For quite a long time, traditional content management systems have been hampered by the challenges that come with re-sharing and reusing materials across platforms, developmental bottlenecks, and scalability issues.
However, the advent of headless CMSs has significantly altered the industry and provided users with numerous innovative features and greater flexibility.
In this article, we will take a look at OneEntry Headless CMS, a state-of-the-art headless CMS solution, and explain how it can be used compared to its traditional counterparts, from integration to implementation.
What Are Headless CMSs & How Do They Differ from Traditional Ones?
Before we delve into the specifics of OneEntry's solution, let's review what a headless CMS is.
The primary goal of a headless CMS is to provide a flexible and decoupled approach to managing and delivering content across various digital channels. Unlike traditional CMSs, which typically combine content creation and presentation in a monolithic system, their headless alternatives separate these two layers.
Some other key differences between headless and conventional CMSs that you need to be aware of include:
Front-end dependence. A headless CMS enables developers to use any front-end framework, providing greater flexibility for building websites, mobile apps, or other digital platforms. In the traditional CMS approach, on the other hand, the front end is often integrated into the content management system.
Scaling possibilities. Headless CMS systems are often more scalable as they can handle diverse front-end technologies and are not tied to a specific presentation layer. This makes them suitable for large and complex projects.
Adaptability to innovations. Headless CMS solutions are more adaptable to changing technologies and trends since they are not bound to a specific front-end architecture.
Yet, perhaps the most fundamental distinction between these two CMS types lies in their operational principles.
In a headless CMS, content is delivered via APIs, which allows it to be used in different contexts. In contrast, conventional CMSs typically deliver content in a specific, pre-defined way.
How Headless CMSs Work: OneEntry Use Case
In the CMS context, the term "headless" points to the absence of a front-end or presentation layer. Instead, a headless CMS works with an API (Application Programming Interface), which empowers users to render content on the front end of their choice.
For example, let's say you want to use OneEntry headless CMS for your international e-commerce store. To get started, you would need to take the following steps
1) Set Up OneEntry Headless CMS & Create a New Project
Start by creating a OneEntry account or signing into an existing one. After that, you'll be able to start a new project for your eCommerce store. This will entail selecting a name for it and picking the pricing plan that matches your goals best.
2) Add Content
Before starting to work with the API, you will need to add content to your new project via the "Content Management" section. In this case, it would mean inputting such details as:
Product images
Item descriptions
Pricing information
What's more, since the e-commerce we are discussing is supposed to cater to an international audience, you would also need to set up localization for multiple languages and regions.
3) Set Up APIs or SDKs
Now, your task is to establish communication between your front end and OneEntry CMS via APIs or the SDK. Add content manually, through the API or the SDK.
API: If you decide to use the API, begin by generating authentication API keys. They will serve as the gateway to secure and authenticate your interactions with the headless CMS.
You will also need to configure the API endpoints within OneEntry CMS, which will enable your e-commerce store to seamlessly fetch data.
SDK: If you decide to use the SDK, just run the handy command:
npm install oneentry
At this point, you simply need to import the defineOneEntry function and start using the methods you need as shown in the usage documentation.
4) Build Your E-Commerce Store
The next step is to select a front-end framework for your e-commerce store. This is also the time when you build all the essential e-commerce features like product pages, the shopping cart, and the checkout page.
After that, you can use the API keys and endpoints to integrate OneEntry CMS data into your eCommerce front end. This integration allows for dynamic fetching and real-time display of product information.
Similarly, if you opted for the SDK, you have a similar degree of flexibility by using multiple methods, for instance, getProductsPageById, getProductByIdfilterProduct, and so on.
5) Test Your E-Commerce Website & Deploy It
Before your e-commerce site goes live, it is crucial that you thoroughly test it and ensure proper data retrieval from the headless CMS. Once you are sure everything works as it should, you are ready to deploy your store to the hosting platform of your choice.
Finally, remember that the journey doesn't end post-deployment. Regularly audit content with the help of OneEntry CMS's user-friendly interface to keep product information and other relevant data up-to-date.
Main Benefits of OneEntry Headless CMS
If you would like to learn more about the setup process, check out the step-by-step instructions provided on the OneEntry website and YouTube channel!
Yet, even without going further into detail, it is clear to see that one of this system's key benefits is its straightforward implementation. Some other advantages OneEntry boasts compared to other headless CMSs in the market are:
User-friendly interface
Easy-to-scale backend
Fast API, along with clear documentation and responsive support
PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MongoDB bases
Intuitive content management logic
Virtual storage on state-of-the-art servers
Simple export of products and services from YML or CSV files
Daily backups and advanced cybersecurity measures
In short, OneEntry wants to position itself as a one-stop solution for all your content management needs, regardless of how multifaceted they are.
Final Take
OneEntry Headless CMS offers several features that can help you boost your content management processes. It is versatile and the OneEntry team is adding even more features to make the product more compelling. After all, its use cases expand way beyond e-commerce platforms. OneEntry headless CMS could be used for:
Corporate websites
Blogs and journals
Mobile apps
Educational platforms
Digital exhibitions & interactive installations
Omnichannel commercial platforms
Portfolios
Service offerings
I will explore and write more about this solution, but in the meantime feel free to give it a try.