We work primarily with WordPress, selected open-source CMS platforms such as Joomla, Drupal, Ghost, Craft CMS and Strapi, and bespoke CMS solutions built to your specific requirements.
The right platform depends on how your business operates, how your website will be used and how it needs to evolve over time.
Rather than forcing projects into a single system, we recommend the CMS that best supports your goals, content and internal capabilities.
WordPress: our most recommended CMS
WordPress is the CMS we recommend most often for SME websites because it delivers the right balance of control, flexibility and longevity.
When WordPress is implemented properly, it becomes far more than a basic blogging tool. It becomes a structured and powerful content management system that can support service pages, landing pages, FAQs, resources and long-form content without becoming difficult to manage.
Crucially, WordPress gives businesses ownership of their content. You're not locked into a proprietary platform, a single supplier or restrictive templates that limit how your website can evolve as your business grows.
Why WordPress works well for SMEs
From a practical business perspective, WordPress works well because it adapts to how SMEs actually operate.
Content can be structured logically using pages, posts and custom content types, making it easier to expand the site over time without rebuilding it. This is especially important for businesses that expect to add services, locations or supporting content as they grow.
The editing experience can also be simplified. We configure WordPress so teams see only what they need to see, reducing the risk of errors and making day-to-day updates much easier and faster.
SEO performance and long-term sustainability
WordPress provides a strong foundation for search visibility when built correctly.
Clean URLs, structured content, metadata control and schema support can all be handled without relying on cumbersome workarounds. Performance is optimised through theme development, hosting choices and caching — not by adding unnecessary plugins.
Just as importantly, WordPress is sustainable. It's actively maintained, widely supported and doesn't lock your business into a closed ecosystem. If your requirements change, the platform can adapt without requiring a full rebuild.
Flexibility without the unnecessary complexity
One of WordPress' biggest strengths is its ability to scale in complexity when needed.
A small brochure site and a content-heavy lead-generation platform can both run on WordPress, without forcing enterprise-level workflows or technical overhead onto the business. This helps keep maintenance costs predictable and avoids technical debt.
In practical terms, WordPress is usually the right choice when your website supports marketing activity, lead generation and regular content updates. If your team needs to publish and manage content internally, WordPress typically offers the lowest friction and best long-term return on investment (ROI).
See our CMS web design overview for an outline of our CMS website services and more information on WordPress, open-source and bespoke options.
Other open-source CMS platforms
In some cases, WordPress isn't the best option.
Alongside WordPress, we also work with other open-source CMS platforms including Joomla, Drupal, Ghost and Strapi. These platforms are usually chosen for specific reasons, not general use.
Drupal is often used where strict workflows, advanced data structures or detailed user permissions are required. It suits organisations with complex governance needs or multiple stakeholder groups managing content.
Joomla can be appropriate for projects that require more structure than WordPress but don't justify Drupal's complexity.
Ghost is well suited to content-led websites such as publications, blogs or knowledge platforms where speed, editorial focus and simplicity matter more than broad functionality.
Strapi is a headless CMS, typically used when content needs to be delivered across multiple platforms such as websites, apps or internal tools. It separates content management from presentation and is suited to more technical, API-driven projects.
We only recommend these platforms when they provide a clear, practical advantage over WordPress.
Unsure which CMS will best suit your business?
If you're unsure which content management system is right for you, we can help you make an informed decision based on your available resources and business objectives.
Open-source doesn't mean off the shelf
Choosing an open-source CMS does not mean accepting a generic or templated website.
We build structured, purpose-led implementations that reflect how your organisation works. That includes:
- Custom content types
- Tailored templates
- Clean admin interfaces
- Controlled editing environments
The focus is always on clarity, usability and scalability — not technical complexity for its own sake.
Bespoke CMS solutions for specific requirements
Sometimes, no open-source CMS is suitable for your project.
In these cases, we design and build bespoke content management systems tailored to your exact requirements.
This is typically appropriate when:
- The website behaves more like an application
- Content doesn't fit page-based structures
- Custom workflows or data logic are essential
- Performance or security constraints are critical
Bespoke systems are also used where custom workflows, data logic or performance constraints are critical. By removing unnecessary features, a bespoke CMS focuses only on what your team actually needs.
How to think about CMS choice as a business owner
A CMS should reflect how your organisation works, not how a developer prefers to build.
The right choice depends on who manages content, how often updates are made and how tightly the website needs to integrate with other systems. Choosing the wrong platform rarely breaks a site immediately, but it often increases cost, friction and reliance on external support over time.
That's why we treat CMS selection as a strategic decision, not a technical one.
CMS selection is only one part of the process — it sits within a wider approach to web design and development focused on performance, usability and long-term flexibility.
Platforms we don't recommend by default
We're always cautious about recommending closed, proprietary website builders that limit control or portability.
These platforms often create issues later, including:
- Limited SEO control
- Restricted data ownership
- Poor scalability
- Forced upgrades or pricing changes
They can be suitable in very specific scenarios, but they're rarely the best long-term option for growing SMEs.
Our priority is ownership, flexibility and sustainability.
How we help you choose the right CMS
We start by understanding how your website will actually be used.
That includes:
- Who will manage content
- How often updates are made
- What integrations are required
- How success will be measured
From there, we recommend the CMS that best supports those needs — clearly explaining the trade-offs involved.
If WordPress is the best fit, we'll say so. If it's not, we'll explain why.
Next steps
If you're assessing CMS options, the next step is deciding which platforms are genuinely appropriate for how your website will be used.
Before committing to a CMS, it helps to be clear on:
- Who will manage content day to day and how technical they are
- How often the website will be updated and how structured that content needs to be
- Whether the site is content-led, marketing-led or application-like
- How much flexibility you need as the business grows
If a CMS is being recommended to you simply because it is popular or convenient for a supplier, that's usually a warning sign.
Ready to choose the right CMS for your project?
If you're planning a new website or considering a rebuild, choosing the right CMS at the outset can save significant time and cost later.
A brief discussion can help you avoid platform limitations, unnecessary complexity and future rework — and ensure your website is built on solid foundations from the start.
Book a free discovery call or contact us to find out which CMS would be the best fit for you and your business.