What is CMS development?
CMS development is building a website or application on a content management system, so non-technical staff can create, edit and publish content such as products, articles and job openings without changing code. It covers the content structure, the editing screens, the publishing workflow and the site that displays the content.
A CMS is only useful if its content model fits the business. A catalogue needs product fields, categories and specifications; a careers page needs roles, locations and applications. We design the content structure first, then the editing screens around who updates what.
We build on a headless CMS with a Next.js frontend when speed and flexibility matter, or a traditional CMS when a simpler setup fits. Either way, your team is trained to run it.
- How often does your product range change, and who updates it?
- Which languages do your customers read?
- Can search engines and your analytics see what changed?
From content audit to launch
A CMS is built around your content, not the other way round. We audit and model the content first, build the site and the editing experience, migrate everything and train your editors.
1. Content audit
We list what content you have, what changes often and who is responsible for each part.
2. Content model
Content types, fields and editing roles, agreed with you before any build.
3. Build the CMS and site
Editing screens and the public site built together, with SEO foundations in place.
4. Migrate content
Existing content cleaned up with your team and moved across.
5. Train editors and launch
Each editor learns the content they own, then the site goes live.
6. Support
A named contact for questions, fixes and new content types as you need them.
Why website content goes stale
Every change needs a developer
Small edits wait in a queue, so content drifts out of date.
Catalogue in a PDF
Products live in brochures and spreadsheets, and the website shows last year's range.
The content model doesn't fit
Generic page builders force products, roles and articles into the same shape.
Translations drift apart
Each language is a separate copy, edited at different times, until they no longer match.
SEO added later
Titles, page structure, analytics and tags are missing at launch and patched in afterwards.
No editing rules
Either anyone can publish anything, or only one person can. Both cause problems.
What we build
- 01
Product catalogues
Categories, specifications, images and enquiry options, editable by your team.
- 02
Blogs and news
Articles with authors, categories and scheduling, structured for search from the day they are published.
- 03
Careers pages
Open roles, locations and application forms that your HR team manages directly.
- 04
Multilingual content
Content structured per language, with a clear status for what still needs translating.
- 05
SEO foundations
On-page structure, metadata, sitemaps, analytics and tag manager, set up at launch.
- 06
Roles and publishing workflow
Who can draft, review and publish, so changes are controlled without creating a bottleneck.
Headless or traditional CMS
Neither is better in general. The right one depends on your content and who edits it.
| Factor | Headless CMS | Traditional CMS |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Content is stored in the CMS and displayed by a separate frontend, such as Next.js | The CMS manages both the content and the site's pages |
| Speed and design control | Fast pages and full control of the design | Depends on the theme and plugins chosen |
| Content reuse | The same content can feed a website, an app or other channels | Mainly serves one website |
| Editing experience | Structured forms; live previews need setting up | Familiar page editing out of the box |
| Best when | Large catalogues, several languages or channels, and plans to grow | A simpler site with mostly fixed pages |
We recommend one after reviewing your content and the people who will edit it.
A catalogue website the team runs itself
A CMS website with a 50+ product catalogue, and editable products, blogs and careers, delivered in four weeks.
Catalogue Platform: Structured Product Catalogue
A normalised, CMS-managed catalogue of 50+ surfaces and fittings that buyers can filter, compare and enquire on.
- 50+
- Products modelled
- 4 wk
- Full build
- 5
- Product attribute types
Where to go next
Next JS
Next.js development for fast, search-friendly websites and web apps: server rendering, static pages, App Router, Auth.js or Clerk, deployed on Vercel or your cloud.
Learn moreWeb Application Development
Web application development for growing businesses: one system for orders, tasks, approvals and reporting, with an owner for every step instead of spreadsheets.
Learn moreFrontend Development
Frontend development in React, Next.js and TypeScript for screens staff use all day: quick, clear, accessible and responsive, built on a design system you own.
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your content and team. We use a headless CMS with Next.js for flexible, fast sites, and a traditional CMS for simpler ones. We recommend one after a content review.
Yes, for the content types we set up: products, articles, roles and pages. Structural changes, such as a new type of page, still need development.
Yes. We migrate existing content, after clearing out what is out of date with your team.
We set up the foundations: on-page structure, metadata, sitemaps, analytics and tag manager. Ongoing marketing and content writing are not part of our service.
Yes. Content is structured per language, and editors can see which pages still need translating.
Yes. A catalogue can pull from your product or stock data, and enquiry and application forms can feed your CRM or operations system.
It depends on content volume and features. As a reference, we delivered a CMS website with a 50+ product catalogue and editable products, blogs and careers in four weeks.
Tired of waiting for a developer to change a page?
Tell us what your team needs to update. We will propose a content model and the right CMS for it.
Or write directly to support@algonsolutions.com