Choosing the right Content Management System (CMS) is essential for small businesses looking to establish a strong online presence. Whether you need a blog, an eCommerce store, or a business portfolio, the right CMS can make all the difference.

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A Content Management System (CMS) is a tool that helps you build and manage a website without needing to code. It provides a user-friendly interface where you can create pages, add images, and update content easily.

Think of it as a website editor – like using Microsoft Word, but for your website. Instead of writing complex code, you can drag, drop, and customise your site with just a few clicks.

Here are the top 5 CMS platforms best suited for small-to-medium businesses:

1. WordPress (self-hosted)

Best for: Small businesses needing flexibility and customisation.

WordPress powers over 43% of websites on the internet (source: https://w3techs.com), making it the most popular CMS. It is an open-source platform, meaning you can customise it freely with thousands of themes and plugins. WordPress is highly SEO-friendly, and with the right hosting, it offers great performance and security.

Pros:
✔ Open-source and highly customisable
✔ Vast plugin ecosystem (WooCommerce for eCommerce, Elementor for design, etc.)
✔ Great for SEO with plugins like Yoast SEO
✔ Large community and support resources

Cons:
✖ Requires maintenance (updates, backups, security monitoring)
✖ Needs web hosting and a domain name

2. Shopify

Best for: Small businesses focused on eCommerce.

If you’re looking to set up an online store quickly and efficiently, Shopify is one of the best platforms available. It’s a fully hosted solution, meaning you don’t have to worry about hosting, security, or updates.

Pros:
✔ Easy to set up and use
✔ Built-in payment gateway and eCommerce features
✔ Secure and scalable
✔ 24/7 customer support

Cons:
✖ Monthly fees (starting at $29/month) (source: https://www.shopify.com/pricing)
✖ Limited customisation compared to open-source options

3. Wix

Best for: Small businesses that need a simple drag-and-drop website builder.

Wix is a beginner-friendly CMS that requires no coding knowledge. It offers beautifully designed templates and an intuitive interface, making it ideal for businesses that need a website quickly.

Pros:
✔ Easy drag-and-drop builder
✔ No technical knowledge required
✔ Includes hosting and security
✔ Affordable pricing plans

Cons:
✖ Limited SEO capabilities
✖ Less flexibility for growth and customization
✖ Migration to other platforms is difficult

4. Webflow

Best for: Businesses that want a modern, visually appealing site with more design control.

Webflow is a no-code platform that allows businesses to create stunning, responsive websites without needing a developer. Unlike Wix, Webflow offers more advanced customization and control.

Pros:
✔ Powerful design and animation tools
✔ Fully responsive and modern layouts
✔ Hosting and security included
✔ Good SEO features

Cons:
✖ Steeper learning curve compared to Wix
✖ More expensive than traditional CMS options
✖ eCommerce functionality is not as strong as Shopify

5. Joomla

Best for: Businesses needing more control over their website without going full WordPress.

Joomla is an open-source CMS, like WordPress, but it offers a more structured content management system. It’s ideal for businesses that need multilingual support and advanced security features.

Pros:
✔ Better built-in security than WordPress
✔ Multilingual support out of the box
✔ More structured content management
✔ Flexible for advanced users

Cons:
✖ Smaller plugin ecosystem compared to WordPress
✖ Harder to learn for beginners
✖ Fewer themes available

Evaluating CMS usability — it’s not just about the front-end

When picking a CMS, it’s tempting to focus entirely on what your customers see — but what about the people maintaining the site day-to-day? Content creators, marketers, copywriters, and even business owners often spend more time inside the CMS than your average user does on the homepage.

A good CMS doesn’t just help build beautiful websites — it makes maintaining them a pleasure instead of a chore.

Here’s what to look for:

Editor experience

Can you edit content easily on a laptop or tablet?
Is the interface clean, logical, and responsive?
Can non-tech users find what they need without hunting through endless tabs?

Component structure

Are content blocks or sections reusable and clearly named?
Does the CMS avoid rigid nesting and confusing hierarchy?
Can you see the page structure at a glance — and adjust it confidently?

Maintenance flow

Can updates and tweaks be made without risking the entire layout?
Is it easy to create new pages using a consistent structure?
Does the CMS provide helpful previews, autosave, and version control?

The hidden cost of bad CMS design

Poorly designed CMS interfaces lead to:

Inconsistent content updates
Reluctance to make changes (“Let’s not touch it, it might break”)
Frustrated teams and wasted hours

In-house or proprietary systems can be even worse: no docs, outdated interfaces, and zero support. Your website might be beautiful, but behind the curtain? Chaos.

Real-world example: Gutenberg vs page builders

Gutenberg (also known as the Block Editor) is the native page builder that now comes bundled with WordPress by default. It’s a modern, block-based interface that replaced the older Classic Editor — though some seasoned WordPress users still prefer the old-school interface and choose to disable Gutenberg entirely.

That said, WordPress is famously flexible. You can install additional page builders (often called frameworks or visual editors) like Elementor, Divi, or WPBakery. These tools usually come as plugins, but some themes are tightly integrated with them — sometimes to the point where the theme won’t function properly without the matching builder. For example, the Impreza theme is built around WPBakery, and trying to swap out the builder would likely break the layout.

The modern WordPress block editor (Gutenberg) is a solid example of CMS design done right — especially when paired with a well-built block theme.

Works great on smaller screens, like a split-screen laptop or tablet
Cleaner interface than older page builders (Divi, Avada, WPBakery)
Easy for non-tech users to learn, with a solid visual flow
Reusable blocks and templates simplify consistent page creation
Easily expanded with plugins (often free)

Compare this to some of the popular visual builders like Elementor:

Tons of hidden settings and clunky sidebars
Breakable layouts due to rigid columns model (no exposed flexbox or grid functionality!)
Impossible to name components
Almost impossible for a non-developer to make safe edits

Sure, tools like Elementor, Divi, or WPBakery might offer more granular layout control and flashy design options, especially during the initial build stage. But if no one on your team can confidently use them to make updates — what’s the point?

Is Gutenberg a perfect CMS? Definitely not. It has its quirks, and the learning curve can feel a bit steeper at first, especially if you’re coming from drag-and-drop builders. But from experience — and I mean editing real content regularly — visual builders can be painful to use day to day.

They’re often slower to load, have hidden settings buried in side panels, and rely on rigid column-based layouts that can break easily. Want to tweak a block or re-use a component? Good luck finding it again or remembering what it’s called (if you can name it at all).

They may seem intuitive during the design phase — when everything’s static and prepped — but maintaining a complex layout in Elementor, for example, is often far from smooth. And let’s be honest: even the best WYSIWYG preview rarely reflects how the final content will actually render across devices. That’s not really a fault of any one tool — it’s just a limitation of web interfaces right now.

In contrast, Gutenberg’s cleaner, more modular approach may take a bit more upfront learning, but it pays off with:

Cleaner separation between content and layout
Better reusability
Less visual clutter
And a smoother editing experience across devices — even on half a laptop screen

For teams that plan to actually use their site post-launch (as they should), that makes all the difference.

Takeaway: Don’t just choose a CMS that looks easy — choose one that’s sustainable, flexible, and friendly for your whole team.

Which CMS is best for your small/medium business?

Choose WordPress if you want full customisation and scalability.
Choose Shopify if you need a dedicated online store with built-in eCommerce tools.
Choose Wix if you want an easy-to-use, no-code solution.
Choose Webflow if design and animation flexibility are your priority.
Choose Joomla if you need multilingual support and advanced security features.

No matter which CMS you choose, it’s important to consider your business goals, budget, and technical skills. Investing in the right CMS can set you up for success and ensure your website grows alongside your business!

Do you need help selecting or setting up a CMS for your business? Let’s chat!

A message from Web Design Mattrs

At Web Design Mattrs, we specialise in building websites that adapt and grow with your business. Choosing the right CMS is crucial, and we focus on flexible, scalable solutions like WordPress and WooCommerce – giving you control over your site without vendor lock-in.

✅ Custom-built designs tailored to your brand and business needs.
✅ Freedom to choose your CMS and hosting – no restrictive platforms.
✅ Ongoing support to ensure your website remains secure, fast, and optimised.

Let’s create a website that works as hard as you do.

References

WordPress.org (https://wordpress.org/) – Official WordPress website
Shopify (https://www.shopify.co.uk/) – Shopify’s UK website for small businesses
Wix (https://www.wix.com/) – Wix official site for website building
Webflow (https://webflow.com/) – Webflow’s homepage for design-driven sites
Joomla (https://www.joomla.org/) – Joomla’s official website for CMS solutions

Top 5 CMS platforms for small business websites