Web agencies are behind the development of many of the sites we visit daily. Even large corporations often have internal IT teams that operate just like agencies. But what are the specific needs of agencies when it comes to content management and website building? And why do they tend to choose a multisite CMS solution?
Those are all questions that we will address in this article, while also learning why ApostropheCMS is uniquely suited to the needs of agencies.
Let’s dive in!
What Aspects Should the Ideal CMS for Agencies Have
Agencies rely on a CMS for one simple reason: it makes creating websites and managing content much easier. The right CMS can improve productivity and collaboration within teams while reducing the time and cost of managing many sites.
As a result, the ideal CMS for agencies should have the following features:
- Customizability: Offer flexibility for developers and content creators to tailor the site to meet clients' unique needs.
- Adaptability: The CMS should support various applications, from web to mobile, adapting to most scenarios.
- Scalability: Enable quick deployment of multiple sites, while keeping infrastructure costs manageable.
- Security: Guarantee that sites are secure, up-to-date, and resistant to common vulnerabilities and attacks.
- Collaboration: Facilitate seamless collaboration within teams, with an intuitive UI for content management and page layout design.
- Cost-effectiveness: The CMS should be affordable in terms of architecture management, support, and deployment, helping agencies stay competitive in the market without inflating costs for the client.
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Why Agencies May Need a Multisite CMS
A multisite CMS is a content management platform designed to build and manage multiple websites from a single instance. Instead of maintaining separate CMS installations for each site, this solution allows you to share resources like themes, extensions, integrations, and even core functionality across all sites in a network, typically through a shared codebase.
The main advantage of shared source code is the ability to create and deploy new sites faster, reducing development costs and time for each new project. This setup is ideal for agencies that manage multiple clients or brands that require similar functionality but distinct identities.
By centralizing management, you can easily maintain consistency and deliver updates across all sites. That is why a multisite CMS delivers unparalleled efficiency for clients with overlapping needs.
Of course, not all agencies need a multisite solution—that is not a one-size-fits-all tool. At the same time, choosing a CMS that comes with a multisite option from day one ensures your agency is prepared when a client with multisite needs comes along. Familiarity with the right technology can save time and effort.
Ultimately, while multisite CMS solutions address many challenges agencies face, not all are created equal. An agency does not just need a multisite CMS—it needs the right multisite CMS. Let’s find out why Apostrophe is the best multisite CMS for agencies.
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Main Reasons Why Apostrophe is the Best Multisite CMS for Agencies
Apostrophe is a versatile, technologically advanced, open-source CMS that excels in content management, website building, and multisite management. Over the years, numerous agencies and partners have harnessed its capabilities to successfully achieve their goals.
That success is due to a specific set of features, characteristics, and benefits that make Apostrophe a standout choice. Time to explore why Apostrophe is a great multisite CMS for agencies!
Open-Source Nature
Apostrophe’s core is open source, which leads to significant advantages for agencies seeking a robust and reliable CMS.
The first benefit of its open-source nature is security. With contributions from a global community of developers, vulnerabilities are quickly identified and tackled, ensuring the platform remains secure and up to date.
Since the code is available on GitHub, anyone can review it to see how the CMS handles user data. In the era of GDPR and CCPA compliance—where mishandling user data can lead to severe consequences—that is key.
Apostrophe’s open-source model also makes the CMS a cost-effective solution. Smaller projects that do not require premium features can bypass expensive licensing fees, freeing up resources for priorities like custom development or customer support.
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Built With Modern Tech
Apostrophe is built on a modern, open-source, JavaScript stack that includes technologies like Node.js, MongoDB, and Vite. This aspect sets it apart from traditional CMS platforms like WordPress and Drupal, which rely on monolithic PHP architectures that can limit flexibility and scalability. Learn more on our comparison page.
By relying on cutting-edge technologies, Apostrophe can handle complex, dynamic sites and web apps designed to scale and evolve with industry trends. This reliable stack enables developers to create engaging, scalable, and future-proof websites that can adapt to the ever-evolving needs of online users.
Apostrophe is frontend-agnostic, meaning it integrates seamlessly with any frontend framework or library, including React, Vue.js, HTMX, Tailwind CSS, and others, while still providing a highly convenient path for deploying most front-end code without custom Webpack configuration. It also works well with full-stack technologies like Astro. For more details, check out our Astro integration guide.