Articles - Page 127

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/andycohen">Andy Cohen</a><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/critics/deane"> </a>is the founding architect of Sitecore XM Cloud. He is VP/Chief Architect at <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.altudo.co/">Altudo</a>, and a CMS Critic contributor. <hr /> When people talk about personalization, they often mean “the right content to the right person at the right time.” That idea is now past tense.I have watched this shift play out up close, from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/sitecore">Sitecore’s</a> early rules-based personalization, through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/contentstack">Contentstack’s</a> use of edge-based personalization in a composable architecture, to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/products/optimizely">Optimizely’s</a> launch of Opal, a system of marketing AI agents. Personalization no longer stops at swapping content on a page. It now reaches into the interaction itself, and soon, into the relationships agents form with one another.<h3 id="when-agents-adapt-to-us">When Agents Adapt to Us</h3>That shift, from “what” to “how,” is where the major CMS players are already moving, and you can see it in the different bets they're making:<ul><li>Contentstack has put its weight behind <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/livin-on-the-edge-contentstacks-new-adaptive-dxp-might-just-rock-your-world">EDGE</a>, which they call a hyper-personalization platform. It blends their headless CMS with a real-time CDP, AI, and automation. The goal is simple but ambitious: deliver one-to-one experiences in the moment and at scale. Because it is composable, brands can adapt interactions without locking themselves into rigid patterns. What strikes me about EDGE is that it reframes personalization as something continuous, not a campaign you set and forget.</li><li>Optimizely has taken another route with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/optimizely-opal-gets-supercharged-for-agentic-ai-powering-infinite-use-cases-for-marketers">Opal</a>. Instead of a single assistant, Opal is built as a collection of agents that act like members of a marketing team. There is a campaign manager agent, a personalization advisor, a market researcher, and more. With the 2.0 release, Optimizely put the emphasis on letting these agents collaborate and run multi-step workflows across content, data, and experimentation. I have seen teams spend weeks coordinating those same steps manually. Opal hints at a world where marketing execution is handled by an ensemble of digital teammates who can plan, act, and adjust together.</li><li>Sitecore has focused on bringing assistance directly into daily work. Through <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.sitecore.com/products/sitecore-stream">Stream</a>, they have introduced AI copilots that support authors and marketers in real time as they draft and optimize campaigns. On top of that, Sitecore’s partnership with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/sitecore-sharpens-ai-focus-with-strategic-partnership-and-new-leadership-appointments">Gradial</a> shows how agentic workflows can extend into campaign execution. It is not just about smarter editors or quicker drafts. It is about agents that can carry intent through to delivery and adapt along the way. For a company that has lived for years in the world of static content publishing, that is a meaningful step forward.</li></ul>None of these approaches feels like a gimmick.They are different answers to the same problem: personalization is no longer about what content you are shown, it is about how the interaction unfolds. Whether that happens through hyper-personalization at the edge, through orchestrated marketing agents, or via copilots and execution partners, the shift is real and already in motion.<h3 id="what-nondeterminism-really-means">What Nondeterminism Really Means</h3>Most software behaves like math: 2 + 2 always equals 4. Generative AI does not. Ask it to draft a thank-you note and you will get three different answers, all plausible, none identical. That variability is what we call nondeterminism.It is the very thing that makes AI feel creative, but also the reason it needs personalization to stay useful. As <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://parivedasolutions.com/perspectives/managing-the-non-deterministic-nature-of-generative-ai/">Pariveda Solutions points out</a>, nondeterminism is what makes AI flexible and creative, but it also introduces governance challenges that remain unresolved. In my own work with <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cmscritic.com/getting-loud-with-xm-cloud-sitecore-reports-100-growth-of-its-ai-powered-cloud-based-cms">XM Cloud,</a> I have seen how unpredictable outcomes can be a feature if the system adapts well – and a liability if it does not.<h3 id="when-agents-adapt-to-each-other">When Agents Adapt to Each Other</h3>The next frontier is agents adapting not just to us but to each other. Nondeterminism multiplies when two autonomous systems interact. They need ways to converge on workable outcomes.Sometimes that looks like adjusting communication style, where one agent is structured and terse, another free-form and verbose. Sometimes, it means learning to accept differences in task style, such as fast approximation versus cautious step-by-step reasoning. Other times it's about role negotiation: who leads, who validates, who escalates.And sometimes it is memory. Agents do not just adapt in the moment; they remember. That memory can look like a grudge. A search agent that hallucinated last time will get fact-checked the next. A procurement agent that botched a deal may face stricter oversight. Even first impressions stick. If an agent’s very first hand-off is sloppy, the other agent may never fully trust it, no matter how good the later work becomes.Humans behave the same way. In corporate life, one bad kickoff meeting can color a partnership for months. Agents will carry those patterns too.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.deepset.ai/blog/ai-agents-and-deterministic-workflows-a-spectrum"> Deepset calls this the “spectrum of determinism to nondeterminism</a>.” I call it relationship management.<h3 id="everyday-illustrations">Everyday Illustrations</h3>Picture a grocery agent told to buy apples if they are $0.99 a pound. A deterministic system comes back empty because they are $1.09. An adaptive one checks with you, “They are a little higher today. Should I buy anyway?” That is useful, until the store’s own agent learns to nudge yours into paying even more.Or ride-hailing. You set a $20 target. The price surges to $23. Do you want your agent to decline, wait, or decide on its own? What happens when the ride-share’s agent starts upselling yours into priority pickup at $28?Or travel. You say, “Book me a flight under $500.” The system finds none. A flexible agent returns with, “There is one at $525 with better times. Should I grab it?” Helpful, but it shows how quickly rules can bend.In the enterprise, this gets thornier. Procurement policies might cap software licenses at $50 per seat. A deterministic agent halts the deal. A personalized one negotiates to $55 and closes it. That looks like a win until you realize the vendor’s agent deliberately anchored higher, knowing yours would flex upward.Healthcare raises the stakes even more. You ask for an appointment with your doctor next week. A rigid agent says none available. A personalized one offers a nurse practitioner tomorrow or a specialist in two weeks. That looks like a better experience, but it could also push you toward higher-margin services instead of the care you really wanted.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.salesforce.com/blog/deterministic-ai/">Salesforce has written about this exact problem</a> of when to script agents tightly and when to let them roam. I see it every day in delivery projects. Too rigid and you frustrate users. Too loose and you open the door to manipulation.<h3 id="agents-that-carry-“you”-with-them">Agents That Carry “You” With Them</h3>Now push it further. Imagine your agent not only executes tasks but carries your personality footprint into every interaction. If you are cost-sensitive, it pushes harder. If you are time-poor, it pays more for speed. If you are detail-driven, it double-checks everything.What if you could swap personas entirely?<ul><li>"Frugal Andy" does the grocery shopping</li><li>"Executive Andy" books the flights</li><li>"Playful Andy" explores games and hobbies.</li></ul>Your agent would not only personalize to you. It would personalize as you.But there is risk in this. If the other agent knows who you are or which persona you are using, it can adapt back. That can be powerful when aligned with your goals, but it can also be exploited. Imagine a vendor agent that recognizes executive mode and steers you toward premium packages.This is not hypothetical. Optimizely’s Opal agents already act like different team members depending on context. Contentstack’s Brand Kit lets you define voice profiles and store guidelines so that every AI-generated artifact reflects your identity. Sitecore’s Stream copilots are designed to guide content creators in real time, aligning their work with brand and role expectations.These are early signals of a future where agents carry pieces of us, including quirks, preferences, and even biases, into every exchange.<h3 id="why-this-matters">Why This Matters</h3>This is why nondeterminism is not a flaw but the feature. Deterministic systems did not need personalization. There was only one output. Nondeterministic systems can go in many directions, and personalization is what prevents chaos.The best metaphor I know is jazz. Musicians improvising do not know exactly where the others will go. They adapt, they respond, they personalize their playing to the group. The music works not because it is scripted but because the players trust each other enough to bend and flex.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/quantumblack/our-insights/seizing-the-agentic-ai-advantage">McKinsey has argued</a> that this adaptability is the defining advantage of agentic AI. From what I have seen in publishing systems, SaaS cost optimization, and large-scale CMS migrations, I agree. The resilience comes not from rigid plans but from the ability to adapt in context.<h3 id="what-leaders-should-prepare-for">What Leaders Should Prepare For</h3>Leaders should focus on their readiness in key areas. For example, trust frameworks must extend beyond human-agent interactions into agent-to-agent ecosystems. Standards cannot stay as fixed APIs; they need flexibility built in. Identity management has to protect personality profiles and alter egos from misuse. And agents must be able to remember not just what they did for us, but how they worked with others.<h3 id="the-future-of-personalization">The Future of Personalization</h3>Personalization started with content. It evolved into experiences. Now, it is moving into interactions – first with humans and then with other agents.If we get this right, nondeterminism will not be something to suppress. It will be the source of resilience, adaptability, and creativity. The companies that thrive will not just personalize their websites. They will personalize their agents. Those agents will adapt to us, and to each other, in ways that reflect who we are or even who we choose to be.And like humans, they will remember. First impressions will matter. Grudges may form. And relationships between agents will start to look a lot like relationships between people. <hr /><h3 id="upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</h3> <img style="width:31.61%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/storyblok-joyconf-2025-logo.jpg" /><h4 id="storyblok-joyconf-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Storyblok JoyConf 2025</a></h4>October 14-15, 2025 – Amsterdam, Netherlands November 4, 2025 – New York, NY November 6, 2025 – Los Angeles, CAJoin us at JoyConf 2025, where the future of content meets the people shaping it. Built for developers, marketers, and digital innovators, this free conference goes way beyond product updates or yet another strategy playbook. It’s where you’ll get inspired, get real, and get connected – to ideas, to the community, and to what’s possible when you build joyfully. Whether you're building lightning-fast frontends or launching cross-channel campaigns, this is where content becomes connection and collaboration becomes second nature. Come for the talks. Stay for the community. Leave with joy. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://joyconf.storyblok.com/">Save your spot.</a> <img style="width:28.9%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/sitecore-symposium-2025.jpg" /><h4 id="sitecore-symposium-2025"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Sitecore Symposium 2025</a></h4>November 3-5, 2025 – Orlando, FLAt Sitecore Symposium, you’ll learn how to meet your customers where they are – across channels, moments, and touchpoints that didn’t exist a year ago. You’ll hear how the boldest brands in the world are transforming content into outcomes and creating experiences that are fast, relevant, and human. Join 1,500 marketers, digital leaders, and technologists in Orlando to see what’s possible when personalization scales, AI accelerates creativity, and trust becomes your competitive edge. This is the Third Wave of the Internet. And this is your moment to lead in it. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://symposium.sitecore.com/">Get your tickets today.</a> <img style="width:31.44%" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2025/08/cms-kickoff-2026-logo.png" alt="" /><h4 id="cms-kickoff-2026"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">CMS Kickoff 2026</a></h4>January 13-14, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FLMeet industry leaders at our fourth annual CMS Kickoff – the industry's premier global CMS event. Similar to a traditional kickoff, we reflect on recent trends and share stories from the frontlines. Additionally, we will delve into the current happenings and shed light on the future. Prepare for an unparalleled in-person CMS conference experience that will equip you to move things forward. This is an exclusive event – space is limited, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.boye-co.com/conferences/cmskickoff26">so secure your tickets today.</a>

Agent-to-Agent Personalization: Trust, First Impressions, and the 'Grudge' Factor

andycohen

The <a href="/squarespace-releases-squarespace-7/" target="_blank">recently announced Squarespace 7 beta</a> is still being rolled out, but I've managed to put together an up-to-date <a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/squarespace-review/" target="_blank">Squarespace 7 review</a> to give you a peek at what it's like.
More than anything else, Squarespace 7 is mainly an upgrade for your eyes to enjoy. A revamped admin interface that looks more professional is accompanied by 15 brand new templates, each one as shiny and Squarespace-esque as the last. 
Although, there has been functional enhancements too. Live editing is now a key part of the Squarespace experience, managing a Squarespace blog has become a little easier, Getty images are now easily accessible, and Google Apps for Business fans can enjoy simple integration.
<a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/squarespace-review/" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-1700x0.png" alt="Squarespace 7 Review" /></a> All in all, it's pretty much the same old Squarespace, but it now looks even better than before. Which is some achivement. 
The review has been published over at <a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/" target="_blank">Website Builders Critic</a>. Here's an excerpt:
<blockquote>
“Sure, Squarespace 7 should have brought more flexibility in terms of eCommerce payment options, and it could have introduced some more blog management features, too. But overall, Squarespace was, and still is, a fantastic website building tool that's easy to use.
It has an air of professionalism that other website builders lack (even more so than before). This, along with a policy of premium-only plans, places Squarespace into a rather unique place within the website builder industry. It's quick, easy and cheap, but the end product would make anybody think the exact opposite.”
</blockquote>
Check out the full review here: <a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/squarespace-review/" target="_blank">Squarespace 7 Review: Just How Good Is It?</a>

Squarespace 7 Review

mike-johnston

Open Source software, by definition, is freely available to the public. Anybody and everbody can use it, add to it and create extensions for it.
In contrast, closed source, or proprietary software, is a model that restricts public access to the source code of the product in question. Only the owners of the software can tinker with it.
Both of these models are well represented within the CMS industry and beyond, and both have their merits. Unsurprisingly though, the world of open source is the busier one, with the public contributing to it as much as any one company could ever imagine.
And yet, <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/" target="_blank">PrestaShop</a> – one of the world’s most popular eCommerce solutions – has played an interesting and notable role in the open source eCommerce industry.
Here’s a look at what they’ve done to further the open source cause.
<img style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/download.jpg" />
<h2>Community Service</h2>
Since its launch in 2007, PrestaShop has grown into one of the world's most popular eCommerc solutions, powering over 200,000 online stores world-wide. How, you ask? The PrestaShop team probably said it best:
<blockquote>
“Each merchant and community member carries out projects large and small that contribute to not only their personal growth, but also the growth of PrestaShop. We continue to work hand-in-hand with the community and are passionate about creating features, modules, and templates according to their needs. The success of our software is thanks to countless hours by numerous contributors from around the world.”
</blockquote>
That same community, which is reportedly 700,000 strong, along with PrestaShop's own contributions, has come together to make PrestaShop what it is. Together, they improve their software, fix bugs, create extensions, build themes and so forth.
Plus, PrestaShop's community have their own headquarters, otherwise known as the PrestaShop forums. With over 620,000 registered members, the forum is a multi-lingual hive of all things PrestaShop. In essence then, they have fostered an eCommerce-focused open source community within the larger open source community.
It would be appropriate to say that PrestaShop's inclusion in two categories for the People's Choice CMS Awards 2014, is thanks to their hardworking community.
<h2>An Oncoming Cloud</h2>
There’s a cloud coming, but it’s not dark and gloomy. Quite the contraary, actually.
Recently, PrestaShop announced PrestaShop Cloud. It has everything PrestaShop users have come to know and love, but it’s hosted entirely in the cloud. For free.
That’s right. PrestaShop are on the brink of delivering a world class free, open source and cloud hosted eCommerce solution.
PrestaShop Cloud is currently still in closed beta, and everybody has been invited to <a href="http://www.prestashop.com/en/beta" target="_blank">sign up</a> for their chance to test it out before its official launch.
A hosted version of PrestaShop is no minor step. It’s a chance to bring the open source project even closer to those aspiring online merchants who simply don’t know how or where to begin their journey. Once again, it;s a service to the community, and a massive one at that.
So, with a thriving open source centric community, and a fully cloud hosted solution on the horizon, it’s fair to say that PrestaShop is doing a fine job of flying the open source flag for the eCommerce industry.

A Look at PrestaShop’s Contribution to The World of Open Source

The Concrete5 Marketplace consists of a <a href="http://www.concrete5.org/marketplace/themes/" target="_blank">Themes marketplace</a> and an <a href="http://www.concrete5.org/marketplace/addons/" target="_blank">Add-ons Marketplace</a>. Both have now been upgraded to include dedicated Concrete5 5.7 sections.
The open-source content management system has a strong history and a firm community. Recently, <a href="/concrete5-5.7-released-and-updated/" target="_blank">version 5.7 was released, and then swiftly upgraded</a> with a further two minor updates.
From amongst these latest updates to the marketplace though, merchants offering add-ons and themes within the Concrete5 marketplace have enhanced capabilities. For example, developers can sell 30 day support windows and offer upgrades from one add-on/theme to another.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-13700x0.png" />
Here's a video explaining all the new Concrete5 Marketplace upgrades:
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LonNkW_KQ8I?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
The announcement was made via the <a href="http://www.concrete5.org/about/blog/core-releases/some-updates-to-concrete5-org/" target="_blank">Concrete5 blog</a>.
To learn more, check out <a href="/products/concrete5/" target="_blank">Concrete5 via our CMS Directory</a>.

Concrete5 Introduces Marketplace Improvements

WordPress is the most vulnerable CMS to cyber attacks, according to a report by Imperva, a data security firm. 
The Imperva Web Application Attack Report (WAAR) – an annual report now published for the fifth time – <a href="http://blog.imperva.com/2014/10/imperva-web-application-attack-report-waar-5.html" target="_blank">was recently released via the Imperva blog</a>. Amongst a long list of findings, it turns out that websites running on WordPress are attacked 24% more than those running on all other content management systems combined.
Here's a closer look at the report.
<h2>WordPress In Hacker Crosshairs</h2>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/wplogoblue-stacked-rgb.png" />
In section 2.2.2 of the Imperva report, WordPress was identified as having suffered 60% more Cross Site Scripting incidents than all other CMS-running websites combined.
Other key findings include an increase of 10% in SQL Injection attacks, while retail websites were targeted by 48.1% of all attack campaigns. 
The most alarming find though, that WordPress is attacked 24% more than all other CMS combined, comes in the form of a graph within the report. The graph pits WordPress against, “the other popular CMS systems”.
Notably however, the other popular CMS were not named. 
Why WordPress in particular though? Imperva weigh in with this insight:
<blockquote>
“When an application or a platform becomes popular, hackers realize that the ROI from hacking into these platforms or applications will be fruitful, so they spend more time researching and exploiting these applications, either to steal data from them, or to use the hacked systems as zombies in a botnet.”
</blockquote>
A question I personally have about the report, is wether the sheer amount of live WordPress websites compared to any other CMS had any impact on the findings. Is WordPress hacked more often simply because it exists more abundantly, or because it is the most vulnerable CMS on the market? 
I'd be inclined to the former conclusion.
To read the blog announcement of this report, <a href="http://blog.imperva.com/2014/10/imperva-web-application-attack-report-waar-5.html" target="_blank">click here</a>. Otherwise, you can <a href="http://www.imperva.com/docs/HII_Web_Application_Attack_Report_Ed5.pdf" target="_blank">download the report for yourself</a>.

Imperva Report: WordPress Is The "Most Attacked" CMS

<a href="https://www.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Weebly</a>, the world-famous website builder, has just made their iPad users' lives a whole lot easier.
Powering millions of websites worldwide, Weebly has built its reputation by enabling users to build good-looking websites via a drag-and-drop system, for free.
Weebly for iPad was the Weebly community's, “second most requested feature”, and it's not difficult to see why. Weebly's interface is ideal for touchscreens. This also means that Weebly is the first website builder to be completely functional on an iPad. Let's look at what it can do.
<h2>Weebly for iPad</h2>
According to the Weebly announcement:
<blockquote>“[We have brought] the drag and drop experience to life in a way you’ve never seen before with the ability to both create and edit a website on the iPad. It’s been a huge technical challenge to make every site ever created with Weebly editable on iPad.”</blockquote>
That's right. If you have a Weebly website, you can now edit it on an iPad, just as you can on a desktop, for free.
Here's a video demonstrating what Weebly for iPad is capable of.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cAuKRyuHQcc?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Below are some of the Weebly for iPad features:
<ul>
<li>New interface and design language built specifically for touchscreen. Site Selector, Element Sidebar and Image Editing flows completely overhauled for tablet experience.</li>
<li>Any website created with Weebly is editable from the iPad (stores and blogs coming soon!)</li>
<li>Element Sidebar naturally collapses and expands while you work or with a swipe, maximizing screen real estate.</li>
<li>Powerful new editing capabilities optimized for the iPad, you can now edit images and customize font color with intuitive touchscreen motions.</li>
<li>Save and sync work across devices so you can pick up where you left off on desktop or mobile.</li>
<li>Offline mode captures updates made without an internet connection. Work anywhere!</li>
<li>Manage your website’s SEO right from your iPad</li>
<li>One of the first apps built uniquely for iOS 8, leverages the new operating system to create an experience unlike anything you’ve seen before on the iPad.</li>
</ul>
On top of these features, Weebly have announced that they will also release these functions, in due time:
<ul>
<li>Create and edit blogs and stores</li>
<li>Analytics and stats</li>
<li>Android tablet app</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/8107663_orig700x0.png" />
To download the Weebly for iPad app for free, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/weebly/id511158309" target="_blank">visit the iTune store</a>. For more information, check out the <a href="http://blog.weebly.com/post/weebly-for-ipad" target="_blank">official blog announcement</a>.
Plus, explore more of <a href="/products/weebly/" target="_blank">Weebly via our CMS Directory</a>.

Weebly for iPad Goes Live

Squarespace, the popular website builder, has announced the release of Squarespace 7 to the public.
Squarespace 7 features a number of significant changes including a completely redesigned interface, integration with Getty Images making over 40 million images available for just $10 each, an integration with Google Apps allowing for easy email setup under your domain, and more.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9IDeKXQuiik?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<h2>Squarespace 7 – The Interface</h2>
What's new with the interface in Squarespace 7? Quite a bit actually. The team has worked hard to make the interface cleaner and more intuitive.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/squarespace_7_interface_screenshot_11086x0.png" alt="squarespace_7_interface_screenshot_1" />
As you can see, there is a new sidebar to the left that contains quick access to all of your menus. The process of getting around on your site is much easier as a result. The bulk of the editing tools are now more easily accessible, something that makes Squarespace more competitive against other website builders such as <a href="https://www.weebly.com/">Weebly</a> and Wix for instance.
Furthermore, they've added front end editing capabilities. Simply hover over an editable area and the interface reveals itself. A quick click lets you make the necessary changes quickly and easily.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/squarespace_7_interface_screenshot_21086x0.png" alt="squarespace_7_interface_screenshot_2" />
<h2>Squarespace 7 – Getty Images Integration</h2>
For those looking for high quality images to use within your website or blog, Squarespace has also struck a deal with Getty Images giving you the ability to quickly purchase and use an image from their massive repository at a very reasonable $10 per image.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/gettyimages.jpg" alt="getting images" />
This is a great way to get beautiful imagery for your site at a fraction of the cost of typical photography websites. Sure, there are less expensive ones but having the option is always nice.
<h2>Squarespace 7 – Cover Pages</h2>
Bad news for website builders like <a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/website_builders/reviews/strikingly/" target="_blank">Strikingly</a> (which specializes in single page websites) is the new introduction of Cover Pages. Cover pages let you quickly make single page websites or simply create powerful landing pages to grab a readers attention.
Here's a great example of one:
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/squarespace_7_-_cover_pages1042x0.jpg" alt="squarespace_7_-_cover_pages" />
<h2>Google Apps Integration</h2>
For businesses like ours that integrate with Google Apps for email, documents and more, this is exciting news. Squarespace 7 can link your domain to branded email accounts, office productivity tools, cloud storage, and more via Google Apps.
<h2>Wait, there's more! </h2>
These are only some of the new features that Squarespace 7 brings to the table. To learn more and sign up for a free trial of Squarespace to try them out, <a href="http://www.squarespace.com">visit Squarespace today</a>.

Squarespace releases Squarespace 7

<a href="https://ghost.org/" target="_blank">Ghost</a>, the blogging world's newest platform, has given users custom post meta data features, and has also changed the prices charged for Ghost Pro, their hosted solution.
Released in late 2013, Ghost is still relatively young platform. It offers a simplified user interface for uses to focus on creating good blog content, and has been tipped to soon oust WordPress as the number one blogging platform on the market. 
Not long ago, along with the release of Ghost 0.5, Ghost announced that they would be <a href="/ghost-0.5-released-with-re-written-admin-ui-multi-user-support-more/" target="_blank">updating their platform on a far more regular basis</a>. The introduction of custom post meta data features and a rethink on pricing for Ghost Pro are two such updates, coming in quick succession.
<h2>Custom Post Meta Data</h2>
Ghost users can now add a custom meta title and description to all their posts and pages within Ghost. Naturally, this means a higher level of control over your search engine optimization management for individual posts and pages.
The GIF below shows you how it's done.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/meta.gif" /> Search engine optimization is on every blogger's mind, so Ghost users will definitely be glad to see this feature now up and running. You can find out more about this feature <a href="http://blog.ghost.org/post-meta/" target="_blank">right here</a>.
<h2>Ghost Pro Pricing</h2>
Furthermore, Ghost have had a rethink regarding their price plans for Ghost Pro, their premium, hosted service.
Firstly, prices have gone up slightly. Secondly, view allocations have also gone up. Thirdly, there are no more website suspensions if you go over your view allocation. 
Below are the updated plans, now starting from $10 per month. <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/pricing700x0.png" /> To find out more about how Ghost Pro pricing has changed, check out the <a href="http://blog.ghost.org/new-ghostpro-plans/" target="_blank">official blog announcement</a>. 
Also, <a href="https://ghost.org/" target="_blank">visit the Ghost website</a> to get started on your blog.

Ghost Unveils Custom Post Meta Data & Rethinks Pricing

Call Tracking + AI 

Call Tracking + AI that Turns Calls into Leads

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<a href="http://hotarucms.org/" target="_blank">Hotaru CMS</a> has just released version 1.6.4, bringing about a number of core changes. 
Hotaru allows users to build social bookmarking and social media websites. With over 4,200 members, they have a decent sized and <a href="http://forums.hotarucms.org/" target="_blank">tightly-knit community</a> residing in the Hotaru forums too.
Version 1.6.4 is the latest in a flurry of updates coming after the release of Hotaru CMS 1.6.0, which went live on September 19th 2014. Here's a look into what's new, since then.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sshot-1.png" />
<h2>All Hotaru CMS Fixes From version 1.6.0 to 1.6.4</h2>
The Hotaru CMS team has been busy in these last few weeks, releasing no less than 4 updates. Here they all are, in order.
<h3>Version 1.6.0</h3>
<ul>
<li>Fixed problems with new install that existed in beta </li>
<li>Please read ReadMe file for install and upgrade instructions</li>
</ul>
<h3>Version 1.6.1</h3>
<ul>
<li>Critical Updates for Admin – plugin management </li>
<li>Icon updates with FA</li>
</ul>
<h3>Version 1.6.2</h3>
<ul>
<li>Replaced CSRF with new code </li>
<li>Replaced PEAR Mail with PHP Mailer</li>
<li>Admin Template updates</li>
<li>Comments css updated</li>
<li>CSRF fix for post_images plugin</li>
<li>hotaru shortlink call for update post imge</li>
<li>admin styling</li>
<li>add fields for forum username/pwd in admin settings</li>
<li>auto check for plugin update stage 1</li>
</ul>
<h3>Version 1.6.3</h3>
<ul>
<li>A number of admin page fixes</li>
<li>Plugin version number updates coming direct from Forum Resources to Admin Dashboard now</li>
<li>Hotaru Version umber update also coming direct from Forum area to Dashboard</li>
</ul>
<h3>And Finally, Version 1.6.4</h3>
<ul>
<li>Fix for Pages url link for sites not using friendly urls</li>
<li>A few extra startup plugins included in this package also</li>
</ul>
To download Hotaru CMS, or if you just want to learn more about them, check out the <a href="http://hotarucms.org/" target="_blank">Hotaru CMS website</a>, or <a href="http://forums.hotarucms.org/" target="_blank">join their community</a>.

Hotaru CMS 1.6.4 Released

With the People's Choice CMS Awards coming to a close in the next 10 days or so, it's time now to announce the judges for this year's Critics' Choice CMS Awards. This is the portion of the awards that are selected by our panel of judges.
This year, we've mixed things up a bit and added a new judge to the mix. First, let's get the obvious part out of the way. Your judges this year include myself and two others. Here are the profiles of the judges.
<h3>Judge #1:</h3>
<h3><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/cmscritic_1408494048_7796x0.jpg" /></h3>
<h3>Mike Johnston Founder of CMS Critic and Co-Founder of Website Builders Critic</h3>
Mike founded CMS Critic in 2008 and has since developed it into the premier website for content management system reviews, articles and coverage. He has assisted hundreds of companies and individuals in their quest to find the perfect CMS for their needs. He is also the co-founder of the recently launched <a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com">Website Builders Critic</a> alongside CMS Critic writer, Kaya Ismail. Mike can be found traveling the globe covering web development and content management conferences, speaking at events and spreading the word about the amazing products within the industry. You can reach him at mike@www.cmscritic.com.
<h3>Judge #2:</h3>
<h3><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/cms396x0.png" />Kaya Ismail CMS Critic Writer and Co-Founder of Website Builders Critic</h3>
Kaya has been a writer with CMS Critic for a number of years and has developed a wide knowledge of the products in the industry. His passion for the world of CMS has shone through and he's helped take CMS Critic to new heights within the market. Kaya has also joined forces with Mike Johnston to co-found the newly launched, Website Builders Critic, a project aimed at furthering the resources we can make available to those in the market for a solution. Kaya can also be found writing on his personal blog, <a href="http://www.employtheinternet.com/">Employ The Internet</a> where he discusses employing the internet to expand his career in freelance writing and blogging. You can reach him at kaya@www.cmscritic.com.
<h3>Judge #3:</h3>
<h3></h3>
<h3><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/me.jpg" /></h3>
<h3>Barb Mosher Zinck Digital Content Strategist and the Founder and Editorial Director of Digital Tech Diary</h3>
For those of you who have been in the industry for a while, you know Barb. She is the former editor of CMS Wire (and also a fellow Canadian!) that has been in the industry for years. Barb has coordinated teams of writers to produce content management related articles for years and as the editor, has an in-depth knowledge of the industry. She now is a digital content strategist and the Founder and Editorial Director of <a href="http://www.digitaltechdiary.com" target="_blank">Digital Tech Diary</a>, an online resource for marketing technologists. She spends her days learning how to build better customer experiences, translating what she’s learned into actionable strategies for her clients and practical guidance for her magazine audience. As a former Application Architect, Barb is able to understand the value of technology and translate it into guidance and strategies for today’s practitioners. Residing in Nova Scotia, Canada, Barb and her husband spend most of their time in hockey arenas and dance studios with their three kids. You can reach her at barb@digitaltechdiary.com.
I am very pleased to have Barb and Kaya ias judges this year and can't wait to see what we come up with together as this year's Critics' Choice CMS Awards get under way. Stay tuned for the announcements as we begin the deliberation process.

Announcing this Year's Judges for the 2014 Critics Choice CMS Awards

For those of you who have always wondered what the difference was between Squarespace and WordPress and how they compare, check out our latest article on Website Builders Critic entitled “<a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/squarespace-vs-wordpress/">Squarespace vs WordPress</a>“.
The question of <a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/out/squarespace">Squarespace</a> vs WordPress isn't a straightforward one. 
 WordPress isn't a website builder in the same way that Squarespace is. At the same time, Squarespace isn't as flexible as WordPress, nor is it well known for building large websites like WordPress can. 
 However, WordPress rivals Squarespace in terms of being being simple and user friendly. So, when somebody wants to build a small, simple and good looking website quickly, the question of WordPress vs Squarespace can crop up. A lot.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/wordpress-or-squarespace.png" />
In the article, Kaya compares six flash points aimed to help you decide between the two.
The items he compares are as follows:
<ol>
<li>User Friendliness</li>
<li>Themes and Design</li>
<li>eCommerce</li>
<li>Blogging</li>
<li>Pricing</li>
<li>Maintenance and Support</li>
</ol>
Check out the full article here: <a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/squarespace-vs-wordpress/">Squarespace vs WordPress: The Full Comparison</a>

Squarespace vs WordPress

Today is a big day. Mike Johnston and I (the CMS Critic team) are joining forces to launch a project that we have been toiling over behind the scenes.  
 We have compiled a number of the world’s best website builders in order to review, compare and demonstrate their abilities via real and replicable examples. 
 We wanted to reach out to the less-tech savvy world of individuals and businesses looking for a professional online presence, and guide them towards not only the best products on the market, but also towards the best products for their project.  
 Introducing, <a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/" target="_blank"> Website Builders Critic</a>.
<a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/wbclogojpg.jpg" alt="Website Builders Critic" /></a>
 Along with simple and unbiased reviews, entrepreneurs and businesses alike can expect to find <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/websitebuilderscriti">video tutorials</a> for each major website builder. Such videos will illustrate how each website builder can be used to construct different website types, including blogs, online stores and business websites. 
 The best part? These reviews and video tutorials weren't written or recorded by just anybody. Both Mike and I have worked hard to craft each piece of content, guaranteeing that our knowledge of the website builder industry remains the key ingredient throughout.  
 After all, thanks to our years of work through CMS Critic, it's fair to say that we know these products inside out. We've seen what they're good at, and what they're bad at. 
At the time of launch, Website Builders Critic will have a focus on the following products:
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/website_builders/reviews/squarespace/" target="_blank"> Squarespace </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/website_builders/reviews/weebly/" target="_blank"> Weebly </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/website_builders/reviews/wix/" target="_blank"> Wix </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/website_builders/reviews/lightcms/" target="_blank"> LightCMS </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/website_builders/reviews/strikingly/" target="_blank"> Strikingly </a></li>
</ul>
All of the website builders above have been selected for their quality in terms of user friendliness, functionality and end product creation. Collectively, they serve up a range of website building options, from online stores to one-page websites. 
 So, if you want to find the best website builder for your project, you'll want to check out our demonstrations and insights into the best of the bunch. 
<a href="http://www.websitebuilderscritic.com/">Visit Website Builders Critic</a>

Introducing Website Builders Critic: Unbiased Reviews & Video Tutorials

Not long after the <a href="http://www.opencart.com/index.php?route=feature/blog/info&amp;blog_id=74" target="_blank"> first beta </a>  release, OpenCart 2.0 has now been officially rolled out. 
OpenCart is a well-known free eCommerce solution which offers thousands of themes and hundreds of payment gateways. 
Version 2.0 of OpenCart comes with a responsive, Bootstrap based admin and front end, custom form fields, and even more payment gateways. Let's take a closer look.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/logo-1.png" />
<h2>Bootstrapped UI &amp; Admin Notifications</h2>
Users will be happy to hear that the user interface of OpenCart (including the front and back end) has been completely revamped. Twitter Bootstrap has been utilized, making everything look cleaner and more usable.  
 Plus, a new extension installer makes installing OpenCart extensions much easier and pleasant, as a progress bar now keeps you updated throughout installation. 
 The final major update comes in the form of a notification button on the new admin top menu. It notifies admins about product stock shortages, reviews awaiting approval, and so forth.  
 Notably though, the OpenCart team have said that:
<blockquote>
“OpenCart 1.5.6.* is still considered to be the most stable version of OpenCart available and will continue to be supported for the next six months. As OpenCart 2.0 has only just been released, many modules aren't compatible with it just yet.”
</blockquote>
So, OpenCart users may wish to hold back for a while, if their stores are heavily reliant on modules. 
 To find out more about OpenCart 2.0, as well as to download it, <a href="http://www.opencart.com/index.php?route=feature/blog/info&amp;blog_id=75" target="_blank"> check out the official announcement </a> .

OpenCart 2.0 Released

Since launching our new CMS Critic Forum last week, we've had plenty of participation and they are continuing to grow strong. Today, I thought I'd share some of the great topics we've got going that you are more than welcome to participate in.
Don't forget that everyone who participates has a chance to Win a $50 Visa Gift Card as well! We're giving away three of them.
The best part? You can enter DAILY which means you can get more than 1 entry per day by posting regularly.
Be sure to jump in and participate and don't forget, it's also a great place to start your own thread. Whether it's a question or something you are just passionate about, we welcome you to share.
<h3>Hot Topics in the Forums</h3>
<ol>
<li>The People's Choice Awards – Who did you vote for?  – Jump in and share with everyone who you voted for in the People's Choice Awards. Even better, tell us why!</li>
<li>The Internet's Best Looking Websites – Is there a website that you think deserves mention? Share with everyone who your favorites are for the Internet's Best Looking Websites and Why!</li>
<li>Platform Lock-in: Fact or Myth – Do you think platform lock-in is fact or myth? Join in and support or debunk this myth alongside our experts.</li>
<li>Share your Favorite Theme / Design – Got a fav theme or design you want to share with the world? Do so in this thread (no affiliate links please)</li>
<li>What are your Top 3 Website Builders – Share with us who your favorite website builders are and why!</li>
<li>What do you *hate* about your Favorite CMS – Got a beef about the CMS you use or your favorite? Let us know.</li>
<li>Most Improved CMS in 2014 – Who do you think has improved the most in 2014? Let us know.</li>
<li>Showcase – Get Feedback on your Site – Get feedback on your website from our experts. This is a great way to get another opinion on your design for free!</li>
</ol>
There you have it. These are the hot topics at the moment. Jump in and participate. We'll see you there!

From the Forum: Internet's Best Looking Websites & More!

CMS Kickoff 26

Find out at CMS Kickoff 26, January 13 - 14, St. Pete FL

What's the future of CMS in the AI era?

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Call Tracking + AI that Turns Calls into Leads

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