The content management system (CMS) sector hasn’t really changed too much over the past decade. It has solidified into a small number of huge solutions that are very difficult to beat for newcomers in the space. But with the New Year a fading memory, let’s have a look at what the dominant players are as we power into 2023.
WordPress
Having WordPress as the leading CMS has become about as predictable as it’s possible to be in the sector. And there’s little sign of that changing. It’s not just holding on to its position through force of habit among users (although that might play a part in some cases); it remains a solid performer, whether you’re a small business using wordpress.com or hosting your own site via wordpress.org (we’ve written about the differences here).
With constant enhancements and security patches and a thriving community of WordPress developers, designers and plugin-builders, it’s unlikely that its position on the top spot is threatened in the near future, barring something disastrous happening … and we’re not saying that’s likely!
WooCommerce
Added to that, WooCommerce is still holding firm as one of the most used eCommerce systems. It’s essentially a WordPress plugin, so benefits from all the advantages that WordPress brings. However, it is usually talked about as though it is a product in itself, as it’s designed singly for online retail and making the experience as seamless as possible for shoppers and site owners alike.
Magento
With its focus on eCommerce and easy linking to payment systems, fulfillment operations, site populating and integration with the whole range of eCommerce apps and services, Magento remains a strong player. Like WordPress, it has a devoted army of developers, and it has reached the critical mass that ensures continued investment in the company itself and its users.
HubSpot
While it’s best known as a customer relationship management (CRM) solution, HubSpot comes with a competent (and ever-improving) CMS. It’s an easy to use, drag and drop website builder that lets you design a page or a website in minutes, and it too comes with plenty of apps that enhance its core functionality.
Needless to say, the CRM and the CMS are both perfectly co-integrated, so you’re never going to have any conflicts when you use the site builder if you’re already a CRM user. It might not have the ecosystem and volume of choice of WordPress, but it handles the basics well and lets you run a profitable customer-centric site.
Website builders
There’s still an abundance of choice when it comes to website builders, too. They might not provide the blank slate you’d get with WordPress, but they will let you set up any kind of site, whether it’s purely for marketing or an actual eCommerce site. We’re talking about services like Wix, HostGator, Domain.com, Weebly and Squarespace, that let you create an account and have a site up and running in minutes.
In the eCommerce space, however, Shopify remains the most popular. It’s designed around selling, and helps retailers from boutique operations to quite well known brands display their wares and sell it with minimal day to day work required.
