The Benefits of Going Headless with Storyblok

If you're looking for a more flexible and customizable way to manage your digital content, a headless CMS like Storyblok could be the solution. Learn more about the benefits in this blog post.

By Parker Ovadek

May 12, 2023
Advice

If this post has reached you, then odds are you have heard of the term “headless CMS,” or there’s a chance that this is the first time you have encountered this term and want to learn more about it. So then, what is a headless CMS, and how can it benefit your next project or evolve your current one?

In this article, we will explore the benefits of using a headless CMS (Content Management System) such as Storyblok and why it’s a better solution than the traditional CMS.

What Is a Headless CMS?

A headless CMS separates the content from the presentation layer; this architecture is known as composable architecture. In the architecture of a traditional CMS, content, and presentation are tightly integrated. This means that making changes to the presentation layer often requires changes to the underlying content structure. By keeping these two separate using a headless CMS such as Storyblok, it allows for greater flexibility and scalability since changes to one layer do not affect the other.

A headless CMS provides content creators with a user-friendly interface to allow them to manage their content within. Developers can then make use of APIs to gather the content and display it on any device. With this, your app or website can have the desired look and feel you want it to have without having to affect the content that’s present.

Benefits of a Headless CMS vs. Traditional CMS

While a traditional CMS platform can be user-friendly, they often lack in performance, customization, and the flexibility and scalability that was mentioned earlier for which a headless CMS can provide. Let’s talk about how a headless CMS can improve your project in those three areas that a traditional CMS struggles to keep up in.

Improved Performance: Traditional CMS platforms are loaded with extraneous features and functionalities that impede performance. Thanks to its composable architecture, a headless CMS can provide better website performance, faster page load times, and improved SEO. This is because developers can optimize the presentation layer for performance while having little worry that the content will slow things down.
Customization and Personalization: Having complete control of the presentation layer means you have complete control to create custom designs and user experiences that match your brand and target audience. Additionally, you can use data-driven insights to personalize the content and user experience for each visitor on your app or website.
Flexibility and Scalability: With a headless CMS such as Storyblok, you can easily distribute your content across multiple channels, including web, mobile, social media, and even smartwatches. For example, if you have a website or mobile app, you can use the same content for both, which reduces the amount of work required for managing and maintaining content. This makes it easy to reach your audience wherever they are without having to create and manage separate content for each channel.

What Is Storyblok?

With the understanding of what a headless CMS is and how it compares to a traditional CMS, let’s now take a look at the powerful headless CMS that I keep referring to called Storyblok, and why it could be a great option for you to consider for your next project!

Developer-Friendly: Storyblok offers easy-to-follow documentation that covers everything from how to work with their API, to setting up various integration options, such as adding ecommerce to your application. This is a great perk to developers as it helps speed up the time it takes to develop features.
User-Friendly Interface: Not only is it developer-friendly, but it’s also very user-friendly as well. Storyblok provides an intuitive interface and visual editor for admins. The platform allows a content editor to easily manage content without needing any technical knowledge.
Visual Editor: The visual editor that Storyblok offers allows content editors to preview and edit the content that shows up on the application in real time. The Storyblok visual editor has a drag-and-drop interface within the content panel to allow the content editor to arrange the content in the desired order. These features allow for a more seamless editing experience and ensure that all content changes are accurately reflected on the frontend.

Final Thoughts

As you can see, a headless CMS can provide numerous benefits for your next project. By separating the content from the presentation layer, it allows for improved performance, customization, personalization, and greater flexibility along with scalability. The headless CMS Storyblok offers a platform that is developer-friendly, user-friendly, and has a powerful visual editor making it easy to manage your website or app’s content. It can also allow your business to create a more efficient and personalized experience for your audience across multiple channels, making it a great option for any project.

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About the Author

Parker Ovadek

As an athlete, Parker’s first desire was to be in the Sports Management field. However, during his Sophomore year in high school, he found another passion—computers. His hobby of playing video games on a console led him to venture into PC gaming and eventually into building his own machines; he’s been hooked ever since! After high school, Parker earned his degree in Information Systems from Grand Valley State University. Outside of working hours, you’ll most likely find him on a golf course!