Getty ImagesThe secret to a great blog is a great CMS.This post is sponsored by Movable Type.
There are blogs on every topic imaginable - recipes, football, marketing, cats - and the list is only growing. Blogs are an increasingly popular way to distribute and consume information, and they're getting easier to create every day.
But blogs are only one part of an online presence.
The backbone of any blog or website is a strong content-management system that enables people to write, edit, and publish content quickly and painlessly.
And though they've been around since the late '90s, CMSs have come a long way. Today, they're much more than just a platform for blogs.
Movable Type predicts these three content-management trends for 2015.
1. Content creators will gain more control.
CMSs have always focused on access and ease of use, but they're gradually shifting to give users more creative control. They're becoming full packages rather than simple publishing tools. What started as a blogging platform has since grown into a resource for managing an entire digital experience.
In that vein, content creators now want full control over what they create and how they engage with their audiences, so developers are pressured to meet that demand. The CMSs of the near future will continue to move toward increased accessibility and increased customizability.
2. Open-source development will be key.
Creating a CMS that is both highly customizable and accessible is a huge effort. It's essentially revamping an entire system originally created for the sole purpose of online publishing. Developers are tackling this feat collaboratively, relying on open-source development to improve on each other's work and ultimately create a CMS that will meet a greater set of needs.
3. CMSs will shape content strategy.
Some developers worry that cookie-cutter CMSs stifle creativity. And to an extent they're right - just think back to the slider formats and the grid layouts that gained traction over the past few years. People thought of the CMS as a canvas rather than a support tool, looking at the framework instead of the purpose behind it.
The solution? Use it strategically. Strategy, above all else, drives meaningful content. Look for your CMS provider to offer tools and other resources to help you develop and execute your unique content strategy.
Content-management systems are evolving. It's no longer unreasonable to expect both ease of use and detailed creative control. Massive open-source communities are becoming the norm. And though the focus should always be on engaging content, CMSs will be used strategically to enhance it.
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