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27 Headless Cms And Seo

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This article explores how a Headless CMS can support SEO efforts due to the exceptionally fast site speeds that can result from a well configured site.

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<h2>Headless CMS and SEO</h2>

This blog will explore the link between Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Content Management Systems (CMS), specifically focusing on how a Headless CMS can lead to impressive SEO results. 

<h2>Introduction to Headless CMS</h2>

The curiously named category of Headless CMS is a relatively new category of Content Management Systems (CMS) that has emerged in recent years as an increasingly popular CMS. Its popularity has been primarily amongst B2B/ commercial users ranging from eCommerce sites to International brands to growing/ <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/b2b-saas-growth">scaling B2B SaaS</a> companies. The names of those brands who have moved across to Headless reads like a “Who's Who” of major brands and includes everyone from adidas to Nike to Netflix, through to B2B SaaS companies like Intercom, Stripe, and Teamwork.

<h2>Mass Exodus: So Why Are They Moving?</h2>

The <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/benefits-headless-cms">benefits of a Headless CMS</a> are particularly appealing to those looking to migrate to a highly performant platform and away from some of the issues associated with more traditional legacy platforms like WordPress. 

<a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/wordpress-issues">Issues with WordPress</a> are well documented, and include security vulnerabilities from plugins, through to performance issues due to <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/website-bloat">website bloat</a> (amongst other factors), and maintenance overhead (over the years as the site matures and scales).

Other traditional CMS (also known as Monolithic CMSs) be they Squarespace, Wix, or Webflow can also be problematic for those looking to scale their businesses. 

What works well in the early years becomes a problem a few years down the line. 

There is thus a mix of push and pull factors informing <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/b2b-saas-migration">website migration</a> decisions, be they problems with existing CMSs or the appeal of a modern Headless approach that helps address many of the legacy issues typical with traditional CMSs.

<hr>

<h2>Understanding Headless CMS and Traditional CMS: Key Differences</h2>

When it comes to Content Management Systems for powering websites there are some fundamental differences to be aware of.

Unlike Traditional CMSs which are designed to manage both content and the front-end, a Headless CMS focuses exclusively on ‘content management’. After creating and editing the content, it is published via an Application Programming Interface (API) without any involvement or impact on the front-end. The Headless CMS does not have any control or input on the front-end, unlike Traditional CMSs which aim to provide a unified solution for both content and front-end management.

<h2>What Does All This Mean In Practice?</h2>

It means that the initial website build for a Headless CMS website is not determined in the CMS by tweaking an existing template. A front-end designer will need to create and implement a design. Herein lies the crux, for those more resource-constrained clients a template-based approach will suffice, but for those who prioritize the user experience, security, and performance, the lack of a template won’t be an issue. They will be looking to engage a designer to create a beautifully designed site that is also optimized for conversions using the best tools and technologies they can find.

Hence when it comes to CMS selection the old adage applies - it is very much a ‘horses for courses’ decision. In short, your exact requirements should determine the CMS selection, and these evolve as your website (and company matures). Thus when it comes to Headless CMSs, they are rarely used to power a companies first website but do represent a natural upgrade path for those on a growth-oriented journey.

<hr>

<h2>The Key Benefits of a Headless CMS</h2>

So what are some of the Key Benefits of a Headless CMS?

1- Unparalleled Speed

The <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/jamstack-headless-cms">Jamstack Headless CMS</a> approach to web development, which combines Static Site Generators (SSGs) and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs), results in exceptionally fast page loading times without the need for any supplementary optimization of the frontend code. A Headless CMS is a vital component of this approach, allowing for unparalleled website performance. 

2- Impressive Security Credentials

Headless CMSs are known for their exceptionally high level of security. With a decoupled architecture, a Headless CMS can offer better protection against a variety of attacks. Many Headless CMS platforms provide access controls and single-sign-on features that reduce the number of login credentials required and make monitoring CMS access more straightforward.

Compared to traditional CMS setups, Headless CMS can minimize the impact of DDoS attacks because the client-side performs content rendering in the browser. In traditional setups, login forms and other entry points may directly point to the server, necessitating constant attention to security measures to prevent unauthorized access. In contrast, with a Headless CMS, the provider assumes the responsibility for security, ensuring that the statically generated front-end remains safe from attack.

3- Perfect for Scaling

One of the key benefits of Headless CMSs is their highly scalable architecture, which allows organizations to handle increased traffic and content without incurring additional costs. By utilizing cost-effective hosting and licensing options, Headless CMSs can provide a more cost-effective solution than traditional CMSs.

4- Built Especially for Marketing Teams

Many Headless CMS solutions are primarily designed to cater to the needs of technology leaders, but Contento takes a different approach. Contento has created a Headless CMS solution that is not only user-friendly for the tech team but also enjoyable for the marketing team, who will be spending a significant amount of time in the application after deployment.

5- Supports Omnichannel Strategies

Due to the proliferation of new technologies and the widespread use of smart devices, businesses are increasingly focusing on delivering seamless and consistent experiences across multiple devices and touchpoints. Brands that rely on traditional content management systems often struggle to provide responsive content that can adapt to different digital platforms. In contrast, with a Headless CMS, businesses can produce content once and publish it instantly across various channels, providing a highly efficient and effective solution.

<hr>

<h2>Traditional CMS and SEO</h2>

When it comes to SEO and Traditional CMS it is apparent that in many instances SEO is primarily an ‘afterthought’ and is thus not a crucial concern.  

Looking at some examples:

With Squarespace, there is a rudimentary SEO setting (as of March 2023) within the Page Setting tab which consists of three elements:

- SEO Title (Optional), 

- SEO Description (Optional), 

- and a toggle related to “Hide Page from Search Results”. 

This is a pretty basic SEO deployment.

When it comes to WordPress, the world’s most popular CMS, the plugin Yoast is the leading WordPress SEO plugin. 

As numerous commentators have pointed out, <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/fast-website-speed">site speed</a> is a key ranking factor and WordPress sites often fare poorly on Lighthouse speed tests serving to undermine the efforts of a dedicated SEO plugin.

Of course, your SEO success or otherwise is contingent on a whole host of factors, some within your control, and some not. A lack of in-house SEO ‘know-how’ is often a primary cause of issues as in many cases junior content creators simply don’t know the basics. 

However, if you can marry ‘best of breed’ SEO know-how and execution with a blazingly quick CMS you are going some way towards giving yourself a shot at the much-coveted page 1 ranking on Google for a chosen keyword.

<hr>

<h2>How Headless CMS Improves SEO?</h2>

While we don’t know the exact criteria that impact SEO we do know some of the factors that are typically at play. 

These consist of a mix of technical SEO elements (often on-site elements) as well as off-site elements. Off-site elements are largely related to securing backlinks (preferably from high Domain Authority sites) based on a key premise that the more ‘good’ 3rd party sites that link to your content the higher the perceived value of the content. 

On-site elements typically include:

<ul><li>page loading speed, </li><li>internal linking, </li><li>keyword use in meta titles and meta descriptions, </li><li>URL / slug configuration (incl canonical URL’s)</li><li>structured data markup, and </li><li>how a site renders on a mobile as well as many other factors.</li></ul>

With <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/headless-cms-seo">Headless CMSs and SEO</a>, several underlying factors play to the strength of the Headless CMS category:

1- Site Performance (Site Speed)

2- Mobile Experience (Responsive design)

3- Structured Content Emphasis (a <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/structured-content">structured content</a>-based approach helps with SEO)

When it comes to other on-site elements it is fair to say that some Headless CMSs fall short. However, Contento, the Headless CMS we describe further below, has been built with SEO in mind, and thus includes the technical SEO elements baked in so that those working on content can ensure they are taking care of the SEO elements within the platform. 

It is also worth pointing out that site speed is not just about SEO, there is a direct correlation between site speed and conversion rates. Targeting a 1 second page loading time makes a commercial difference also in terms of increased conversions.

<hr>

<h2>The Importance of Structured Content in a Headless CMS for SEO</h2>

According to Carrie Haine, a Digital Strategist and Founder, Tanzen 

<blockquote>Structured content is content that is planned, developed, and connected outside of an interface — so that it's ready for any interface. It means breaking down content into the smallest reasonable pieces — with each of those pieces holding the characteristics of the thing it represents.</blockquote>

Although there are numerous advantages to adopting a structured content approach, we'll focus on its primary SEO benefit: it enables search engines to better comprehend the content's subject matter. Structured content achieves this by explicitly and visibly linking the searcher's query to your content.

<blockquote>Structured content is a technology-agnostic way of organizing and tagging content in consistent, predictable ways. Think of it as a way of enabling people and systems to take advantage of patterns across a body of content, making it easier to find, mix and match, and redeploy content components at a moment’s notice to any device, channel, or format.</blockquote>

— Getting Started With Structured Content

Most Headless CMSs including Contento, are set up to leverage a structured content approach, with the use of fields, blocks, and ‘reusable components’. 

<blockquote>From an SEO perspective, it helps search engines like Google better understand what your content is about, increasing your chances of that content being ranked more highly in search results, and of it being shown to the right users.</blockquote>

In short, the structured content approach common in most Headless CMSs aligns well with the requirements of Google’s search engine as it tries to understand what the content is about so it can serve it based on relevance.

<hr>

<h2>How Headless CMS Affects Page Speed and SEO?</h2>

Site speed has been a known ranking factor for over 10 years since the 2010 Google announcement:

<blockquote>You may have heard that here at Google we're obsessed with speed, in our products and on the web. As part of that effort, today we're including a new signal in our search ranking algorithms: site speed. Site speed reflects how quickly a website responds to web requests. We encourage you to start looking at your site's speed (the tools above provide a great starting point)—not only to improve your ranking in search engines, but also to improve everyone's experience on the Internet. Google Search Central Blog (2010)</blockquote>

As Matt Southern went on to argue in the Search Engine Journal in 2022 

<blockquote>Google is said to prioritize speed when it comes to ranking search results, giving fast sites an advantage over sites that take longer to load.</blockquote>

While relevance will always be the key driver for Google, the user experience will likely remain a key ranking factor as illustrated by their ongoing focus on speed be that through Lighthouse (Google) or PageSpeed Insights. 

In short, the evidence indicates that Google rewards fast sites, and as a ranking factor for SEO it is one to focus on. Of course site speed is not really about SEO, it is also tightly correlated with conversion optimization. The faster the site the higher the conversion rate all things considered. 

<hr>

<h2>Key Considerations for Choosing a Headless CMS for SEO</h2>

When evaluating a new Headless CMS it is worth assessing the SEO capability especially if the site you are migrating has significant numbers of pages, and has decent organic ranking. 

Some Headless CMSs put more of a focus on SEO than others so it is worth asking the question on a Demo so you can assess how sophisticated the SEO module or feature is. All vendors will likely claim their SEO module is strong, but from our experience, that is not always the case. Ideally, you’ll want your marketing colleagues to be able to:

<ul><li>Edit / customise URL’s (slugs)</li><li>Set Meta Titles and Descriptions (with validation rules flagging breaches of wordcount and the like)</li><li>Optimise images including Alt Tags</li><li>Set pages as “No index no follow” where appropriate (e.g. on pages where gated assets are housed)</li><li>Manage canonical URL’s so you can signpost which content is the best representative page</li><li>Easily identify internal linking opportunities for the target keyword</li></ul>

<hr>

<h2>Headless CMS and Content Optimization for SEO: Best Practices</h2>

When it comes to best practices I recommend that those responsible for content creation have a good understanding of key SEO principles. Ideally, they use a selection from the following tools to help their content creation process:

<ul><li>aHrefs</li><li>Grammarly</li><li>Surfer</li><li>SE Ranking</li><li>SEM Rush</li><li>SERPSTAT</li></ul>

Topic ideation is also important:

<ul><li>Is the content they are writing valuable to key target personas?</li><li>Are they writing content to a clear plan (as captured in an editorial calendar? </li></ul>

A common issue I see in B2B SaaS companies is that content creation is farmed out to a junior marketing person who lacks the domain knowledge, and experience to craft a compelling piece. 

Finally, once published content needs to be amplified through a range of channels incl social from both personal and business profiles. 

<hr>

<h2>An Introduction to Contento - Headless CMS</h2>

Contento is a Headless CMS with some distinctive characteristics. It offers all of the key features you’d come to expect from a leading Headless CMS including:

<ul><li>A REST API for super fast and flexible querying</li><li>A visual editor that allows you to preview your content in real-time</li><li>A first-class asset manager to manipulate and compress images</li><li>A  structured content modeling capability to manage content</li></ul>

However, it has a particular focus in mind which helps it to stand out from the crowd.

<ul><li>Unlike most of the competition, it is designed with the needs of marketing in mind (the majority of others are very developer-centric)</li><li>We assume the primary use case is for powering a B2B SaaS or technology website (this assumption allows us to bake in features that support this specific use case).</li><li>We’ve doubled down on usability so it is genuinely intuitive and even enjoyable for content creators to use</li></ul>

<hr>

<h2>Contento PageSpeed Insights</h2>

So when we looked at our site homepage as powered by our own Headless CMS, Contento the highly performant nature of the site was evidenced in some pretty impressive scores:

Desktop 

<ul><li>Performance 100</li><li>Accessibility 98</li><li>Best Practises 100</li><li>SEO 92</li><li>First Contentful Paint 0.6S</li><li>Largest Contentful Paint 0.7S</li></ul>

As the site is a relatively new site the Domain Authority is low and thus our SEO efforts have yet to pay off in terms of organic traffic. However, as we continue to embark on our SEO journey we do so, confident in the fact our underlying CMS architecture is supporting our efforts.

<hr>

<h2>Summary</h2>

When it comes to SEO, there are lots of areas that freelancers and agencies focus on, be that ‘on site’ or ‘off site’ activities. A typical engagement starts with an audit, an analysis of keywords, and an editorial calendar. Popular third-party tools like SEM Rush, aHrefs, SE Ranking, Screaming Frog, and Uber Suggest may be referenced as tools to support content generation efforts.

An often overlooked element is the underlying Content Management System (CMS) powering the website. Most SEO specialists will be familiar with WordPress (and Yoast) given the market dominance of the platform. However, running a mature site on WordPress can be a significant factor inhibiting the potential of your SEO efforts. Marrying a Headless CMS, with a clear SEO and content strategy will help ensure you are giving your site every chance of succeeding. 

Finally, it is worth noting that SEO relies on numerous factors from technical elements, to employee know-how, to site speed, to the content and its relevance for those searching for answers. Migrating to a Headless CMS won’t in isolation deliver results.

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Summary

This blog will explore the link between Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and Content Management Systems (CMS), specifically focusing on how a Headless CMS can lead to impressive SEO results.

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Headless CMS and SEO

26 Headless Cms Digital Agencies

Working for a digital agency ? Take a look at a Headless CMS like Contento today, and see first-hand why the category is exploding.

<h2>Headless CMS Digital Agency</h2>

Tl;dr

This blog explores the fast growing category of Headless CMSs and argues that your digital agency should consider offering that website capability for the right fit clients.

<h2>Introduction</h2>

When it comes to utilizing a Headless CMS for your <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/b2b-saas-website">B2B SaaS website</a> you will generally need some external support; be that in the guise of a freelancer, or specialist Headless CMS Digital Agency. This blog outlines some of the key elements you need to be aware of to ensure a successful website relaunch.

<hr>

<h2>B2B SaaS Focus</h2>

Before we commence, it is worth flagging that this blog is written from the perspective of <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/b2b-saas-growth">growing B2B SaaS companies</a>. There are hundreds of Content Management Systems (CMSs) on the market. Selecting the correct option for your use case is highly context-dependent. Hence the focus of this piece is on marketing and tech leaders in high-growth companies in sectors like B2B SaaS, and the broader technology space. 

<hr>

<h2>Issues with WordPress</h2>

We take the position that the well-documented <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/wordpress-issues">issues with WordPress</a> mean that WordPress is simply not fit-for-purpose for growing and scaling B2B SaaS companies. 

We make several assumptions about the requirements for those working in B2B SaaS which we feel are incompatible with WordPress (without throwing a lot of money at the problem).

These WordPress issues include:

<ul><li>Security vulnerabilities (due in part to typical reliance on plugins)</li><li>Usability issues (struggles on the part of junior marketers to manage websites)</li><li>Performance issues (problems with website bloat and sluggish performance)</li><li>Ongoing maintenance costs (just to keep the site from going down)</li></ul>

When it comes to the assumptions we are making about B2B SaaS marketing team requirements we are assuming that:

<ul><li>Content and inbound marketing are important elements of the marketing strategy</li><li>A strong SEO capability is important</li><li>A genuinely intuitive UI/UX content platform (or CMS) is ‘non-negotiable’</li><li>A blazingly fast beautifully designed website is ‘table stakes’</li><li>There is a decently sized marketing team (more than 3) and some budget to deliver on the above requirements.</li></ul>

Given the issues with WordPress and the requirements we are seeing amongst B2B SaaS companies, the curiously named category of Headless CMS is emerging as an increasingly popular choice. 

So what is a Headless CMS and why the sudden appeal?

<hr>

<h2>An Introduction to Headless CMS</h2>

A traditional Content Management System (CMS), commonly referred to as a legacy or monolithic CMS e.g. WordPress, is a system in which the front-end presentation and back-end data storage components are closely interconnected.

In recent years, Headless CMS has emerged as a contrasting approach. 

A Headless CMS is a content management system that provides the backend content repository and APIs to facilitate the retrieval and modification of content. Unlike a traditional CMS, it does not include a pre-built front-end for displaying content, allowing developers to use any front-end technology or framework of their choice to deliver the content to end users. This decoupling of the content management functionality from the presentation layer offers greater flexibility, scalability, and agility in creating and delivering digital experiences across multiple channels and devices. 

<hr>

<h2>What Does a Headless CMS Do?</h2>

A Headless CMS is best considered as the content platform or repository where the website content is stored, edited, and published. This <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/structured-content">structured content</a> is then delivered via an API to various ‘heads’ be they a website or IoT device or screen. The missing piece is of course the display layer or front-end. This is where your front-end developer comes in. 

You will need a front-end developer/designer to create the front-end design. Of course, there are Pros and Cons to this approach. The template-based approach of legacy CMSs is more cost-effective, however, as mentioned above the requirements of growing B2B SaaS companies are such that a beautifully designed site optimized for conversions will typically trump the requirement for a hastily built site based on an existing template. 

<hr>

<h2>What are the Advantages of a Headless CMS?</h2>

So what are some of the advantages of choosing a Headless CMS?

1- Unrivaled Speed Blazingly fast page loading times can be achieved without requiring any additional optimization of the frontend code. A Headless CMS is part of the <a href="https://www.contento.io/blog/jamstack-headless-cms">Jamstack Headless CMS</a> approach to web development and marrying Static Site Generators (SSGs) and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) can deliver an unparalleled site performance. 

2- High-Level Security

A Headless CMS tends to offer a very high-level of security due to several factors.

A decoupled architecture can provide better protection against various attacks. Access controls and single-sign-on features are often available in many Headless CMS platforms, which can reduce the number of login credentials required and enable easier monitoring of CMS access.

Compared to traditional CMS setups, headless CMSs can minimize the impact of DDoS attacks because content rendering is performed on the client side. In traditional setups, login forms and other entry points may directly point to the server, necessitating constant attention to security measures to prevent unauthorized access. In contrast, with a Headless CMS, the provider assumes the responsibility for security, ensuring that the statically generated front-end remains safe from attack.

3- Scalable and Cost Effective

Headless CMSs are designed to be highly scalable, allowing organizations to handle increased traffic and content without incurring additional maintenance costs. By reducing the amount of maintenance required and utilizing cost-effective hosting and licensing options, Headless CMSs can offer lower maintenance costs than traditional CMSs.

4- Beautiful UI/UX - Enjoyable Content Management

With a Headless CMS like <a href="https://www.contento.io">Contento</a>, the UI/UX is designed with the marketing team in mind (which is not a typical case). Far too many Headless CMSs are designed solely with the needs of the technology leader in mind. Contento is different. We have doubled down on ensuring that the use of our Headless CMS solution is enjoyable for the marketing team, who post deployment will after-all be spending a lot more time in the application than the tech team. 

5- Deliver a Seamless Omnichannel Experience

By offering more purchasing channels, including mobile, web, and in-store, an omnichannel strategy enhances the customer experience. Businesses are thus increasingly prioritizing seamless and consistent customer experiences across various touch points due to the emergence of new technologies and the widespread use of smart devices. However, brands that rely on traditional content management systems are struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for responsive content that can adapt to different digital platforms. With a Headless CMS it is a case of produce once, and publish everywhere in an instance.

<hr>

<h2>What are the Disadvantages of a Headless CMS?</h2>

There are several disadvantages of Headless CMSs, so it is important to be aware of these before making the switch.

1- It is not an all-in-one Solution 

With WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and other traditional CMSs there is no decoupling of the front and back ends. With Headless there is a need to plug in other components of the Jamstack (all via API’s) to put a website live. (All very straightforward for relatively junior developers).

2- Developer Dependency

You will need access to a front-end developer/ designer to set everything up (as well as to craft the design). In most cases ongoing maintenance is negligible but as the site evolves you will need access to a developer. The good news is that you won’t need a specialist developer as most front-end developers will be familiar with ‘the Jamstack’, so as a SaaS company there is a strong likelihood that the skill-set exists in-house and can be tapped into on an ad-hoc basis.

3- Fewer Shortcuts

With a Traditional CMS, buying a website template helps expedite the build process, and in some instances enables users to build and manage sites themselves. Instead, most Headless CMSs empower developers and designers to build a site without constraints allowing them to choose the components as they see fit. Again context is everything, marketing leading brands and growing B2B SaaS companies are usually happy to ensure a strong visual identity. Building a site using a template is generally not the route this cohort wants to take.

<hr>

<h2>How Much Does a Headless CMS Cost?</h2>

The cost of a Headless CMS can vary depending on a whole host of factors. Most providers offer a free version for developers to test initially and to assess fit for purpose. In reality, the bulk of the cost for a new website is likely to go on the front-end design and hence the annual subscription for the Headless CMS will represent a small portion of the overall spend. Given the range of options and factors influencing price, assuming a €10,000 annual subscription represents a good ballpark figure. Finally, the ongoing maintenance costs should be relatively modest especially if there are in-house developers that can be called upon, on an ad-hoc basis. 

<hr>

<h2>Companies Using Headless CMSs</h2>

The adoption of Headless has been particularly noticeable amongst a cohort of early adopters from the SaaS world (Intercom, Stripe, and Teamwork spring to mind). However, there has also been significant adoption amongst “big brands”, where website traffic is high and features offering benefits related to security, performance, and omnichannel capability are important. Brands like the following have all moved part (if not all) of their websites to one of the leading Headless CMS providers:

<blockquote>Notion, Costa Coffee, Specsavers, Nike, mailchimp, Vodafone, Spotify, Twilio, Atlassian, Bang &amp; Olufsen, McDonalds, Google, deliveroo, dribbble, GoCardless, Sonos, adidas, &amp; Pizza Hut.</blockquote>

<hr>

<h2>Headless CMS Website for B2B SaaS</h2>

When it comes to different categories of users, it is evident from the names listed above that Headless CMSs span a vast range of consumer brands from different sectors. These are not small businesses. The brands largely represent sites with strong traffic volumes that place a premium on design without compromising on performance. B2B SaaS companies share many of the same requirements as the leading B2C brands listed above (although omnichannel related benefits are not usually a primary motivator). Most growth-oriented B2B SaaS companies are focused on conversion optimization and thus value benefits like unbeatable site speeds, beautiful design, enhanced security and highly performant websites.

<hr>

<h2>Introduction to Contento - the Headless CMS for B2B SaaS</h2>

Contento is a Headless CMS designed specifically with the needs of B2B SaaS companies in mind. Most of the other Headless CMSs are open boxes and are not designed with any specific use case in mind. Contento includes all the features you’d expect from a Headless CMS, with a particular slant - a core assumption we make is that you are using Contento to manage a B2B SaaS site. This simple assumption enables us to meet the unique needs of this category - after all, it is the world the founding team all come from. 

<hr>

<h2>Why Do You Need a Headless CMS Freelancer or Agency?</h2>

One of the nuances of a Headless CMS compared to a Traditional CMS like WordPress is that developer input is required. The focus shifts to creating a beautifully designed site that is optimized to drive conversions. Specialist skills make a difference, and the quality of websites done in-house compared to using specialists is markedly different in our experience. When a beautiful design is married to compelling copy, strong imagery, and a blazingly quick site the difference is all too apparent. 

The <a href="https://stripe.com/gb">Stripe website</a> is a great example - beautifully designed, with powerful imagery, and exceptional site speed. Of course, there are lots of beautifully designed sites that are not on Headless also, but depending on the CMS there can be significant issues in the background that tend not to exist with a Jamstack-based approach.

<hr>

<h2>Where to Find a Headless CMS Agency?</h2>

An increasing number of digital agencies are now offering Headless CMSs as an option for the right client and context. Others like <a href="https://mawla.agency/">Mawla</a> in Dublin have gone full-in focusing on content and marketing websites utilizing a Headless CMS &amp; NextJS Jamstack-backed architecture exclusively, eschewing WordPress based web development work.

We will shortly be adding a dedicated Headless CMS digital agency page to the Contento website that shortlists some of the main providers you need to know about.

<hr>

<h2>Benefits for Your Agency Embracing Headless</h2>

So what are some of the benefits you can enjoy from exploring Headless as a category to offer clients?

<ul><li>Significant Venture Capital (VC) cash has gone into the space and a large number of providers are promoting it as a future-proof way to manage modern sites.</li><li>The benefit set for moving to Headless is compelling for certain cohorts of users.</li><li>The need for a front-end design and Jamstack architecture means that many agencies can easily pivot to offering it profitably.</li><li>Some providers offer recurring commissions as long as the client is still a customer, bringing income streams without associated overheads. </li><li>It is a growing market predicted to explode.</li></ul>

The Global Headless CMS Platform Software Market Size Was Valued at USD 502 Million in 2021 and is Expected to Expand at a CAGR of 19.99% During the Forecast Period, Reaching USD 1498 Million By 2027 (Source - <a href="https://www.researchreportsworld.com/global-headless-cms-platform-software-industry-research-report-competitive-landscape-market-22069652">Research Reports World</a>)

<hr>

<h2>Contento Digital Agency Program</h2>

Our agency program includes -priority access to our development team, ongoing commission, and access to our suite of training resources.

Unlike leading vendors who typically offer a basic 10% commission on plans, Contento offers a much more attractive commission. 

Please <a href="https://www.contento.io/contact">get in touch</a> to learn more.

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<h2>Headless CMS and Digital Agencies - A Summary</h2>

In summary, the category of Headless CMS has been taking off. An early tranche of digital agencies has already made the jump across focusing on the Jamstack and Headless. As this article has outlined, it is worth all digital agencies exploring the category to assess if it fits with the client base in situ and their requirements. One thing is clear - this new category is very much here to stay.

Digital agencies should explore the fast growing category of Headless CMSs to assess if it could meet the needs of their client base.

Headless CMS - The Perfect CMS to Help Grow Your Digital Agency

Alan Bio

Alan Gleeson, the CEO, has 15+ years extensive B2B SaaS experience. Gleeson has worked with a number of VC backed B2B SaaS Startups and Scaleups in the UK, US and Ireland.

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Don’t just settle, let us show you how you can enjoy managing content again.

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Josh Bio

Josh Angell, the technology lead, has over a decade of experience building websites and Content Management Systems.

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We are a group of passionate professionals who decided to marry our years of experience building websites to create the world’s first content platform built exclusively for B2B SaaS companies.

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Our visual identity reflects the Yin and Yang of our founding team. A marketing lead who preferred template-based all-in-one solutions, and a technical lead who has over a decade of experience building websites and Content Management Systems.

What if we built a new type of CMS - just for B2B and SaaS startups and scales ups that sought to address the issues the various sides had? Hence Contento was born, a new type of Headless CMS, built to power blazingly fast websites where the CMS User Interface is intuitive without compromising on the latest technologies.

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We are a group of passionate professionals who decided to marry our years of experience to create the first content platform built exclusively for SaaS.

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Peter Coppinger, the initial seed investor, is one of Ireland’s leading B2B SaaS entrepreneurs who has successfully scaled Teamwork.

Peter Coppinger

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We believe websites should be blazingly fast.

We believe that developers should focus on a beautiful front-end design.

We believe that the marketing team should be easily able to maintain and manage your content. In fact we believe the experience should be pleasurable and not a chore.

We believe that typical B2B and SaaS features should be baked in - rather than an afterthought be that Search Engine Optimisation or the management of social proof from 3rd party sites like G2 and Capterra.

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It will likely be powered by a Content Management System and should be easy to manage and maintain.

Instead the reality is usually very different. Clunky sites that are slow to load, hard to maintain and locked-in to substandard technologies. It is not how it should be in 2022.

Powering Beautifully Designed & Blazingly Quick SaaS Websites

What do we believe?

Are you happy with your current CMS?

Meet our leadership

Alan Gleeson

Josh Angell

Peter Coppinger