All media outlets are the same when it comes to CMS

I’ve been running CMS MAG for a long time in Spain. During this period, countless editors-in-chief have contacted me seeking advice. And they all seem to follow a clear pattern.

It’s common to launch a site using WordPress without much thought about the web content management system (CMS), simply because content is the priority. It’s like a writer using Microsoft Word without considering that there might be better—or cheaper—options, just because it’s already fully embedded in their mind.

I’m not here to say this is a mistake. In fact, I think it’s fine, but WordPress must always be configured correctly and adapted for high-traffic environments. Otherwise, you could incur a cost that may actually be high enough to directly justify moving on to the next level right from the start.

Here’s the main issue: many people know how to handle WordPress, but few understand it deeply, and when customizations are made, the system often starts acting up and failing. This can also happen if you simply make errors—like installing plugins you shouldn’t—among other causes. Then you’re forced to switch in a hurry.

At this point, having a poorly managed WordPress setup means mistakes have already been made. From here on, errors usually pile up (all of which could be avoided if you reach out to CMS MAG). Pressed for time, a new CMS is chosen—typically based more on price than anything else. The migration is done, but the audience drops by 40% or 50%. Tensions arise between partners, ultimately leading to a final standoff that goes nowhere. Sound familiar?

This is usually when people contact me for the second time. By now, the damage is significant, yet it’s still possible to recover, salvaging at least some dignity and audience in the process. There’s still time to move to a good CMS at a reasonable price—preferably one that includes AI—to fix current errors and switch to a system that will reliably support you in the future. At this stage, most editors have grown absolutely fed up with technology and just want to get it off their plate so they can focus on producing content—a normal and logical stance, though it’s essential not to act hastily.

Finally, there are those who kept switching from one CMS to another, even reverting to a previous one once or twice, and they get in touch with me on their fifth or sixth CMS change—ruined and desperate. They’re in deeper trouble than the girl from “The Ring” and have a budget smaller than that of an indie film. Please, don’t end up like that… It’s a pity.

This is the typical path of a media outlet with its CMS. The smartest ones—though there are very few—allocate the budget to launch directly on a good CMS built for digital newspapers at an affordable Price. Getting it right from the start is possible. Let’s talk!