8 Reasons to Move to a Headless CMS

For decades, websites were designed using ‘coupled’ architecture. Essentially, this means everything that makes up your platform - including the back-end user interface, content repository, and custom code - is tied into a single application, with connections linking the entire architecture together.

While that sounds neat and well-organised, it can actually be a bit of a pain. What happens when you want to change one aspect of your site without changing something else? How can you treat any part individually when they’re all so intrinsically linked? Or what about when you want to use the same piece of content on a completely different platform, like an app or intranet?

This is where the headless CMS comes in. Also known as a composable CMS, the decoupled nature of this set-up has made it increasingly popular with modern developers. To learn more about how it’s disrupted the CMS industry (in a very good way) and why it’s the best next step for your content management, let’s take a look at 8 reasons to migrate to headless CMS architecture.

1. Flexible Presentation

Headless CMSs use APIs when publishing content, enabling communication between your website or application and the end device. 

In the UK, laptops and desktops have around half of all page views while smartphones have the other half (tablets sneak in with 4% of views). People frequently switch between devices, too, and might pick up your content on a different digital touchpoint than the one they started with.

This makes responsive design increasingly important, and if you’re struggling to adapt content on your traditional CMS, it’s a clear sign you’re ready to make the switch.

Responsive content distribution also helps futureproof your system. It’s unlikely that technology will come to a standstill, so it’s smart to expect new devices to become popular in the future. With the audience of tomorrow potentially viewing your content in a very different way, you need a CMS that can adapt to systems we don’t yet have. In other words, you need a headless CMS.

2. Made For Scaling

These days, it’s possible for a business to go viral overnight. Could your current CMS cope with that sudden surge of traffic?

The flexible nature of decoupled, composable CMSs makes it easier to flex and expand your systems to suit your business requirements. It enables real-time updates, expansion of content management into other platforms (like POS systems), and large increases in data without the need for a CMS overhaul.

It also helps prevent downtime due to backend issues. This is vital for scaling businesses, ensuring the changes you make and the increasing demands on your system don’t lead to more issues on the front end.

3. Super Secure

A headless CMS is characterised by the decoupling of the presentation layer from the back end. In terms of the security of your business’ website or application, this is revolutionary.

If your front end is attacked, the hackers or malware won’t be able to touch the back end - and vice versa. Suddenly, your business is a lot harder to attack, making it less appealing as a target.

Don’t forget that, compared to a traditional CMS, a composable CMS has fewer points of entry, too. This makes it far harder for any potential attackers to break into your system, with an isolated, protected content management layer protecting your business’ content.

It’s also easier to update your security. Thanks to that wonderful decoupling, you can upgrade your firewalls and intrusion detection systems through the back end without affecting the front end, allowing users to continue accessing your content while your security is given a boost.

4. Quicker Development

If you’re wondering when to use a headless CMS, frequent and laborious development is a key indicator that you’d benefit from a composable system. This includes when you’re developing a new platform or carrying out upgrades to your existing site.

Headless CMSs are geared towards easier, smoother web development. This is partly because your teams can work on the front end and back end independently, enabling two sets of developers (let’s say your coders and your visual designers, for instance) to work simultaneously for parallel development. Rather than scheduling tasks one after the other, they can happen at the same time.

This makes light work of larger projects and also simplifies the process of quick upgrades. Add enhanced collaboration and better freedom while developing (both of which we’ll discuss later in the article), and you have a CMS that’s far easier to work with for a faster time to market.

5. Omnichannel Content

Expand your online presence by easily publishing content across multiple channels. This can include social media profiles, apps, and e-commerce platforms - to name just a few.

Why is this so simple? Well, with a headless CMS, you can access a single content management system that enables you to publish across platforms at the same speed it takes to publish on one. With a click of a button, your content is spread across all of your digital touchpoints, maximising reach and reducing the length of your to-do list.

Headless CMSs also allow you to reuse content, saving time and effort in creating different pieces for different platforms. There’s no risk of duplication, either, as everything is saved as a single piece of content from a single source; it’s simply displayed across multiple platforms for smoother omnichannel distribution.

6. Better Search Visibility

Considering when to use a headless CMS over a traditional CMS? If you’re working on your search engine optimisation (SEO) strategy, it’s a no-brainer.

By using those all-important APIs we mentioned earlier, your systems can load content using less data. There are fewer server requests and reduced server-side rendering, meaning that content is delivered quicker to the user's device. 

Composable CMSs also encourage developers to optimise features (like images and videos), leading to quicker load times and an SEO boost.

These snappier load speeds are great news for your audience retention, too. According to Google, over half of visitors abandon a site that takes just 3 seconds to load, so by reducing the amount of data needed for your application to render, you’ll likely increase the number of visitors exploring your platform. 

7. More Freedom When Developing

By nature, headless CMSs are flexible. They don’t follow strict rules and there isn’t a set coding language you have to follow, giving developers far more freedom to flex their skills.

This has made them a firm favourite among top development teams. The headless architecture enables developers to choose the technology stacks and frameworks that:

1. Best suit the project they’re working on

2. They’re used to working with

Traditional CMSs, on the other hand, use system-specific tech and coding languages. Developers are constrained by the CMS you use, therefore, and won’t necessarily be able to show off their talent in the same way.

A headless CMS allows developers to choose the technology they feel confident using, leading to quicker development, better results, and platforms that are built through experience.

8. Create Collaboratively

With many businesses now having separate teams for development, content management, and marketing, websites need to be easily accessible by more than one person. Often, multiple teams require access to the platform simultaneously, which gives the headless CMS yet another chance to shine.

Most headless CMS platforms have been built for large content teams, featuring intuitive content management features in the backend.

Migrate to a Headless CMS

Headless CMSs offer flexibility, speed, security, and scalability. They’re the natural next step in the evolution of the internet, offering a futureproof system that’s designed for the vast array of digital devices we use today and all those we might use tomorrow.

Are you considering migrating to a headless CMS? If so, our team of digital strategists are here to help. Contact us today to learn more about your options and kickstart a seamless migration.