Readers like you help support MUO. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More. As a freelancer in tech, your portfolio website is one of your most vital selling points. Without web development skills, building a solid website from scratch is challenging. But, using the right content management system (or CMS) can give you an eye-catching website despite minimal coding skills. But how do you decide which content management system will give you optimum results? There are several options on the market, each with perks and disadvantages, so certain requirements will determine what’s best for you. Here are some things you should consider before choosing a content management system as a freelancer. 1. Size and Nature of the Project Every CMS has its specialty, best uses, pros, and cons. Depending on your portfolio’s nature and job description, your CMS requirements may differ. Typically, designers need a media-focused portfolio, while a developer or writer may only require a small image or video content. Of course, general content management systems exist, but some are specifically tailored to showcase portfolios. A few great examples are Squarespace and Wix . You also have to consider the size and complexity of your intended portfolio website. For bigger sites, go for a CMS that supports growth and scalability. 2. Ease of Maneuvering Unless you’re a developer, you’re building your portfolio website with zero coding skills. Hence, a CMS that requires extensive coding will ultimately render little to no assistance to you, so this is something to watch out for. Choice software should offer maximum functionality and features while remaining beginner-friendly and simple to use. Several courses and guides explain using the most popular content management systems like WordPress and Joomla for easier maneuvering. 3. Plugins Imagine the frustration and disappointment you’d feel buying a gadget and finding that you cannot download your favorite apps. No matter how advanced it is, you probably won’t get much use out of that device. Similarly, plugins revamp your website from a boring page to a more interactive, modern site with extra functionality. Plugins like WPForms allow you to create beautiful, aesthetic contact forms with little or no coding background. Also, you have options for better SEO, email subscriptions, social share buttons, and even reduced site loading times. Again, WordPress is one of the best content management systems for plugins, with thousands available at your disposal, both free and paid. 4. SEO Compatibility It’s no secret that SEO (search engine optimization) rules the internet. Irrespective of the platform, whether it’s search engines like Google or social media, your SEO integration determines how well you rank. So, to ensure your portfolio website ranks high in search results, use a CMS with the best SEO features. Some key features you should look out for include URL settings to keep your links short and descriptive, navigation menus, and analytics tools to monitor activity on your site. CMS Hub and WordPress are the two […]
