear. So, future-proof your choice and make sure headless is content management is possible.
[SaaS CMS checklist #8] Is the Service Level Agreement (SLA) fair?
When you opt for a SaaS product, you’ll need to sign an SLA. This ordinarily outlines the commitments that the vendor undertakes, as well as the penalties they will incur if they fall short.
For example, the vendor may commit to delivering a certain percentage of uptime, and may also commit to a response time to emails or support requests. Check all of these elements are in place, and in line with what your brand needs. If the SLA isn’t up to scratch, don’t be afraid to call the vendor out and ask for an amendment.
[SaaS CMS checklist #9] What’s customer support like?
Last but certainly not least, you’ll want to triple check how well the vendor does when it comes to supporting their existing clients. Do they respond quickly to emergencies? Are they available at all hours of the day? Are they even friendly?
Getting an authentic answer here is tricky since any vendor will show you their prettiest face during the courting process. So, try reaching out to existing or past clients of the vendor to get a clearer picture of what goes on behind the digital curtain.