Frequently Asked Questions – How to Make FAQs?

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How to Create FAQ

FAQ, or a Frequently Asked Questions list, is a subpage that presents a collection of the most popular issues raised by customers of a given company or service. The practice of placing FAQs on websites is almost as old as the Internet itself – the first such lists in electronic form appeared even before the development of the WWW protocol. Today the FAQ can be found on millions of websites of active online stores or service companies around the world, and we will now answer the question why it’s worth and how to create a FAQ?

Why Post an FAQ on Your Website?

  • It provides the customer with immediate help – the user can instantly find the answer to his/her question, which shortens the purchase path. You can read more about customer path mapping in e-commerce in the article on our website.
  • It saves time – both yours and your customer’s. Whether you’re the only one answering questions or your company has an extensive customer service and support department, every interaction takes time and involves an employee. FAQs allow you to skip direct contact for the most common questions without leaving them unanswered.
  • It demonstrates that you care about consumers – FAQs present various company-customer procedures in a clear, friendly format. Transparent presentation of possibilities in future cooperation (whatever form it takes) is a great value for the user and a great way to show your experience, pro-customer approach and build trust.
  • It has a positive effect on SEO – FAQ is a full-fledged subpage, which, just like others, affects the positioning of the entire website. This creates great potential for improving SEO, e.g. through internal linking. Additionally, it’s a subpage with a large amount of content, willingly “clicked”, with a chance of systematic expansion of the content – web robots like it!
  • It allows Google Featured Snippets to appear – a properly constructed question-answer scheme may be considered by Google as valuable enough to appear as a featured snippet above search results.
  • It provides data – with analytics modules, you can see which issues (and how) users are checking in most often, allowing you to refine your procedures and implement needed changes. FAQs are a great resource for understanding customer needs.

In many places – from large online stores to small service company websites – the FAQ, although published, is on the verge of uselessness through poor execution. Poorly made list of frequently asked questions not only does not have much value for the user, but may even annoy him and make him direct his online steps to other place.

FAQ – Question Selection

The first step is obviously to refer to your and your customer service team’s experience. You know very well the needs of your customers and the topics that are most often discussed in communication. It’s also worth taking a look at the websites of your closest competitors operating in the same industry – probably many issues will be similar. In case of online stores, a must-have is for example a clear presentation of payment mechanisms, return policy or guarantee procedures.

FAQ – Structure

A typical FAQ list has a structure of rolled-up question-answer panels. It’s very important to group questions into specific categories – a question about the features of a product or a selected package of services is a bit different than a loyalty program, login details or account deletion process. Categorizing topics makes it much easier to navigate and faster for the user to get to the question they are interested in.

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It’s a good idea to put questions in first-person form – the way a customer would type them. You should also use friendly language and avoid industry jargon.

Answers in FAQs are usually short and as specific as possible – the user came to the page to get a concise, factual answer. This is not the place for a speech-trash. If the explanation, to be reliable, requires more than a few paragraphs of text, it’s probably worth considering creating a separate subpage, and in the FAQ give the basic information, followed by a link to a more comprehensive article. If you decide to publish an extended answer in the FAQ, it’s necessary to take care of proper text structure – take care of proper headings, clear font and paragraph division.

Pay attention to the right choice of keywords – the question must be easy to find. The right structure based on structured data (you can also find the name structured data) also means that in the search results the elements of a given FAQ will be presented in an extended form, so called rich snippets – Google has published special guidelines for this here.

At the end of the list it’s worth placing a contact form or at least a link to it in case the user does not find the answer to his/her question or needs to clarify some issues with a consultant.

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Video vs FAQ

Sometimes short videos appear within the FAQ, most often simple animations (the so-called explainers). In some situations it can be a good solution (e.g. when a given issue requires concrete steps which are easier to present graphically than through text), however, it has many disadvantages. First of all, a large number of people “scan” the text with their eyes, ergo they assimilate the necessary information more efficiently than it would take even a few dozen seconds of video. The video itself will not have as much impact on SEO as the traditional text form, and it will also slightly increase the page load time.

An answer in the form of a video makes sense especially in the case of typical support issues, e.g. installation instructions for a given product or presentation of its specific function. Of course you can always use a mixed form – text and video, which will complement each other.

FAQ – Update

First of all the FAQ cannot be treated as a closed whole. It’s an important element of the website and should be a constantly evolving organism – in most companies new questions appear every day, some of which should perhaps be included on your website.

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7 Popular Tools for Newsletters

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Newsletter Tools

The potential of newsletters is huge. With this form of marketing we reach people who have already left us their contact details, so they’re interested in our offer. It’s therefore a chance for the marketer to create a loyal group of clients who will feel a bond with the brand and use its services regularly. However, contacts to interested web users and the content of the messages matched to their needs is only half of the success in e-mail marketing.

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in fact many of us do exactly that and a similar mechanism applies to newsletters. If they’re not visually appealing to the recipient, the chance of them taking the time to read the content is almost minimal. Besides, there’s also the question if the user will see our message at all. Nowadays e-mails have sophisticated anti-spam filters, which redirect the whole mass of messages to the “spam” or “offer” tab. So in order to reach your potential customers, you need to send messages from a source that they will read as trusted.

So in order to avoid sending newsletters in the void and bring measurable benefits, we should choose a tool for sending them, which has a high delivery rate and allows you to create visually attractive e-mails. Here’s an overview of the most popular software on the market that allows you to create and send such newsletters.

MailChimp

MailChimp is one of the most popular systems for creating and sending newsletters. Its huge advantage is the powerful free plan. It’s available without time limits and allows you to send as many as 10,000 messages per month. With this offer, you can build a database of 2,000 contacts.

Newsletters sent by MailChimp are easily tailored to different industries and current needs. The program provides access to over 100 email templates and an advanced text editor, so newsletters created with it can be graphically interesting and tailored to the visual identity of the brand. The tool also allows you to combine graphic and text elements on your own using a drag-and-drop editor. It means that without any programming knowledge you can place frames for texts, photos, buttons with CTA, headlines or other components.

Features and Packages

MailChimp also provides its customers with powerful reports and the ability to test different variations of messages to find the most effective version. It can be integrated with various platforms, including WooCommerce, Magento or Zapier. Most importantly for marketers – emails sent by this system have an acceptance rate of 96-99%, which means that almost always the messages end up in the recipient’s main inbox instead of in offers or spam.

This software tool has three paid packages, the cheapest of which costs $9.99 per month. They differ in the number of features available; for example, only the more expensive plans offer dynamic content, meaning content that is tailored to a specific recipient. 

The most important information in a nutshell

  • over 100 templates
  • English language platform
  • possibility to create newsletters in a mobile app
  • 96-99% acceptance rate
  • Free plan up to 2000 contacts
  • MailChimp footer impossible to remove in free package

MailerLite

MailerLite is a system where there’s also a free version for an unlimited time. However, in this case, the number of subscribers is much smaller – it’s a maximum of 1000 contacts. The platform is intuitive to use and has a built-in drag-and-drop editor. You can integrate it with many tools (including Shopify, WooCommerce, Zapier, WordPress).

There are only two packages in this tool: free and paid. However, the latter does not have a fixed price – the subscription costs are constantly increasing as your contact list grows, so when choosing it, you have to expect a gradual increase in expenses. You can compare the functions of the packages during the 14-day trial period of the paid version.

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Most interesting features

What interesting features does this tool have? It has a built-in photo editor with which you can crop and correct photos to be sent in messages directly in MailerLite. The platform also runs A/B tests to help determine the most effective version of your message and create pop ups to encourage newsletter subscriptions. Other useful options for marketers include automatic resending to people who didn’t open the email and delivering messages by time zone. 

Highlights in a nutshell

  • 14-day trial period for extended versions
  • Free version up to 1000 subscribers
  • English language platform
  • Built-in image editing
  • automatic resending to those who have not opened the message
  • A/B tests
  • delivery of messages according to time zones
  • 24/7 chat support with paid package

GetResponse

GetResponse includes a drag-and-drop editor, but also a database of over 220 ready-made templates – this is a program that has one of the largest libraries of its kind. However, there’s no fixed free plan, you can take advantage of the 30-day trial period, but then you have to opt for one of the paid plans. However, it’s worth knowing that within one package, the price increases as the number of subscribers increases.

This tool is one of the best when it comes to message deliverability – it stands at 99%, which means that almost all emails land in the inboxes of the main recipients. The program also has a built-in photo editor and a free photo database that can be used to create newsletters. The tool also allows you to conduct quite detailed analysis and A/B testing, so you can constantly refine your mailings and increase their effectiveness.

Most interesting features

GetResponse allows you to adjust your mailings to local time and also offers a perfect timing tool. This means that the messages are sent when the recipients are most responsive, which is estimated by algorithms based on their previous behavior. An interesting option is the possibility to create dynamic content, i.e. content that changes depending on the recipient’s preferences. Each subscriber can, for example, receive in an e-mail a recommendation of products in which he was interested.  

What distinguishes the tool from the previously mentioned programs is its multifunctionality. With GetResponse you can not only send newsletters, but also conduct webinars (in more expensive packages). So if you’re looking for a program that allows you to be more comprehensive, this is an option you should definitely consider. 

The most important information in a nutshell

  • 99% delivery rate
  • 30-day trial period
  • access to ready-made e-mail templates (220)
  • built-in photo editor
  • database of free photos
  • Perfect timing tool – sending messages when recipients respond best
  • Adjustment of the dispatch to the local time
  • A/B tests
  • in more expensive packages you can also do webinars

FreshMail

Freshmail doesn’t grant access to a free version, after the 14-day trial period you have to buy a subscription to one of the paid packages. However, the prices here are quite attractive – the cheapest version costs 12 EUR per month and allows you to build a list of up to 1000 recipients. This program also allows you to create newsletters by drag and drop and has a rich database of message templates – there are more than 150 of them. This program has one interesting option that you won’t find in most tools of this type. There is an option to buy a specific pool of messages to send, without deciding to subscribe. In this model, for example, we can buy 10 000 messages and just do a one-time mailing. This is a very cost-effective option for people who send newsletters less frequently than once a month.

What Else Does it Offer?

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This mailing system gives a lot of possibilities when it comes to segmenting users. You can introduce a division by interests, gender or location and send mailing only to those people who are the target group in case of a particular message. Freshmail also has functions of optimizing time of sending newsletters and creating dynamic content. You can also use the platform to plan as many mailings as you want.

What else is interesting about Freshmail? You can use this feature to make sure that the message will not be read as junk by the filters before it’s sent. Apart from that, a lot of interesting options are included in the highest package. There, the price includes onboarding, which introduces the secrets and functions of the tool, contact with a dedicated account manager and the possibility of creating webinars.

The most important information in a nutshell

  • 14-day trial period
  • Over 150 ready-made templates
  • Anti-spam tests before the dispatch
  • Dispatch time optimizer
  • scheduling of any number of shipments
  • in higher packages onboarding, webinars, dedicated account manager
  • option to buy a package of messages instead of subscription

ActiveCampaign

This program offers a 14-day trial period, after which you have to buy one of the paid packages, the cheapest of which costs $15 and allows you to create a database of 500 subscribers. In addition to the standard drag-and-drop editor, ActiveCampaign offers ready-made templates, whose base, however, is relatively small – it’s 25 versions at the moment. What is a plus of this tool, however, is free image hosting, thanks to which you can store in the cloud those photographs and graphics that you will want to use in the future. Another useful feature of ActiveCampaign is the change history – if at some point in the creation of the newsletter we find that an earlier version was better, we can easily go back to it.

With ActiveCampaign there’s no problem with integration with different platforms or importing contacts if we previously used another tool. There are also options for message personalization, deliverability control and lead scoring. What is the last of the mentioned functions? Well, you can automatically assign points to your contacts depending on their engagement, thanks to which you can create a list of your most loyal recipients. Active Campaign also allows you to do A/B tests, and in the highest package you also get basic CRM functions – for example assigning tasks to people from your company. What you should take into account is that the price of the package increases with the growing number of contacts. This is quite an extensive tool that is best suited for large companies that need something more than standard solutions. 

The most important information in a nutshell

  • e-mail templates (about 25)
  • history of message changes
  • Free image hosting
  • 14-day trial period
  • email personalization
  • deliverability control
  • add shuffle function

MailPoet

MailPoet, on the other hand, is not a standard program but a plugin for WordPress. It’s free up to 100 subscribers and there’s no distinction between packages – simply the price of the paid version increases proportionally to the number of subscribers. Its advantage is that it allows you to send unlimited emails no matter how wide your contact base is. Also, it works on a drag-and-drop basis and offers about 50 templates for free.

A useful feature not found in other programs is the automatic removal of unengaged subscribers, so we don’t have to spend money sending newsletters to people who don’t respond to them. The time after which a person is considered unengaged can be freely set in the panel according to the current needs. The plugin has a high message delivery rate and is easy to use, so it’s a good choice for WordPress users. 

Highlights in a nutshell

  • English language platform
  • free templates (about 50)
  • up to 100 subscribers for free
  • unlimited number of emails
  • there’s no division into packages – the price increases with the number of subscribers
  • automatic deletion of uncommitted subscribers
  • high deliverability rate

EmailLabs

EmailLabs is a platform which has a very high deliverability rate. We can even opt for a dedicated IP, so that only we have an impact on address reputation and message deliverability. There are 4 packages available within the tool, including one that is completely free and allows us to send 24,000 messages per month. EmailLabs also provides us with ready-made templates that make creating mailings simple and fast.

This tool puts emphasis on providing the customer with security when sending messages and encrypting communications. In higher packages, we also have access to full onboarding, training for employees and the support of a dedicated specialist who helps, among other things, to perform the necessary integrations. The reporting options are also extended, covering not only basic data, but also open tracking, link tracking or deliverability alerts sent via e-mail.

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The most important information in a nutshell

  • very high deliverability
  • 24 000 messages per month for free
  • Dedicated IP in higher packages
  • Extensive security options
  • free plan forever

Social Media Tools for Planning

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Social Media Tools

Social media is one of the cornerstones of today’s online marketing, presenting your brand and products to a wide audience, easily reaching new customers and directly contacting existing ones. Presentation on the largest social media platforms is an absolute necessity in most industries at some stage of company development.

However, conducting extensive social media marketing is very demanding. Each social media platform is governed by its own rules – with slightly different user profiles, emphasis on different elements and different technology, which means the marketer has to adapt to the prevalent mode of communication. On TikTok or Twitter we usually don’t post the same content (at least not in the same form) as on Instagram or LinkedIn. That’s why we have to generate a lot of customized content running company profiles on various sites.

In addition, we have to use separate applications for each medium, and sometimes we have to switch between several profiles on a single platform – all this in real time, in order to respond to customers’ questions and react to current events as quickly as possible. There’s no denying this poses a huge logistical challenge.

Social Media Tools

With help come platforms that manage profiles on many social networking sites within one tool thanks to integration of API (Application Programming Interface). Using one “tool”, we can – depending on the functionality offered by a given product – plan automatic publication of posts, respond to comments, talk to users via private messages, and analyze statistics on reach, engagement or number of subscribers and generate reports. What are the most popular tools and what do they offer?

Hootsuite

Hootsuite, in addition to the basic functions, also allows you to set an alarm that will notify you of an unusual increase in activity on your profiles: instant reaction allows minimizing possible crises. Hootsuite also allows us to analyze frequently used words in a given situation, so we can properly formulate the necessary messages. Setting the right parameters also allows us to plug in and conduct advanced analysis of the effectiveness of posts in Google Analytics.

Highlights in a nutshell:

  • Integration with over 20 social networks – including Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter
  • Post publication scheduling
  • Receive and send private messages for some portals
  • Graphs about the reach of individual posts, summary charts and comparing with competing fanpages
  • Built-in link shortener
  • Integrate with advertising systems
  • Mobile applications for Android and iOS

Postplanner

Postplanner connects to the most popular portals and allows you to schedule posts using a convenient calendar. The integration with Canva also makes it easy to create graphically friendly content.

Highlights in a nutshell:

  • Integration with 5 social networks: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest
  • Planning, editing and targeting of posts
  • Sort posts by reach, number of comments or reactions
  • Displaying the most popular posts on a given topic from different platforms as a guide and inspiration
  • File hosting
  • Create graphics with Canva
  • Algorithms to evaluate the potential of a post

Loomly

In addition to a publishing calendar, Loomly analyzes the effectiveness of your posts, gives ideas for new posts, and allows multiple users to use the tool.

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Highlights in a nutshell:

  • Integration: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn
  • Scheduling posts in a calendar
  • File hosting
  • Image library for publishing
  • Social media ad management
  • Performance analytics
  • Post ideas generated based on current industry trends
  • Reply to comments

Later

A content publishing tool focused mainly on Instagram, but also compatible with Facebook, TikTok and Pinterest. As one of the few, it allows you to plan Stories (in the form of sending the material to your phone and a reminder to publish it – the Instagram API currently prevents the automatic publication of accounts).

Highlights in a nutshell:

  • Drag&drop calendar
  • Hashtag suggestions
  • Suggestions for when to publish based on data
  • Image editor with filters
  • Post effectiveness analysis
  • Buffer
  • Like the Later tool above, Buffer also schedules Instagram Stories as content uploads and publication reminders. Buffer will also highlight any unanswered comments on Instagram.
  • Highlights:
  • Integration: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and LinkedIn
  • Analytics module
  • Mobile app for iOS and Android

Planoly

A tool dedicated to Instagram and Pinterest, in a limited form also working with Snapchat, Facebook and Twitter. In addition to a publication calendar connecting several platforms, Planoly also offers other modules, including a post creator with various functions for their visual modification.

Highlights in a nutshell:

  • Integration with platforms: Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat (to some extent)
  • Extensive analytics module
  • Built-in basic post templates
  • App for iOS and Android

Postify

A basic post planner for several social networks – apart from the most popular ones, it also integrates with the Russian platform Vkontakte. On Facebook, in addition to publishing posts at the appointed time, it can automatically change the background photo on a fanpage.

Highlights in a nutshell:

  • Integration: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Vkontakte
  • Graphics editor
  • Suggestions and inspiration for posts
  • Built-in link shortener (for Twitter and LinkedIn)
  • Analytics module

NapoleonCat

The Social Inbox feature will allow you to handle all messages coming into your business in a single inbox. NapoleonCat also allows you to manage your ads (Facebook/Instagram) and Google My Company profiles.

Highlights in a nutshell:

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  • Integration: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Messenger, YouTube, Google My Business
  • Analytics module
  • Ad moderation (Facebook and Instagram)
  • Multiple users – team coordination
  • Reports in .pdf

SkedSocial

A tool mainly focused on Instagram support, but following the principle “Instagram first does not mean Instagram only” also working with Facebook, Twitter, Google My Business and LinkedIn.

Highlights in a nutshell:

  • Publication calendar
  • Multiple users
  • Graphic editor
  • Analytics module
  • Canva integration

SproutSocial

SproutSocial is a multiplatform social media calendar that also allows you to analyze and compare your statistics with competing profiles.

Highlights in a nutshell:

  • Integration with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest (post publishing), Reddit, TripAdvisor, Glassdoor (monitoring)
  • Analytics module
  • Graphics editor and template library
  • Algorithms that suggest the best time to publish a given post
  • Multiple users
  • Mobile application

Kontentino

An easy to use social media organizer, especially useful with a large number of profiles and a large team. It’s especially useful for marketing agencies thanks to the module that allows easy content approval by a client.

Highlights in a nutshell:

  • Integration with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest platforms
  • Solutions to facilitate team communication
  • Mobile application
  • Analytics module
  • Ad management

Sendible

A tool designed for larger teams and marketing agencies. It can be especially useful for monitoring specific phrases, allowing you to always be there when a brand is mentioned.

Highlights in a nutshell:

  • Integration: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google My Business, as well as a number of blogging platforms (WordPress, Blogger, Tumblr) and instant messaging (Slack)
  • Solutions to facilitate communication within the team
  • Mobile application
  • Analytics module
  • Ad management

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HTTP and HTTPS – What Is It?

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HTTPS

All web users have noticed how website addresses begin – with either http or https, though not everyone is concerned with what they actually mean, especially since they appear in the browser bar automatically. What about you? Have you ever wondered what http or https means and why are they in web addresses? If you’re looking for answers to these questions, read on!

What Is HTTP?

HTTP is the abbreviation for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, which enables data transfer for the Internet network. It’s responsible for communication between the client (browser) and the server where all the files constituting the website are stored. In practice, it makes it possible to display a requested page to the user.

The http protocol has been used for this purpose since the 1990s. It was developed to send large amounts of data simultaneously to create and display more complex websites. Communication within the http protocol is based on a fairly simple process of sending data between a client and a server. The client sends a request to which the server responds by sending this data to the interested party.

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What are the key traits of the http protocol? First, it does not store previously sent data. This means that they have to be downloaded from the server each time the page is accessed, which delays the whole process, but at the same time avoids overloading the servers. That is why a system of cookies has been implemented, which collect the data and allow faster loading of web pages. Moreover, http does not define how the information is transmitted from the server to the browser, so it creates the risk of intercepting sensitive information.

What Is HTTPS?

HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. The addition of the latter word means that it’s simply the http protocol with added security. In this case, the data sent between the web browser and the server is encrypted with an SSL or TLS certificate. This means that they are protected from falling into the wrong hands. The https protocol protects information about the website owner and its users, preventing them from being intercepted or changed, making it particularly important for personal data, payment data, etc. The https protocol is being used increasingly often and is becoming a standard for all types of websites. This is because security on the web is considered a priority. Thanks to this users can use different types of services that require data without worrying about it leaking into the wrong hands.

HTTPS – Is It Worth It?

Every website owner can switch from the address with the http prefix to the one with https at the beginning. This requires the implementation of an SSL encryption certificate – it costs several dozen PLN a year. In order for the certificate to work properly, you also need to configure your website files and the external tools used, as well as apply appropriate redirections so that you do not lose your position in the search engine. It’s best to commission all these works to an Internet marketing agency, which will take care of a smooth and comprehensive process.

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But is it worth it? Absolutely. The current emphasis on data security is not a temporary trend, but a tendency that will not only continue, but will even deepen with the development of new methods of data protection. This is something that more and more Internet users pay attention to. The number of aware people is growing, so it’s certainly not worth lagging behind. At the same time, changing the protocol to https confirms the credibility of the site and the entire company and positively affects its reputation. Emphasize care about customer security to gain prestige and trust. This is also information for business partners or investors who are much more likely to do business with a company that pays attention to high security standards.

HTTPS vs Google – Does Encryption Affect Positioning?

The world’s largest search engine – Google – is not hiding its concern about the safety of online user data. Algorithms take into account factors such as credibility and quality of the domain, and this is also related to providing users with security. This means that implementing the https protocol can have a positive impact on the positioning of your site. Investmenting here will help you get even more customers. Remember that Google currently warns users trying to access a site that should be using the https protocol (because it collects sensitive data), and it doesn’t!

Of course, just using the https protocol isn’t enough to get your site much higher in the search results, especially since this is now becoming standard and more and more companies are using encryption certificates, though it’s certainly an important factor that will allow you to be more effective in your SEO and credibility-building efforts.

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http vs https – which to opt for?

Viewing the above, the case is clear: switching to the https protocol is a small cost, but many benefits for your site and your business. It allows you to make sure that your website will work properly in every browser and will not be blocked by filters that care about the safety of Internet users. It improves the position in search results and increases the prestige and trust in the brand, which is appreciated by both customers and business partners.

CMS – What Is It?

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CMS - What Is It?

Not so long ago, HTML was the bare minimum required to create and maintain a website. Today, however, it’s not necessary. All thanks to CMS – content management systems which manage websites without coding. Learn more about these engines and how to use them!

CMS = Content Management System

CMS stands for Content Management System. It’s a type of software used to publish content on websites, as well as to organize or modify them. CMS was created primarily to facilitate the operation of websites – especially those that are constantly updated and supplemented or contain a lot of content. These types of programs do not require users to know programming languages, and getting familiar with their functions is usually much easier than learning HTML or CSS. They are intended to be intuitive and relatively easy to use.

There are different types of CMS, but most of them are operated through a special administrative panel. This type of software works on the web – just go to the right page and log into the panel to get started. Through the system you can, among other things:

  • add and modify articles,
  • add and describe products, create categories and perform other activities related to store management,
  • add media (photos, graphics, videos),
  • create and change menu,
  • manage page layout,
  • update your offer,
  • and even manage newsletters.

The exact range of functions and how to use them depends on the CMS you choose, but usually these types of programs are similar. Most also allow you to install additional modules that increase the functionality of the site (such as a rating or comment system, map, contact form, etc.).

Types of CMS

Content Management Systems can be divided into three main categories:

  • Open Source,
  • SaaS (Software as a Service),
  • proprietary, dedicated.

Open Source systems (e.g. WordPress), which are based on open source code, are free and easily accessible. Users can create their own plugins, modules or graphic templates. Therefore, they usually offer very broad possibilities. Of course, their great advantage is free access (although plugins or templates are often paid). Open source systems are usually very safe, but you should remember about frequent updates.

SaaS-type CMS (e.g. Shoper) are subscription platforms – usually paid on a monthly basis. Users do not have access to the code of the site, and the capabilities of such programs are usually quite limited. However, access only to basic functions and lack of possibility to use dedicated solutions affects the ease of use of this type of systems.

Author’s CMS (dedicated) are created for the needs of specific customers. This solution is rather used only by large companies, because it’s expensive. A dedicated system includes a custom graphic template and functions selected according to the needs of the customer. It’s also usually created with a view to maximum simplicity of use. However, it also has some disadvantages. Firstly, creating a proprietary CMS is expensive. Moreover, it binds the client permanently with the agency that created it. It also happens that the level of its security against hacking attacks is quite poor.

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Choosing a CMS is a completely individual issue. Certainly you should take into account the security, functionality, performance or stability of the system. In addition, it’s worth checking how it looks like to use it – whether it’s intuitive and comfortable enough. A very important aspect is also the possibility of site optimization. The more opportunities to use SEO tools, the better for your website’s visibility in the search engine and thus for your business.

If you have precise and demanding requirements and costs don’t matter, you can buy a dedicated CMS. However, most website administrators opt for ready-made solutions. Read below about their most important features and functions, and making the right choice will be easier.

  • WordPress

This is the most popular CMS in the world, very often used also by Polish Internet users. It’s an open source platform, which is considered to be one of the simplest (if not the simplest). There are many advantages of WordPress. One of them is the huge community involved in creating countless templates, plugins and add-ons. Thanks to that, the system creates really wide possibilities of use. The intuitive admin panel should also be considered as an advantage for sure. This makes WordPress ideal even for people who do not know any programming language and are not familiar with complicated web tools. WordPress is of course free, although some of the templates or plugins are paid. It’s ideal primarily for creating blogs and simple websites. However, in combination with WooCommerce, it can also be used to operate an online store. It’s possible to use SEO tools – sites built on WordPress usually have no problems with positioning.

  • Joomla!

Joomla also belongs to the Open Source group. It used to be the first system from this category. It’s more complex, but also a little less intuitive to use than WordPress. There are many tutorials and other educational materials to get familiar with the tool. Internet users can also seek help on discussion forums, although the number of people using this system is decreasing.

It’s a good choice for slightly more advanced users who have high expectations from the CMS. It’s also worth noting that the system has been translated into as many as 64 languages (including Polish).

  • Drupal

Drupal is an even more advanced system that works well with complex websites. It has an extensive administration panel and many features that allow you to efficiently manage the site and make various modifications. Its operation is more complicated. Moreover, it requires at least basic knowledge of HTML, PHP and CSS, so it’s not suitable for complete beginners.

  • Typo3

Typo3 is an advanced CMS with immense capabilities. It’s very suitable for uncomplicated websites, although it’s not very simple itself. Therefore, it’s recommended primarily for professionals and advanced users. It takes some time to get to know it well, but it’s modular and comprehensive. There are several thousand extensions compatible with the system, which allow you to build exactly the website you dream about.

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  • Quick.Cms

This versatile system is often compared to WordPress or Joomla! It’s not very complicated to use and is suitable for creating a variety of websites. It’s also suitable for beginners because it’s very intuitive and requires no expert knowledge. Compared to other similar tools, however, it has a small number of plugins. It’s very good with SEO and allows for effective positioning of the website.

  • Blogger

Blogger is a simple software designed to create, as you can easily guess, blogs. It’s a very good tool for beginners, but its capabilities are limited.

Which CMS to choose? This depends primarily on your skills and requirements, as well as the type of site you are building. However, the advantage of the above solutions is that you can try them for free. Familiarize yourself with the administration panel and the capabilities of several platforms, and your decision will be easier!

CMS for online stores

On the web, you can also find many CMSs designed exclusively for creating online stores. They have features that are useful for e-commerce users. They are also often very affordable to use. Some of the most popular solutions include:

  • PrestaShop,
  • WooCommerce (used in conjunction with WordPress),
  • Magento,
  • Shoper,
  • Shoplo.

Both open source and SaaS platforms are available with different levels of complexity. Therefore, everyone has a chance to find a tool that satisfies them.

The Advantages of CMS Systems

Is a CMS necessary to create or run a website? Of course not. However, the popularity of this type of platform speaks for itself. Their main advantages are:

  • facilitating the work of creating, updating and modifying a website,
  • intuitive operation, thanks to which creating a website does not require any experience or specialist knowledge, especially knowledge of programming languages,
  • availability – most platforms of this type are free,
  • open code – most CMS are open source platforms, which means that you can use many plugins, templates and add-ons (and also create your own!)
  • the ability to comprehensively manage the content of the site,
  • the ability to take care of aspects related to the positioning of the site in Google and other search engines (SEO),
  • The possibility to create accounts with different permissions in the system,
  • flexibility – possibility to create different types of websites, starting from one-page, through blogs, up to multi-company portals or stores

Nowadays most of the websites on the Internet are created based on CMS. It’s a way for more people to manage published content on their own, and at the same time it’s a convenient tool for everyone.

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