Member Avatar for veledrom

Hi,

Let's say, I have created a webside without thinking about any CMS program. Can i later use a CMS to manipulate my website? Or, should i have created website with CMS at the begining?

Thanks

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by mauconline

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This thread asks whether a CMS must be planned from the start or can be added later. Replies range from “start with a CMS” to “you can retrofit” (, , , ). Below is a practical, low-noise roadmap for deciding and for safely moving an existing site into a CMS without guessing.

Most useful quick test: classify the site. A small brochure site with static pages and no custom server logic is a good candidate for retrofit. A site with bespoke server code, heavy custom workflows, or hundreds of interlinked pages usually benefits from a planned rebuild or a headless approach.

Migration checklist (practical steps)

  • Inventory everything: list pages, media, form endpoints, and meta (titles, descriptions). Record current URLs.
  • Pick the right platform for the work (full CMS, headless, or static generator) based on plugins, scalability, and hosting.
  • Build template(s): convert your existing HTML into the CMS theme structure so you reuse CSS and assets instead of reauthoring every page.
  • Preserve SEO: keep URL slugs where possible; otherwise set 301 redirects for moved pages.
  • Import content: migrate text and images by CSV/XML or scripted imports; use a staging site for this.

Example 301 redirect (Apache .htaccess)

Redirect 301 /old-page.html /new-page/

Testing and launch: use a staging site, test internal links, forms, sitemaps, robots.txt and structured data, then run the site behind a short monitoring window after launch. Back up everything before you flip DNS.

Notes on quality and maintenance: audit themes/plugins before installing, keep software updated, and add caching and backups. To s follow-up: you do not need a separate CMS page per existing HTML file — create templates and import the pages as content records; that scales far better than rewriting page-by-page.

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Member Avatar for joph

Hi.....You should have created one before developing your web site. Ok be late rather than never, I would suggest you to create one at least now.

Member Avatar for zanetine

We should create our website with CMS in the begining because it would be beneficial for you.. it'll save your time ... you can put CMS even after creating your website but it would be wastage of time (because you need some changes that resemble with CMS settings ...)...

so better option is you should put CMS while developing your website

Regards
Zanetine

<URLs SNIPPED>

Member Avatar for veledrom

When you say "You should have created one before developing your web site", do you mean one page of my website?

Member Avatar for Arunjit

This may be too late to mention as this thread began well over a month ago! But if you plan to obtain and install a pre-existing cms say something like Website Baker or Redaxscript, then it is good protocol to install the cms before designing and building your own form of website. The reason for this is because most, or nearly all, of cms's come complete with a set of templates built to manage and display content. Therefore it is easier to redesign and manipulate the supplied templates rather than trying to apply the cms to your own. However, i'm sure your able to use code from what you've already constructed and use it in your cms (if you haven't already done so!)

Member Avatar for mauconline

So whilst a CMS does has it benefits, they're some that are a nightmare.

: I agree with you there. But I'm yet to come across the CMS that produces clean codes. Most of the ones I've used (and I've used quite a few) end of giving more problems than solving them.

It's easier to start developing your site with a CMS but nothing stops you from integrating same into your site later on provided you know what you're doing.

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