What are the Key Benefits of a Headless CMS?

They represent the next generation of content management systems and enable developers to avail themselves of the latest technologies to power them.

So what are some of the key benefits that are driving this trend?

Firstly, it is important to define what a Headless CMS is and how it works. A Headless CMS is an approach to content management that takes a different approach to traditional website building. A key element is that it decouples the front-end and the back-end and the focus is on the creation of a content repository powered by an API, so it can be displayed on any device.

1. Front-end / presentation layer = Head

2. Back-end / content repository = Body

This separation is referred to as Headless CMS.

The Headless CMS focus is on “the body” which acts as a content repository (or platform) where data is stored, managed, and shared.

There are numerous advantages to utilizing a Headless CMS, with many of them appealing separately to different functions (marketing and technology representing the two main ones).

For those working in marketing, they tend to include usability i.e managing and maintaining content, while developers can focus on offering a great user experience.

1- Speed

Websites powered by a Headless CMS tend to be very quick to load. This is because they lend themselves to having a fully compiled or “flat-file” front-end - so if you want a blazingly quick user experience then this may be a sensible option for you.

In this model, since the CMS doesn’t have to render pages on its own and instead uses client-side or build-time rendering, this means that content can load faster for end users.

2- Scalability

Pairing a Headless CMS with a statically generated front-end can give you infinite scalability. You don’t have to worry about scaling the back-end, as that’s handled by your Headless CMS provider, and the front-end can be deployed on a global CDN like Netlify, CloudFlare, AWS CloudFront, etc. This means you never have to worry about traffic spikes on your marketing site again.

3- Flexibility

It is a much more flexible approach for developers who have the freedom to choose their favorite modern frameworks and technologies for the website. A headless CMS’ flexibility and agility thus appeal to developers.

4- No Vendor Lock-In

When it comes to traditional monolithic systems the CMS code is tightly linked to other code (be it custom code or templates) which makes it more difficult to then port to a new CMS. With Headless CMS portability is a key benefit, so you can move to a new CMS more easily if you so desire, spelling the end of vendor lock-in.

5- Multichannel

A key attraction of Headless CMS’ is that the API-based approach means the content repository can feed into a range of different applications beyond just the website.

A Headless CMS-based architecture makes content accessible, opening up the content to new possibilities in particular for omnichannel delivery i.e. distributing content designed for display on various websites, mobile phones, tablets, and other Internet of Things (IoT) e.g. smartwatches.

6- Security

A decoupled architecture typically means you are better shielded from attacks of all types. Many headless CMS platforms feature access controls and single-sign-on features that reduce the number of login credentials required and make it easier to monitor who has access to the CMS.

Headless CMSs reduce the impact of DDoS, as all the rendering of content is done on the client side. In a traditional CMS setup, you will likely have login forms and other entry points that directly point to your server. This means you have to keep on top of your security layer and make sure a malicious actor can’t get in. With a Headless CMS all of that responsibility is put onto the Headless CMS provider, and your statically generated front-end is safe from attack.

7- Customisation

Given the inherent flexibility, there are no constraints that you encounter when powering your site using a template-based CMS like Squarespace, Wix, or Webflow.

8- Better Software Architecture

Developers have a free hand to use the latest, most up-to-date tech stack they want and are not constrained by systems designed to operate in a distinctively limited way. Anyone familiar with the monolithic CMS approaches will be familiar with how constrained they are and how rigid the templates often are (of course this can be a good thing for the right user).

9- Easier for Marketing to Update Content

Separating the content layer from the presentation layer makes it easier for content producers to just focus on content production. Most Headless CMS platforms have intuitive platforms so those working in a marketing function can easily edit existing content or add content without needing to route through a developer.

10- Content is Reusable

Content is reusable and can be rendered in different applications making it well-suited to the world of omnichannel or mobile.

There are several disadvantages to be aware of also before choosing to power your website with a Headless CMS solution.

1- Need a Front-end Developer

As a Headless CMS focuses on the back-end content platform (or repository) you will need a front-end developer to build and manage the site (the presentation layer is separate). Ideally, this person is in-house so you don’t have to have someone on retainer.

2- Front-end Design

Given the decoupling of the front and back ends you will need someone (perhaps the front-end developer) to design and build the front-end of the site.

3- Use of Third Party Plugins

While some will view the API-based approach as being an advantage others may not. With this approach, you will need third parties to handle things often done with plugins - like contact forms etc. Although they are increasingly becoming parts of the ecosystem you’re already using as illustrated by the likes of Netlify offering Netlify Forms.

Recommended Resource: Drawbacks of Headless CMS

Contento is a brand new Headless CMS with some fundamental differences compared to the market leaders.

1. We are focused on marketing websites e.g. technology or B2B SaaS websites - enabling us to focus on the features unique to growing websites including a strong focus on SEO.

2. We offer a competitively priced solution unlike some of our competitors who ratchet pricing aggressively on the back of a reasonable market entry price point.

3. Finally, our founders span both worlds (technical and non-technical co-founders) and we thus ensure that our application meets the needs of both marketers and developers.

In summary, there are numerous benefits to embracing the Headless CMS approach to managing your website. More traditional monolithic content management systems lack the scalability and flexibility required by fast-growing startups. A best-fit use case is where your B2B SaaS startup or technology is scaling up (or has ambitions to scale) and has access to a front-end developer to support the site build and maintenance.