Alan Gleeson - CMO Contento

Alan Gleeson

Co-Founder / CEO

Alan Gleeson has 15+ years extensive B2B SaaS experience working with several VC backed Startups & Scaleups in the UK, US & Ireland.

Man looking at complex paperwork on wall

Like many SaaS categories that have attracted significant amounts of investment, the Headless CMS category is facing some challenges. In part, it is due to the feature bloat that has led to some of the leading applications becoming practically unusable. However, there is another way as this short blog outlines.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

27 March 2024

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7 read

Headless CMS are complicated. There is simply no getting away from that fact. However, as this blog outlines Contento is working hard at ensuring that it is the easiest Headless CMS to use. Read on to find out what we are doing to achieve this.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

15 March 2024

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7mins read

Admin Panel - Dashboard

When it comes to a new website the focus is often on the new design, and site performance. However, for those responsible for ongoing site management and maintenance looking under the hood is of critical importance. The admin panel or content management interface plays an important yet underappreciated role.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

7 March 2024

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5 read

Woman writing on white board

Headless CMS are synonymous with bespoke website design, cutting edge technology and website migrations from traditional monolithic CMS like WordPress. However, as this article outlines the versatility of a Headless CMS, means it can also be used effectively to power your API docs and guides.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

26 February 2024

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5 mins read

Headless CMS Versatility

Headless CMS is synonymous with enterprise websites. However, this short blog aims to dispel the myth they are just for big brands and outlines how Headless CMS-backed websites can be effectively utilized in a range of different use cases.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

20 February 2024

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5 mins read

Woman typing on laptop

Are you considering adding a blog to your website but are concerned about the limitations of using WordPress, Webflow, or a similar platform? In this short post, we outline why a Headless CMS can offer a viable alternative.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

15 February 2024

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7min read

Woman working at laptop smiling

As one of the most mature SaaS categories, the content management system (CMS) market is particularly susceptible to usability issues. The battle between Headless and Traditional Content Management Systems (CMS) is only getting started. In this article, I argue that both sides need to better meet the needs of their users to drive future success. As I’ll argue below, to do that they need to focus more on usability and less on feature enhancements.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

6 February 2024

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9 mins read

Composable CMS : Group of people around a laptop

Composable web architecture is a relatively recent development. This short guide outlines what it is and explains how it relates to Headless Content Management Systems (CMS) like Contento.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

29 January 2024

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7 mins read

Hands holding a fan of money

How much does a Headless CMS cost? In some ways that is the wrong question. The Headless CMS license fee is a fraction of the overall cost of moving to Headless. The following guide for those in finance helps to explain why you need to take a more holistic perspective when evaluating your options.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

22 January 2024

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8 min read

Man sitting in front of a laptop

Netlify’s Annual Report on the State of Web Development consists of the findings from primary research from almost 7,000 participants, and offers unique insights into the state of web development in 2023, as well as some projections for the year ahead.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

15 January 2024

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5min read

Man sitting at desk looking at computer screen

The most common website upgrade path entails a Headless CMS migration from a traditional CMS like WordPress. However, it is not just a simple “lift and shift” process. It is better served as part of a carefully planned wider strategic review as this short blog explores.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

8 January 2024

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5min read

Group on people at a desk one giving a high five to another

So what are some of the problems Contento solves for marketers? This short blog outlines some of the areas we help the marketing function over and above alternative approaches.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

3 January 2024

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5min read

Woman sitting at laptop smiling with mug in her hand

The world of Headless continues to grow as more agencies offer Headless CMS-backed websites. However, the build process is very different from a WordPress build and the learning curve is steep. This short guide outlines some of the areas that can help you improve your Headless delivery capability.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

19 December 2023

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5min read

Computer screens showing web design process

Bespoke website designs are increasingly common. This short blog explores why this is the case and how bespoke website development is aligned with Headless CMS-backed website builds.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

11 December 2023

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5min read

Mans hands typing at laptop

In recent years microsites have become more popular, for specific campaigns. However, some tech or B2B SaaS startups have decided to follow suit using basic microsites for their startup site. It is vital that these sites include a blog as this article outlines.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

29 November 2023

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5min read

Group of people working together round a table and looking at documents

Having successfully navigated the very early stages of your business, you are beginning to transition to your next phase. Perhaps you’ve some initial traction, or are considering a fundraise? As always your website will be instrumental in supporting these aims. So what are some of the things you need to think about to manage this next phase of your journey?

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

21 November 2023

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5min read

Man working at a laptop

When launching your tech/ B2B SaaS startup the context is one of excitement, mixed with an overwhelming sense of urgency. You may be resource-constrained, time-poor, and facing an ever-growing list of things to do. Nailing your first startup website should make it to the top of your priority list.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

15 November 2023

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5min read

Woman looking confused and frustrated at laptop

As software buyers we want to avoid vendor lock-in. It is no different when it comes to choosing a CMS. Does a Headless CMS lock you in? This article explores.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

25 October 2023

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5min read

image of a happy woman with her hands in the air sat at a computer

What are the problems Contento solves? Who do we solve these problems for? And how good a job do we do at solving them? This short blog looks to find out.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

10 October 2023

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5min read

image of three women working together, one at laptop and two looking at paperwork

The typical CMS upgrade path is from a traditional CMS like WordPress to a Headless CMS - in this short article, we explore what this entails and how you can prepare for it.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

3 October 2023

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5min read

Composite image of woman sat at desk looking frustrated with dollar bill in front of her, with grey squiggle background and decorative multicoloured squiggles

This article explores how much a new website costs - by outlining some of the key drivers of costs including the choice of who you use to build it.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

26 September 2023

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8min read

Composite image of group of people gathered around a laptop with decorative squiggles

Your marketing team is planning a new website. Here are some of the topics you should discuss with them before they commence the project.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

19 September 2023

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5min read

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For VCs and private investors, investing in B2B SaaS and tech companies, building a new website should represent a key early decision for the CEO when it comes to deploying capital.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

15 September 2023

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8min read

Composite image of hand holding a lightbulb on green background with decorative squiggles.

Running more than one CMS is becoming an increasingly common phenomenon. This short article outlines why this is common and how you should approach this issue.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

12 September 2023

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5min read

Image of man being handed a file, with decorative squiggles overlaid.

The CMO role is a demanding one. You tend to be spread thinly and thus it is difficult to stay abreast of the latest technological trends. Yet, when it comes to advances in Content Management Systems (CMS) you must stay on top of the shift away from traditional CMS to Headless.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

5 September 2023

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4 minutes read

Composite image of group of people on laptops around table on decorative light yellow squiggle background

Many web development agencies offer WordPress as their default CMS option. As this blog argues, it is time to diversify. Growing demand for features that WordPress can’t easily deliver means that Headless is exploding as a category. It is time for your agency to offer it as a choice.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

1 August 2023

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5min read

Woman with her head on desk of money

Many Headless CMS providers trip clients up with complex pricing structures. This short article seeks to unpack the issue so you can make sense of what is going on.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

17 July 2023

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5min read

Group of people sat opposite each other at a desk having a meeting.

Your B2B SaaS Homepage is the most important page on your website. This short guide outlines some of the key resources you can use to optimize it.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

5 July 2023

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5min read

Woman sat at computer with hands in the air looking confused

Headless CMS is a strange name for a fast growing category. In this short article we outline some of the resultant issues and suggest some more appropriate names for it.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

26 June 2023

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5min read

Young girl on laptop with blue sphere around the screen and lots of icons flowing around

This beginner’s guide to a Headless CMS helps to illustrate why they are taking off as a popular Content Management System choice by a growing number of companies.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

16 June 2023

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5min read

Top view of a desk with lots of paper and post its and three peoples arms with pens making notes

Replatforming Your CMS is an undertaking that is due to a mix of push and pull factors. This article outlines some of the key factors as well as some of the things you need to consider.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

30 May 2023

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5min read

Group of people round a meeting desk looking at large screen

Website updates and upgrades are particularly important for B2B SaaS websites. It is not simply a case of building a site and leaving it. Sites need to evolve to support ongoing lead-generation efforts.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

23 May 2023

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5min read

Flat lay image of laptop, cactus, cup on a coaster and mobile phone.

It can be difficult to evaluate which Content Management System (CMS) is better for your needs. This article outlines the advantages and disadvantages of both providing you with some ideas from which you can make an informed decision.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

10 May 2023

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5min read

Watercolour drawing of three user interface (UI) designs of a website layout

This article provides an overview of the design elements needed to create high-performing B2B SaaS pages. The article discusses the key elements of a page, such as images, copy, social proof, calls to action (CTA), & positioning. The author also highlights the pages to focus on, including the home page, pricing page, blog page, and dedicated landing page for paid acquisition.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

2 May 2023

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5min read

Padlock open on top of pile of dice

When it comes to growing and scaling websites, security increases in importance when evaluating which Content Management System (CMS) to deploy. Putting good practices in place is the first step, as many security breaches can relate to poor access management.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

27 April 2023

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5min read

Decorative letters S E O

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.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

21 March 2023

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5min read

Neon sign saying this is the sign you've been looking for

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

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

9 March 2023

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5min read

Pile of yellow rubber ducks

When it comes to a Headless CMS for growing and scaling B2B SaaS startups, we believe that Contento will emerge as the most logical option. Enjoying the best of breed features you’d expect from a Headless CMS, married to features designed specifically with the needs of B2B SaaS startups in mind helps ensure that the choice is made a whole lot easier as the sole vertical offering in the CMS space.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

7 March 2023

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5min read

Pair of old boots

WordPress is the world’s most popular Content Management System (CMS) with a purported 4 in 10 websites using it. However, as this blog will argue, WordPress is not a good choice for growing mature companies with ambitions of taking their companies to the next level.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

2 March 2023

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5min read

Casette tape with tape pulled out

There are numerous areas that marketing teams look at to help improve lead generation. In this article, I argue that page speed is an oft-overlooked cause that should always be considered upfront.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

27 February 2023

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5min read

Tuk Tuk driving really fast

When it comes to the benefits of migrating to a Headless CMS, performance is often cited as a primary driver. This short article outlines why this is such a crucial issue and explores how a Headless CMS delivers enhanced performance.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

15 February 2023

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7min read

Headless statue of a woman

For all the drivers to move to a Headless CMS, there are several drawbacks that you need to be aware of. They rarely get much coverage on the sites of the main Headless CMS providers for obvious reasons. The following list thus represents some of the main perceived drawbacks.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

3 February 2023

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5min read

Woman throwing her head back with her hair flying in the air

This short article outlines some of the main differences between static and dynamic sites particularly in the context of comparing a traditional and Headless CMS.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

1 February 2023

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5min read

Illustration of woman sat at desk with laptop and monitor with decorative squiggles

This article outlines the two main types of CMS and helps marketing leaders assess the differences so they can make more informed decisions as to which route to go down.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

28 January 2023

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5min read

Persons hands on laptop keyboard with phone next to desk

This short article outlines what messaging is, why it is important to get right, and why messaging should be front and center of any discussions relating to new website builds.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

26 January 2023

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5 mins read

Two people sat at desk with laptop on, ones hands gesticulating

This article is designed to help marketers to better understand what are some of the key considerations you need to be aware of when considering a move to Headless and will help you to shortlist some options.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

5 January 2023

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7min read

Two men sat at desk on their laptops

As companies grow and consider upgrading their websites, upgrading the CMS is often a part of the journey. This article helps you navigate whether Webflow or a Headless CMS is a better route.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

3 January 2023

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7min read

Two people sat at desk in office looking at monitor

The Jamstack is a widely used cloud-native web development architecture for building modern websites including B2B and SaaS websites. While Jamstack websites don’t have to utilize a Headless CMS, it is an increasingly popular route.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

21 December 2022

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5min read

Two people sat at desk with laptops making notes on paper

This short guide outlines why adapting a structured content approach can help you scale more efficiently.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

14 December 2022

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5min read

Group of people standing round a desk looking at a laptop

Working in marketing in B2B or SaaS is challenging at the best of times, but when it comes to managing a new website project it is never straightforward. After all, it can be a complex activity, with multiple actors and one that may only happen every 2-3 years.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

28 November 2022

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8min read

Website Bloat

For time-pressed CMO’s Headless CMS’s are likely to become more popular in the years to come. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages will be key.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

21 November 2022

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6min read

Illustration of person working on a laptop with social media icons flying round the screen

The goal of this piece is to help you ensure that your SaaS content marketing efforts deliver results. Baking in strong SEO helps avoid that scenario. Neglecting the above will most definitely ensure negligible traffic.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

18 November 2022

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5min read

Illustration of checklist with ticks with Contento icon at top

The world of Content Management Systems is a crowded one. As Nick Huss claimed in his article How Many Websites Are There in the World, there are currently around 1.14 billion of which an estimated 197 million are deemed active.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

18 November 2022

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5min read

Illustration of hand dragging boxes over into Contento screen on tablet

The following guide outlines the steps you need to take if you are considering migrating off WordPress to a Headless CMS like Contento.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

13 October 2022

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7min read

Website Bloat

Read some of the common causes of website bloat for B2B SaaS companies and some tips as to how to address them.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

3 October 2022

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7min read

Illustration of a man sat at a computer

This post outlines some of the key elements you need to consider to ensure your B2B SaaS Homepage is optimised to deliver on it's core objective (which is often lead generation).

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

21 September 2022

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10min read

Illustrations of a person working on UI designs of a website

There are lots of elements to consider as you build out your B2B SaaS website. The blog outlines some of the key things to think about.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

13 September 2022

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10min read

Illustration of a man standing in front of a whiteboard with a big white arrow trending upwards on.

This guide outlines a sales methodology that B2B SaaS startups can use as a starting point to create a robust sales process to support growth.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

25 August 2022

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12min read

Illustration of a laptop with the Contento logo on the screen

Read why we created Contento and why we believe Tech and Marketing leaders from B2B SaaS companies will find what we have created compelling.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

15 August 2022

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7min read

Illustration of woman sat at computer with blocks on the screen

The world of B2B SaaS continues to explode. Yet, it is hard to believe that it is already over 10 years since Marc Andreessen famously claimed that “software is eating the world”.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

11 August 2022

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6min read

Watercolor UI designs of website layout

As you look to migrate your website it is recommended that you utilise a checklist to cover off the main tasks associated with the project. The below list represents a good starting point so that you cover off some of the main tasks needed.

Alan GleesonGrey Ellipse Icon

14 July 2022

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5min read