Is Prismic the Right CMS?

With so many different CMS platforms available, all with differing but similar offerings, it can be hard to know which one is the best. In this blog we will focus on Prismic, a CMS that we use for some of our clients, we will dive into what it is, why it might be right for your business and what makes it stand out. 

What is Prismic CMS?

Prismic is a headless CMS. A headless CMS is a backend-only content management system, meaning that, unlike traditional monolithic CMS platforms, the front end of the website (that visitors interact with) is not inherently tied to the backend.  This offers flexibility and freedom in content delivery by allowing development teams to use the latest and most performant technologies, rather than being dictated and restricted by a prescribed frontend that is one element of the monolithic stack.

Why Prismic might be the right CMS for you?

It is important when choosing a CMS that you ensure the CMS has the correct benefits for your business and the people who will be using the system day in, and day out. 

One of the main advantages of Prismic is that it’s a website-focused CMS and therefore the usability of it is a lot more familiar to anyone who comes from a traditional CMS background. Prismic is known for its slick user interface and ease of use. It’s designed to be straightforward for anyone who requires access to it and removes a lot of complexity that comes with more traditional CMS platforms. 

For businesses that have multiple pieces of content being released in one week or perhaps need content to be released over the weekend, Prismic enables you to schedule the content. This helps businesses become more efficient in their marketing efforts, meaning that they can be more proactive and have content ready to go ahead of specific events such as Black Friday. 

For international businesses who need content to be translated into multiple languages, Prismic provides built-in options for managing said content making it easier for businesses to reach a global audience. 

As a headless CMS, Prismic delivers content through APIs, making it super flexible in terms of the front-end technology you can use. This means you can build your site with modern frameworks and technologies like React, Vue or Angular. 

What makes Prismic stand out?

There are many different headless CMS platforms available for businesses to use, so why would we recommend Prismic?

A composable, headless approach to websites is something we've been doing at LAB for some time.  And whilst we're ultimately agnostic on the CMS platform used, there are a number of considerations we take into account when suggesting the most suitable CMS for our clients, based on their specific requirements now, and what they're likely going to need in the future. 

Whilst some headless CMS focus on creating an agnostic content repository - where content can be served to any endpoint, this can result in a less structured UI, which can be harder for marketers to navigate. The Prismic CMS however has been designed with a focus on managing content specifically for websites.  So whilst it can still be used to handle content for mobile apps, kiosks or other endpoints, Prismic can offer a much more familiar interface for marketers who are used to the structure and features of a website-focused CMS. 

- Mike Steer, Technical Director.

Prismic provides a great feature that allows users to preview their work exactly as it will appear live and the ability to share these previews with non-users via draft links. By having the ability to share these previews with other members of the business without the need to put them on a staging site or set them live prior to sign-off, businesses can increase the efficiency of setting content live as this will reduce the back-and-forth amends that commonly happen in businesses every day. 

Prismic has a variety of different cost models to choose from, ensuring that you are able to choose the correct subscription depending on the size of your business. They offer a free subscription which allows 1 user to have access to the basic features which works well for a sole trader all the way up to an enterprise subscription which is

for large companies who need advanced security and support. With 4 different options in between those two, they really have covered a wide variety of different businesses and their needs. 

What is Prismic like in comparison to other CMS platforms?

WordPress

The most popular CMS globally, WordPress is a more traditional CMS and whilst it now offers a "headless" option, this has been retrofitted, as opposed to being designed from the ground up to be headless, like Prismic. While WordPress offers extensive plugin ecosystems, it might not provide the same level of flexibility in creating highly customised content structures as Prismic does.  There are also considerations around monthly support and security, with regards to maintaining plugin updates.  As Prismic is a SAAS platform, there are no such requirements.

Contentful

Contentful is an industry-leading headless CMS. It is endpoint agnostic - meaning it does not know (or care) what the content is being used for (website, app, kiosk, etc).  This different approach means that the CMS is more of a content repository, and is a great choice if you are looking to power many different endpoints, but may be overly complex if the goal is simply to power a website.  It offers a more extensive feature set and integration capabilities, which might be too much for smaller projects or teams looking for simpler solutions. And whilst there are lower-priced entry plans, Contentful can become more expensive at scale.

Key Takeaways

• User-Friendly Interface: Prismic excels in its straightforward and easy-to-use interface, making content management accessible to users of all technical levels. Its simplicity streamlines the process, eliminating the complexities often associated with traditional CMS platforms and enhancing overall efficiency.  Features such as live preview, and the recently revamped page builder and media library make managing content a much more straightforward process.

• Streamlined Content Scheduling: Prismic empowers businesses to schedule content releases, facilitating proactive marketing strategies and timely updates. This functionality proves invaluable for enterprises with frequent content changes or campaigns with strict timelines.

• Global Content Reach: Prismic supports content translation into multiple languages, catering to the needs of international businesses. This built-in localisation feature simplifies the process of reaching diverse audiences worldwide, enhancing the platform's suitability for global markets.

• Integration and Cost-Effectiveness: Prismic seamlessly integrates with various tools and technologies, allowing businesses to utilise preferred frameworks and languages. Furthermore, its range of cost models, from free subscriptions for individual users to enterprise-level options, ensures affordability and scalability, making it a cost-effective choice for businesses of all sizes.

If you'd like to learn more about Prismic, our team would love to hear from you, please feel free to get in touch. We're an experienced Prismic agency so we can provide advice based on first-hand experience.