How can I choose a CMS that’s easy for non-technical staff to update?

Choosing a CMS that’s easy for non-technical staff to update requires prioritizing usability while ensuring the platform has the right tools and features built in. At Clear Digital, we recommend focusing on a few key factors: understanding who will be using the system, evaluating the learning curve, and selecting a platform with intuitive content editing capabilities.

Identify Your Users and Their Needs

The first step is understanding who will be maintaining your website. Different team members have different technical capabilities and responsibilities. Content authors typically need straightforward tools for writing, uploading, and styling content without touching code. Administrators may need access to site-wide features like themes and plugins. By mapping out these roles early, you can evaluate whether a CMS supports the right permission levels and workflows for your team.

Evaluate the Learning Curve

WordPress has a strong reputation for being easy to use by non-technical people and is typically faster to learn. More than 30 percent of websites are built on WordPress thanks to its easy learning curve and the fact that it’s not even necessary for users to possess prior coding experience. However, ease of use isn’t automatic—your CMS backend still needs to be built intuitively, using the best tools at your disposal.

For more complex needs, Drupal can also be user-friendly, though it takes some development capability to make it easy to use on both the frontend and backend. The right choice depends on your specific requirements and available technical resources.

Look for User-Friendly Content Editing Features

The best CMS platforms for non-technical users offer visual editors and page builders that keep all content editable in one place. WordPress has several high-quality page builders to choose from that provide this functionality. Look for platforms that support WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editors, which let users format content visually without needing to understand HTML or CSS.

Additionally, consider CMS platforms that offer tools like SEO plugins (such as Yoast SEO) that guide content creators through optimization in real-time, and features that prevent users from accidentally breaking site layouts while updating content.

Consider Customization and Support

Even user-friendly platforms benefit from proper setup and configuration. Working with an experienced development partner can help customize your CMS to hide unused options, set proper access controls, and optimize the content editing experience for your specific team. This ensures your non-technical staff can focus on creating great content rather than navigating complex technical features.

If you’re still evaluating which CMS is right for your organization, our Drupal vs. WordPress comparison tool can help guide your decision based on your specific needs and priorities.