Articles - Page 131

<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

There's no doubt that the website builder market is a hot one of late, there are plenty of great contenders such as <a href="https://www.weebly.com/">Weebly</a>, Squarespace and Wix.
Today, SiteSupra has announced that they are making a play for piece of the pie with the launch of their own website builder / hosted CMS.
For those unfamiliar with SiteSupra, here's a quick video highlighting some of the functionality of the CMS.
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cmpVj8mkQIU?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
According to the release announcement, SiteSupra's goal is to target those users who think a five minute website results in a quality website by offering them a more powerful solution that is also easy to use.
According to SiteSupra CEO, Anton Sulsky;
<blockquote>
“SiteSupra’s strength comes from its focus on the fundamentals of elegant design, powerful website features and modern mobile screen-ready, responsive implemenation. There are various creative design options out there, but we concentrate on what is most important, as the website is the most effective marketing tool a company can have.”
</blockquote>
Here are some of the key features their website builder offers:
<ol>
<li>Responsive themes. As smartphone and tablet usage grows, it is becoming even more important to have a responsive website that adapts to any screen in a professional manner. Every aspect of content, design and functionality that you add to the desktop version of the site is seamlessly and automatically scaled down for other devices, so there are no additional expenses for the mobile version. <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/aira-web-and-mobile600x0.png" /></li>
<li>Form builder. Get to know the questions and concerns of your customers. Create forms for feedback, bookings or other purposes simply by dragging and dropping the required fields on to the page. <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sitesupra-form-builder600x0.png" /></li>
<li>Slideshow manager. If you have ever wanted to create an animated slideshow, but have struggled to find a reliable programmer, now you can manage animated and layered slideshows yourself – with background images and animated overlay text, videos and masks – that are fully responsive as well. <img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/sitesupra-slideshow-manager600x0.png" /></li>
<li>Parallax animation. One of the trendiest styles currently available, this allows you to create a cool one-page scrolling site by adding a storytelling detail to an otherwise static page – available in Drava template. </li>
</ol>
Interested in giving it  a try? Check out their website at <a href="http://www.sitesupra.com/">http://www.sitesupra.com/</a>

SiteSupra Makes a Play for the Website Builder Market

mike-johnston

When hunting for a new web content management system, exploring your options can feel exhilarating. After all, with new software, comes new possibilities.
However, things take a serious turn when it comes to assessing the flexibility of your short-listed platforms in terms of integration options.
Most businesses will be looking at a long list of tools that need to be integrated with their new CMS. This includes databases, third-party or legacy apps, a CRM, an eCommerce system – and sometimes all of the above.
Not to mention, future technologies will also need to work seamlessly with the new CMS as and when they release.
In other words, the CMS needs to be compatible with what is already in place, and future-proof at the same time.
No platform can truly offer such flexibility right out of the box. Unless of course, it comes without a box.
<h2> Why Open Suite? </h2>
Magnolia has recognized that a one-size-fits-all solution is unrealistic. So instead, they ship their CMS without the confines of a conventional “box”, taking the Open Suite approach instead.
Magnolia’s Open Suite approach, along with its totally open source nature, gives users the power to choose their own tools and applications, and to decide for themselves exactly how they are integrated.
Users can combine the best available tools without any vendor restrictions, and with all the benefits of Magnolia’s enterprise-grade Java foundation.
Here’s a quick summary of the benefits brought about by Magnolia’s open suite approach:
<ul>
<li> Tool Freedom: Maximize choice by using best-of-breed tools.</li>
<li> Cost Effectiveness: Pay only for components you need and will use.</li>
<li> Seamless Integration: Reduce disruption by integrating with existing business know-how and processes.</li>
<li> Intelligence &amp; Flexibility: Upgrade parts of the suite at different speeds, depending on current needs.</li>
<li> Risk Reduction: Lowering costs and adding flexibility means less risk.</li>
</ul>
For further details on what Magnolia’s open suite approach brings, you can check out my previous coverage: <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/magnolias-open-suite-approach-maximizing-choice-future-proofing-digital-investments/"> Magnolia's Open Suite Approach: Maximizing Choice &amp; Future-proofing Digital Investments </a> .
Development teams however, will want to dig a little deeper into the technicalities of Magnolia’s open suite approach. So, let’s take a look at exactly how it works.
<h2>Getting Technical</h2>
Magnolia’s open suite approach is all about integration – on a whole new and ultra-inclusive level.
Magnolia's Open Suite approach is based on an enterprise-grade stack, best-of-breed open source tools and a framework that balances best practices for content, configuration and templates.
Complete freedom can be exercised with every aspect of the CMS, from which templating engine you choose to which analytics provider you integrate. It’s entirely under your control.
Magnolia’s combination of open APIs, open standards and open source code allow developers to swap out components or build custom components as needed. In fact, <a href="https://app.magnolia-cms.com/"> Magnolia's App repository is growing all the time </a> .
This complete openness makes Magnolia a highly adaptable and interoperable CMS. It simplifies the building of custom suites, all of which can be specific to your organization’s needs.
Below is a handy developer transit map that gives you a birds-eye view of the integration options available, illustrating which technologies are best suited for your requirements.
<h2> Combating Common Obstacles </h2>
Magnolia’s open suite approach is as practical as it is intelligent. Here are some common obstacles faced by enterprises, along with Magnolia’s solutions.
<h3> Access your website content from other applications </h3>
 JCR: Magnolia CMS stores all content (web pages, images, documents, configuration, data) in a Java Content Repository (JCR). JCR is an open standard. This makes custom development of content-based applications easier.
<a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/Content%2Bstorage%2Band%2Bstructure"> Read more about how Magnolia stores and structures content </a> .
 REST: Magnolia CMS also offers a REST API, which allows you to read and modify website content over HTTP. The content can be pages, components, contacts or anything else that is stored in Magnolia’s content repository. You can also execute commands to activate, export and import content.
<a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/My%2Bfirst%2BREST%2Brequest"> Read more about Magnolia’s REST API </a> .
 PHPCR and WebDAV: Coming to Magnolia CMS from the world of PHP? No problem. You can also access JCR content with PHPCR, the DavEx module and the PHP Jackalope implementation. And you can use Magnolia's built-in WebDAV support to let users easily create, edit and manage templates on the Magnolia CMS server.
Check out Magnolia’s <a href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/home/resources-directory/webinar-recordings/phpcr.html"> PHPCR webinar </a> and <a href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/resources-directory/screencasts/webdav.html"> WebDAV screencast </a> . 

<h3>Create workflows that reflect real-world business processes</h3>
 Apps: Magnolia CMS Apps are browser-based applications that run inside Magnolia CMS and help enterprises integrate content authoring with business process workflows.
With Apps, users can control and manipulate data stored in the CMS. Magnolia's Apps work equally well on mobile and desktop devices, and can therefore be used on the move. Apps can be connected with databases, Web services, workflows and notifications.
Magnolia provides an App framework to quickly bootstrap new Apps, and you can use Vaadin and GWT to build the user interface for your Apps.
<a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/the-best-practices-for-designing-a-magnolia-app/"> Read more on Magnolia apps </a> .
 jBPM: jBPM workflows can be used to connect common Magnolia CMS actions, such as content activation or versioning, with your business processes.
Out of the box, Magnolia CMS comes with a <a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCU/Workflow+configuration"> “four-eye” workflow </a> , and you can also create your own custom workflows. Workflows can also be integrated with Magnolia’s messaging hub, <a href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/product/features/interface/the-pulse.html"> “The Pulse” </a> , for real-time notifications and messaging.
<a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/Workflow"> Read more about Magnolia’s workflow functionality </a> .
 Observation: Using Magnolia's content observation mechanism, you can trigger customized actions in response to content changes.
Event listeners can monitor changes in content and trigger pre-defined responses when changes are detected. Common examples include automatic publishing or deactivation of content and sending emails.
<a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/Observation%2Bmodule"> Read more about Magnolia’s Observation module </a> .
<h3>Give your website a consistent look and feel, even on mobile devices.</h3>
 Templating: Magnolia CMS uses templates to give structure to rendered content. Out of the box, Magnolia CMS understands Freemarker and JSP templates, but you can also plug in your own custom engine. Microformats and JSTL tags are supported as well.
<a href="http://documentation.magnolia-cms.com/display/DOCS/Templates"> Read more about Magnolia templates </a> . 
 
STK: Magnolia's <a href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/product/features/development/stk.html"> Standard Templating Kit (STK) </a>  is a production-ready collection of templates for common use cases. It implements the principles of RESS: Responsive Web Design + Server-Side Components.
Web pages rendered with the system are compliant with HTML5 and CSS3, as well as modern accessibility guidelines.
<a href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/stk"> Read more about Magnolia’s STK </a> .
For even more information on the technical workings and benefits of Magnolia’s open suite approach, check out this white paper.
The white paper also holds Magnolia's solutions to other common obstacles, including security, performance, using external documents and assets, and adding custom functionality via Spring or Grails.
Also, be sure to check out <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/products/magnolia-cms/"> Magnolia CMS via our CMS Directory </a> .

A Deeper Look at Magnolia's Open Suite Approach

<a href="http://www.kentico.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kentico Software </a> , the Web Content and Customer Experience Management provider, today announced the release of Kentico 8.1, featuring a variety of new enhancements that bring greater website performance and ease of use to the digital marketing activities of today’s digital agencies and professional marketers. With new “Buy X, get Y” discount capabilities, Kentico 8.1 also offers customers new ways to maximize their online sales.
<blockquote>“Successful digital marketing often comes down to speed and performance, and Kentico 8.1’s new features and capabilities allow both digital marketers and their websites to work faster and better than ever before,” said Kentico CEO and Founder Petr Palas. “With Kentico 8.1 also comes greater flexibility that allows our customers to promote and cross-sell their products with even more granularity and personalization for more revenue-generating sales.”</blockquote>
Kentico 8.1 allows anyone to quickly deliver the right marketing message at the right time on any digital channel—it’s easy to use, affordable, and quick to set up. With sophisticated personalization, segmentation and other capabilities, Kentico allows users to manage all their digital marketing efforts in a unified way across all their marketing tools from a single environment that can easily integrate with real-time CRM and ERP data for the highest level of personalization. Kentico 8.1 includes all the components for integrated marketing efforts online, including Web Content Management, E-commerce, Online Marketing, Online Communities, Intranet, and Collaboration.
The latest enhancements include:
<ul>
<li><a href="http://devnet.kentico.com/articles/sell-more-with-new-buy-x,-get-y-discounts" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> ‘Buy X, Get Y’ discount capabilities </a> : Allows store managers to configure their cross-selling promotions in a more sophisticated way, e.g. “Buy any 3 blouses, get the cheapest for free!”</li>
<li><a href="http://devnet.kentico.com/articles/live-tiles-and-dashboard-customization" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Live tiles and dashboard improvements </a> : Allows Kentico users to easily populate their dashboard with frequently used applications. Many will display such real-time data as “number of running order discounts.”</li>
<li><a href="http://devnet.kentico.com/articles/linkedin-integration-in-kentico-8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn integration </a> : Allows marketers to manage their LinkedIn company profiles directly from Kentico. Includes the ability to use automated workflow for content publishing on LinkedIn.</li>
<li><a href="http://devnet.kentico.com/articles/sharepoint-integration-in-kentico-8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">SharePoint integration improvements </a> : Brings support for the latest SharePoint versions including SharePoint Online and other improvements, such as the ability to set up multiple SharePoint connections for the same Kentico site.</li>
<li><a href="http://devnet.kentico.com/articles/online-marketing-performance-improvements" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Online Marketing performance improvements </a> : Lowers the performance footprint of Kentico Online Marketing modules, such as Contact Groups and Scoring, to bring higher website performance, including faster response times and ability to handle more peak traffic. </li>
</ul>
Kentico supports all the latest Microsoft technologies, including Visual Studio 2013, Microsoft .NET Framework 4.5, Windows Server 2012, Windows 8.1 and Windows Azure SDK 2.2.
More on Kentico 8.1’s new features and capabilities can be found on  <a href="http://www.kentico.com/kentico8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Kentico’s website </a> .

Kentico 8.1 Combines Greater Ease and Performance with New LinkedIn and SharePoint Integration

LightCMS have once again taken some tools to their user interface, giving their Element UI new functionality and a sleeker look.This interface update comes just weeks after LightCMS revealed a new <a href="/lightcms-announces-wysiwyg-editor-enhancements/">WYSIWYG editor</a>. It's also the latest in a flurry of updates the website builder has been releasing for the last few months.The Element UI interface has been enhanced, added to and beautified. Plus, displaying elements in multiple locations is now easier than ever. As usual, LightCMS have given their users a heads up, opting to implement these changes on September 2nd, 2014. So, let's take a look at what's coming.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/lightcms.jpg" alt="LightCMS" /><h2>Elements Everywhere</h2>First of all, the LightCMS Element Toolbars have been redesigned.Instead of seeing black bars at the top of each element, the new toolbars are more modern and sleek. They're designed to blend into your site while still serving their main purpose of marking your elements and providing access to the element menus.The element menus themselves have also been revamped, sporting fresh new custom icons.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/2014_9-elementbars.jpg" alt="LightCMS" />The LightCMS team have also updated the Add Element bar found at the bottom of each editable region.Previously, the Add Element bar was a thick, black bar with the same weight as the Element Toolbars, making it difficult to distinguish between the top and bottom regions.To solve that issue, the add element button sits inside a thin line to mark the location of where you can add elements when in edit mode. It's a small design tweak, but the difference is significant. It's more natural, and makes editing a little less stressful.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/2014_9-addbutton.jpg" alt="LightCMS" />Perhaps the most notable change though, is the new Add Element modal.Clicking the Add Element button now brings up a beautifully-designed, responsive modal with fresh, custom icons representing each of the available elements. All you need to do is click (or touch) the desired element, and it will immediately be placed into your page.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/2014_9-modal.jpg" alt="LightCMS" />The modal is responsive across all devices, and if you're a click counter, you'll notice that the new modal requires two fewer clicks for every element you add. Now that's helpful.<h2>Sharing is Caring</h2>Furthermore, LightCMS has also produced an update for their Copy Element functionality.For starters, they're now calling it “Share” instead of “Copy” – but they've also made some functionality changes too.Previously, when you copied an element, you had to select the element you wanted from a drop-down list that included every single element on your site. This list of elements could get very long, making it gradually inefficient time-wise.The solution comes in the form of a new “Is Shareable” property on the advanced settings of every element.<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/isshareable.jpg" alt="LightCMS" />Now, only those elements that are marked as shareable are included in the share element list. By default, new elements will not be marked as shareable. although when this release lands on September 2nd, all elements will be marked as sharable, for convenience purposes.All you have to do to share an element is to select the “Share an Element from Another Part of Your Site” drop-down list on the Add Element modal.<h2>And That's Not All</h2>Also bundled in this release, users will find that adding elements on mobile devices looks and works better, and no less than seven user-flagged issues have been resolved.You can read all the details, as well as the full release notes for this release via the LightCMS Blog.To find out more about LightCMS, check out their website.Additionally, make sure you explore more of LightCMS via our CMS Directory.

LightCMS Unveils New Element UI

<a href="https://www.cubecart.com" target="_blank">CubeCart</a> has released version 5.2.13, bringing about a number of usability and security updates.
Available for free, CubeCart is a popular eCommerce solution, and one which featured on my list of <a href="/55-ways-to-build-a-website-with-bluehost/" target="_blank">55 ways to build a website with BlueHost</a>. It's a pretty solid solution if you aren't looking to invest large amounts of money.
CubeCart Pro is the premium version of the platform, which naturally has less restrictions and far more features.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/ond_cal8-1400x0.jpeg" /> Here's what version 5.2.13 brings to the table:
<ul>
<li>Complete rewrite of discount codes and gift certificate redemption </li>
<li>Shipping now has the ability to inherit the average basket tax rate</li>
<li>Improved automation to “Cookie Domain” setting with session lockout prevention</li>
<li>SagePay upgraded from 2.23 to 3.0</li>
<li>“Assign to European Union” added to tax configuration instead of one country at a time</li>
<li>New EBS India Payment Module</li>
<li>All shipping and billing address fields added to order reports CSV export</li>
<li>“SMTP with SSL” setting added for secure email delivery</li>
<li>Miscellaneous bug fixes</li>
</ul>
You can download CubeCart 5.2.13 <a href="https://www.cubecart.com/downloads/" target="_blank">right here</a>.
For more information, check out the <a href="https://www.cubecart.com" target="_blank">CubeCart website</a>.

CubeCart 5.2.13 Released

It is with great pleasure that I share with you the amazing products that you selected as nominees for a 2014 People's Choice CMS award.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/votenow-1.png" /></a>Here is a complete list of all nominees in all categories (with links to their websites so you can learn more).Don't forget to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/">cast your vote as well </a> (and be entered for a chance to win a brand new Chromebook!).Here are the nominees in each category:<h3>Best Cloud CMS for SMB</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.surrealcms.com/">Surreal CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.acquia.com/products-services/acquia-cloud">Acquia Cloud</a></li><li>Light CMS</li></ol><h3>Best Cloud CMS for Enterprise</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.acquia.com/products-services/acquia-cloud">Acquia Cloud</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.crownpeak.com">CrownPeak</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.clickability.com/">Clickability</a></li></ol><h3>Best CMS for Corporate Intranets</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.entando.com/portal/">Entando</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.liferay.com">Liferay</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ocportal.com">ocPortal</a></li></ol><h3>Best eCommerce Solution for SMB</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://aspxcommerce.com/">ASPx Commerce</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.prestashop.com/en/">Prestashop</a></li><li><a href="/products/shopify">Shopify</a></li></ol><h3>Best eCommerce Solution for Enterprise</h3><ol><li><a href="/products/bigcommerce">BigCommerce</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.prestashop.com/en">Prestashop</a></li><li><a href="/shopify/">Shopify</a></li></ol><h3>Best Free Forum Solution</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="https://nodebb.org/">NodeBB</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.mybb.com/">MyBB</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://vanillaforums.org/">Vanilla Forums</a></li></ol><h3>Best Commercial Forum Solution</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.invisionpower.com/apps/board/">IP.Board</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ninjapost.com/">Ninja Post</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://vanillaforums.com">Vanilla Forums</a></li></ol><h3>Best Enterprise PHP CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://ez.no/Products/The-eZ-Publish-Platform">eZ Publish</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://drupal.org">Drupal</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://typo3.org/">Typo 3</a></li></ol><h3>Best Enterprise Java CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.adobe.com/solutions/web-experience-management.html">Adobe AEM</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.onehippo.com/en">Hippo</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.jahia.com/products">Jahia</a></li></ol><h3>Best Enterprise .NET CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.kentico.com">Kentico</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sitecore.net/">Sitecore</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sitefinity.com/">Sitefinity</a></li></ol><h3>Best Enterprise CMS (Other Langs)</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.getmura.com/">Mura CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.paperthin.com/">Paperthin Commonspot</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://plone.org/">Plone</a></li></ol><h3>Best Free PHP CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.concrete5.org/">Concrete5</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.joomla.org">Joomla</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.processwire.com">ProcessWire</a></li></ol><h3>Best Free Java CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dotcms.com">dotCMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.liferay.com">Liferay</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/">Magnolia</a></li></ol><h3>Best Free .NET CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dnnsoftware.com/">DNN Platform</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://sageframe.com/">Sageframe</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://umbraco.com/">Umbraco</a></li></ol><h3>Best Free CMS (Other Langs)</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.getmura.com/">Mura CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://plone.org/">Plone</a></li></ol><h3>Best Open Source PHP CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://ez.no/Products/The-eZ-Publish-Platform">eZ Publish</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.joomla.org">Joomla!</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://modx.com/">MODx</a></li></ol><h3>Best Open Source Java CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://dotcms.com/">dotCMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.liferay.com/">Liferay</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.magnolia-cms.com/">Magnolia</a></li></ol><h3>Best Open Source .NET CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dnnsoftware.com/">DNN Platform</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://sageframe.com/">Sageframe</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://umbraco.com/">Umbraco</a></li></ol><h3>Best Open Source CMS (Other Langs)</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.getmura.com/">Mura CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://plone.org/">Plone</a></li></ol><h3>Best Small to Midsize Business PHP CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.cmsmadesimple.org/">CMS Made Simple</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://buildwithcraft.com/">Craft CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.impresspages.org/">ImpressPages</a></li></ol><h3>Best Small to Midsize Business Java CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.percussion.com/">Percussion CM1</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.liferay.com/">Liferay</a></li></ol><h3>Best Small to Midsize Business .NET CMS</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.dnnsoftware.com/">DNN Evoq Content</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.envisagecms.co.uk/">Envisage CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.orchardproject.net/">Orchard</a></li></ol><h3>Best Small to Midsize Business CMS (Other Langs)</h3><ul><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.django-cms.org/en/">Django CMS</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.movabletype.com">Movable Type</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.surrealcms.com/">Surreal CMS</a></li></ul><h3>Best Website Builder</h3><ol><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.squarespace.com">Squarespace</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="https://www.weebly.com/">Weebly</a></li><li><a target="_blank" href="http://www.wix.com/">Wix</a></li></ol>Congrats to all who were nominated. Now please <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/">head on over to vote </a> for your favorites.

Announcing this year's nominees for the 2014 People's Choice CMS Awards

I am glad to announce that voting is now open for the 2014 People's Choice CMS awards.
We had an amazing response this year with thousands of nominations submitted. Thank you so much for participating, it really means a lot to us as we strive to spread the word about the amazing CMS that exist out there.
Following this post, I'll be sharing the nominees that you chose in each category.
To cast your vote, click the image below:
<a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/votenow.jpg" /></a>
Those who vote will be entered for a chance to win a brand new Chromebook! Winners will be drawn on October 18, 2014 (the day after the polls close).
Good luck to you and to all the nominees! Now head over there and <a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/">vote</a>!

Voting is now open for the 2014 People's Choice CMS Awards!

Semrush - Be an SEO hero

Be an SEO hero with Semrush

#ffffff

<a href="https://selz.com" target="_blank">Selz</a> have given their users faster, larger and <a href="https://selz.com/blog/new-feature-bigger-faster-uploads/" target="_blank">more reliable file uploading abilities</a>.
The growing eCommerce platform – which can integrate with any existing website, Facebook, WordPress and more – has only just released a <a href="/selz-releases-new-shopping-cart-app/" target="_blank">fresh new shopping cart app</a>. Users will be hoping this trend of regular updates continue.
Let's take a look at how file uploading with Selz has improved.
<a href="https://selz.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/selz-1700x0.png" /></a>
<h2>Faster, Bigger &amp; More Reliable</h2>
First of all, the Selz team have said that they, “greatly increased the upload speed” for all files. When it comes to size, the maximum file size has been increased from 4GB to a whopping 15GB.
Furthermore, all uploads will now automatically resume if your Internet connection fails, so you never have to restart or keep tabs (literally) on the upload progress.
Your customers can now get their digital downloads faster too, as Selz have increased their download speeds. 
For more information about Selz, check out <a href="https://selz.com" target="_blank">their website</a>.

Selz Gives Users More Uploading Power

Nominations are closed now for the People's Choice portion of the CMS Awards. We will be tabulating the nominations this weekend and announcing the systems that have been selected for the voting stage, as well as opening up the voting stage, this Monday, August the 18th.
<a href="https://www.cmscritic.com/cms-critic-awards/"><img style="max-width:476px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/awards-logo.png" /></a>
Please be sure to check back then to begin voting (and don't forget to sign up for our newsletter to stay informed).
We want to thank everyone for nominating their favourite projects. This is our third year running these awards and we've never seen such an amazing adoption throughout the community so thank you very much for getting involved and nominating. We will need you one more time to share with us your choices for the Best of the Best in each category.
Please return Monday for the voting stage of the awards.

Nominations are closed for the People's Choice CMS Awards

<a href="http://modx.com/" target="_blank">MODX</a> have unveiled a new series of updates for their cloud platform, <a href="https://modxcloud.com" target="_blank">MODX Cloud</a>.
MODX Cloud is the hosted version of MODX, which allows users to build MODX websites using MODX's servers, optimized infrastructure, automatic backup management, and so forth.
This update, coming a few weeks after the arrival of <a href="http://modx.com/blog/2014/07/22/revolution-2.3.1/" target="_blank">MODX Revolution 2.3.1</a>. Unsurprisingly, this update now brings 2.3.1 functionality to MODX Cloud.
The MODX team have said that this update will enable users to save more time and benefit from improved security.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/modx-color.png" /> 
Here's a breakdown of what's new with MODX Cloud:
<ul>
<li>MODX Revolution version 2.3.1 available</li>
<li>PHP updated to latest stable release version 5.4.31</li>
<li>phpMyAdmin updated to latest stable 4.2.7 release</li>
<li>Improvements to PHP-FPM reload times</li>
<li>Updated and expanded User Guide</li>
<li>Streamlined trial signup flow and plans</li>
<li>Updated UI around MODX Revolution version upgrades</li>
</ul>
For more information, check out the <a href="http://modx.com/blog/2014/08/14/modx-cloud-updates-aug-14/" target="_blank">blog announcement</a>.
Also, be sure to explore more of <a href="/products/modx/" target="_blank">MODX via our CMS Directory</a>.

MODX Cloud Updated

WordPress is just a glorified blogging tool. Apparently.
The debate about WordPress' status has been raging for years now. Is it still just a blogging platform, or has it grown into a what can be described as a CMS?
It's a touchy subject for some, but I've always failed to see why. Today, I'm going to take you through my thought process regarding the debate, and why I believe WordPress is a CMS, whether people like it or not.
But more importantly, I'll discuss why – at the end of the day – the label barely even matters.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/wplogoblue-stacked-rgb.png" alt="WordPress" />
<h2>Uniquely Positioned</h2>
Thanks to WordPress' incredible popularity, it has evolved in ways which other platform haven't.
<a href="http://w3techs.com/technologies/details/cm-wordpress/all/all" target="_blank">According to W3Techs</a>, WordPress is used by 60.6% of all the websites whose content management system we know. That's around 22.9% of all websites.
Unsurprisingly, WordPress has a massive community with members contributing to the sea of themes and plugins every day. Many of these contributions give WordPress brand new abilities. In fact, with some straightforward theme and plugin selection, you can build anything from real estate websites to online communities with WordPress.
Relevant to this, you can check out one of my previous articles, where I discussed how <a href="/wordpress-jack-of-all-trades-master-of-none/" target="_blank"> WordPress is the Jack of All Trades</a>.
This impressive flexibility and constant evolution puts WordPress in a unique position. It no longer occupies just the blogging niche. Instead, it has stretched itself out to be compatible with an extremely wide range of project types.
This stretching is what leads many to question WordPress' status as a CMS.
<h2>Modern Definitions Mean Little</h2>
As Mike Johnston, the founder of CMS Critic, <a href="/day-one-of-magnolia-conference-2014-personalization-apps-a-roundtable/" target="_blank"> pointed out at the Magnolia Conference 2014</a>, the term CMS has been polluted. Marketing teams from all over the world have thought up newer terms and fancier acronyms, changing people's view of what a CMS actually is.
Google's definition of choice though, taken from the Plone CMS website, hits the nail on the head:
<blockquote>“A content management system, or CMS, is a web application designed to make it easy for non-technical users to add, edit and manage a website.”</blockquote>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_management_system" target="_blank">Wikipedia's definition </a> is extremely similar, and they are both definitions which we can all agree with.
In addition to that, It would be completely fair to say that both definitions describe WordPress fairly well.
The issue arises when the stripped down, true meaning of “CMS” is blown up with unnecessary jargon. In reality, those definitions hold very little weight, other than when they describe added marketing or administrative extras. The fact of the matter is, WordPress fits the definition of a CMS perfectly.
<h2>What They're Saying</h2>
WordPress began life as a blogging tool, and the voices which continue to label it as such have been loud for years. So, I wanted to highlight the other opinion held in this fiery debate.
Here are some notable names and interesting stances:
<blockquote>“WordPress deserves a place on most CMS selection shortlists.” – Janus Boye, CEO of <a href="https://www.boye-co.com/blog/2013/2/18/wordpress-the-most-used-cms-in-the-world-and-still-not-good-enough">Boye &amp; Co</a></blockquote>
<blockquote>“Anyone who says that WordPress isn’t a “real” CMS is smoking something strong.” – Jason Mark, Smashing Magazine </blockquote>
<blockquote>“While the engineers are debating the merits of WordPress for applications, savvy organizations skipped the debate and moved on to actually building applications on top of WordPress. Because it was easy. Because it was free. Because it was there and it was possible. Because they had too much to accomplish to wait around in committee.” – Chris Lema, WPEngine </blockquote>
I think the quotes are self-explanatory. WordPress is holding its own in the world of CMS, because it offers everything a CMS should offer.
<h2>What They're Doing</h2>
In case the quotes above haven't convinced you, I'd also like to point out some of WordPress' more notable deployments. Not to showcase WordPress, but to demonstrate that it isn't just the choice of smaller companies.
WordPress helps power the online presence of <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/" target="_blank"> NASA </a> , <a href="http://www.forbes.com/" target="_blank"> Forbes </a> , <a href="http://www.ted.com/" target="_blank"> TED </a> , <a href="http://www.bbcamerica.com/" target="_blank"> BBC America </a> , <a href="http://techcrunch.com/" target="_blank"> TechCrunch </a> and many more. Those are big names, using WordPress beyond it's originally intended blogging tool status. And it's serving them well.
Of course, this isn't to say that WordPress is always the best choice. Being a confirmed CMS doesn't automatically mean that it should be used for every project.
Now, I'm not in madly in love with WordPress at the expense of any other platform. Far from it.
In fact, I wouldn't recommend it to be used for large-scale enterprise projects. There are better alternatives out there, many of which sit comfortably within the CMS category. As recently discussed, <a href="/wordpress-joomla-and-drupal-are-not-the-best-cms/" target="_blank">there is no best CMS</a>, and it's extremely important to understand your needs before selecting one – WordPress included.
Unfortunately, just as there are great examples of WordPress being used where a “normal” CMS would usually be active, there are also many examples of where WordPress has been incorrectly chosen as the CMS of choice.
But does that mean WordPress isn't a CMS? Not at all.
<h2>Nothing to See Here</h2>
As previously mentioned, WordPress is the jack of all trades.
It isn't particularly amazing in any niche other than blogging, and it sacrifices being a powerhouse when it comes to things like digital asset management for the sake of simplicity. Yet at the same time, WordPress is a content management system, and a good one at that.
So, maybe it's time everyody got over it.
It may not be the most sophisticated CMS, but WordPress does everything a CMS needs to do, and then some. Going back to the actual definition, it's clear to see that WordPress fits right in.
For small and medium sized websites, WordPress is worthy of consideration. For the larger stuff, it's not as well equipped as others – but it is equipped. Just like with any other CMS in the world, some projects suit it better than others.
So, there's really not much to see here. Just another CMS that works well in some cases, and not so well in others.
And on that note, I'll end with extremely relevant quote from <a href="http://jboye.com/" target="_blank"> Janus Boye</a>:
<blockquote>“My advice to the CMS Experts among the readers and anyone else reading these lines would be to stop discussing whether WordPress qualifies to be considered a CMS and instead move on and consider WordPress where it makes sense.”</blockquote>

WordPress is a CMS (Whether You Like it or Not)

Just a week ago our free ecommerce plugin for WordPress hit 4 million downloads. WooCommerce has quickly become a major player in the world of ecommerce and while download milestones are always exciting, to have the growth spelled out with the help of popular technology growth tracking tool, Builtwith.com, was even better. We're now able to monitor the number of active sites using WooCommerce and see that this number went from 50,000 to 381,000 in the past year. Good news for us, but also for WordPress.
<img src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/woocommerce-logo977x0.png" />
We often refer to WordPress as our lifeblood. Along these lines, and in celebration of 4m, we've chosen four of our favourite reasons that WooCommerce, the most popular ecommerce platform, and WordPress, the best CMS in the world, make ecommerce magic together.
<h4>1. Getting started at no cost</h4>
WooCommerce caters to businesses of all sizes, even tiny startups. Using WordPress and WooCommerce it is incredible how quickly you can get an MVP (Minimum Viable Product) online! For many users, getting started with ecommerce is a process which extends beyond a trial period, and using WordPress enables users to create a work-in-progress online store to see how it goes. When users catch wind of this kind of opportunity it's almost a no brainer for ecommerce skeptics. You no longer need a fully fleshed out business idea to start selling, truth be toldrth2. be told.
<h4>2. Customization and content ownership</h4>
The beauty of using WordPress and WooCommerce is the extendability and opportunity for customization. WooCommerce and WordPress are being used in ways that no one ever envisioned and there is constant, community-driven innovation that enables businesses to keep on doing more and more. WooCommerce users enjoy the comfort of knowing that, if they can think of a feature or tweak that they'd like to see on their site, it is possible! WooCommerce users also have peace of mind with owning their own content, a topic of growing concern these days.
Two examples of customization-enabling products we've relaxed over the past few years are WooCommerce Subscriptions (allowing businesses to offer products or services on a recurring basis) and WooCommerce Bookings (an extension which enables users to their time based services online). It is exciting to be part of the race to innovate and push the limits of the ecommerce landscape.
<h4>3. Monetizing Websites &amp; Blogs</h4>
WordPress is the most popular blogging platform on the planet. While advertising helps bloggers monetize their site we've found that many blogs with
a following can easily bridge into product with WooCommerce. This is often translates into selling a small number of products related to the blog content. For consumers that look for quality content around specific topics they may now begin to look to blogs for more product. This says something about building a connection to an audience and the potential for bloggers to make the leap from content to product.
<h4>4. Impact on Consumers?</h4>
This increase in businesses selling online shows the growth of businesses waking up to new age. Ecommerce is no longer just about large businesses or marketplaces like eBay and Amazon. It is now about the shop down the street and your friend that likes blogging about gardening.
Consumers will be looking more and more to shop online. According to Forrester's research, ecommerce growth is expected to outpace sales growth at bricks-and-mortar stores over the next five years, reaching $370 billion in sales by 2017. Forrester attributes this growth to the proliferation of mobile phones and tablets which increase the amount of time consumers spend online. The second contributing factor to growth is traditional retailers' increased investments in their online sales divisions (<a href="http://mashable.com/2013/03/12/forrester-u-s-ecommerce-forecast-2017/">http://mashable.com/2013/03/12/forrester-u-s-ecommerce-forecast-2017/</a>).
Ecommmerce has never been more accessible and we're humbled to know that our products are enabling thousands of people across the globe to ship their ideas every day.
Without our lifeblood, WordPress CMS, and the incredible global community driving it forward, we wouldn't have anywhere close to four million notches on our <a href="http://www.woothemes.com/woocommerce/">WooCommerce</a> belt. We're excited to be part of the ever-growing world of WordPress and playing a part in making ecommerce history. Here's to four million more!

4m Downloads & 4 Ways WooCommerce + WordPress Make Magic

<a href="https://www.squarespace.com/" target="_blank"> Squarespace</a> has answered the call of its Android using fan base. Squarespace has released <a href="http://blog.squarespace.com/blog/squarespace-for-android-now-in-beta" target="_blank">two new apps for public beta testing</a>; Squarespace Blog and Squarespace Note.
As one of the most popular website builders on the market, Squarespace allows users to build blogs, online stores, portfolio websites and more, using a sleek, user-friendly interface.
iOS users have been enjoying Squarespace apps for a while, with Squarespace Metrics for iPad being the most recent addition. Now, Android users can get in on the action.
However, it should be noted that this beta program is optimized for devices running Android Jellybean (v4.2+) or higher. The full release of these apps will cover a broad range of Android versions.
<a href="/products/squarespace/" target="_blank"><img style="max-width:200px" src="https://cmscritic.com/ms-content/uploads/2023/08/imagescauzpt5i-1.jpg" /></a>
<h2>Feedback Requested</h2>
Both apps have a separate Google+ Community page, linked below. To begin experimenting with the apps, join the Community by clicking on the red “Ask to Join” button on the Community page for each app you'd like to test:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/117227036436156156932" target="_blank"> Squarespace Blog Community Page</a></li>
<li><a href="https://plus.google.com/communities/101820883333197891401" target="_blank"> Squarespace Note Community Page </a></li>
</ul>
The community pages each offer detailed instructions on how to install the beta releases.
Squarespace have (obviously) requested feedback from beta testers. To do this, you can use the “Leave Feedback” option within the apps.  Alternatively, you can visit the feedback form for the app located here.  If you have a comment to make, or would like to upload screenshots, you can use the relevant Google+ Community pages above.
You can also get started with your Squarespace website today, thanks to the <a href="https://www.squarespace.com/">Squarespace 14-day free trial</a>.

Squarespace for Android Public Beta Begins

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