If you’re looking for a ready-to-use content management solution that comes with a standard Sylius installation, you might have a hard time finding one.
The reason is simple – no such thing exists. And there are some good reasons for this. We will cover them later in this article.
Although Sylius platform offers some native features that may be considered content management, it certainly can’t be compared to CMS modules found in other eCommerce and website building platforms.
No worries, though – below, you will find 3 solutions for a content management system implementation in Sylius.
Quick jump
- Does Sylius have a CMS solution included?
- Native CMS features in Sylius
- Essential CMS features for eCommerce
- 3 ways to manage content in Sylius
- Risks of running a Sylius store without a CMS
Does Sylius have a CMS solution included?
No, as mentioned above, a standard Sylius installation doesn’t come with a separate module created purely for content management.
The reason for this is actually simple and well-thought-out.
Sylius is an advanced technical solution for mid-market and enterprise brands that need custom solutions. focused on code quality, performance, and scalability. It’s geared to satisfy the most custom requirements an eCommerce app can have.
As such, it is purely focused on delivering a technically-excellent eCommerce platform/engine without diluting its development efforts on features that are already offered by other solutions.
This is also a part of the best-of-breed approach: while Sylius core is the best eCommerce technology that acts as an eCommerce engine, there are other vendors that cover the specific CMS needs better.
Native CMS features in Sylius
It is true that Sylius doesn’t come with a full-blown CMS solution. However, even without a built-in content management system, Sylius allows some options that could otherwise be seen as part of a CMS.
These options include:
- coupons
- promotions
- product information management (names, descriptions)
- transactional emails content (available with Mollie payments plugin)
Essential eCommerce content management system features
Not every content management system provides the same features. To help you evaluate your choices, here is a short list of essential features that will help your content stand out and drive more sales.
Embedding products inside your content
The best kind of content will always present your products and services as a way to resolve your potential customers’ problems.
The shorter the path from consuming your content to finding your product, the better.
That’s why during content creation and editing, you need an easy way of associating products with a specific piece of content. This allows you to display product-related data like availability, price, or promotions dynamically.
HTML support
It doesn’t matter how well your store’s features and looks are planned out. You will always need some flexibility when it comes to creating and modifying content.
That’s when HTML support comes in handy. Even basic knowledge of HMTL lets you or your editors change how specific elements are displayed or add new marketing and analytics scripts.
What is more important, you can do it quickly without waiting for a developer to apply changes in the code.
Image and video support
Visual marketing is one of the best ways to make sure your eCommerce content stands out.
With the rise of social commerce, it has become increasingly important to have high-quality visuals that will attract your potential customers across different digital touchpoints.
Photos and videos are also much more digestible on mobile devices than simple text and can further increase your sales.
3 ways to manage content in Sylius
Solution #1 – Hardcode your content in templates
Believe it or not, there are still websites that use this kind of “content management system” (quotes intended). In this model, information is rarely added, updated, or modified.
It makes perfect sense for stale businesses that don’t value their customers’ experience. Even a few extra hours a developer would need to install a free plugin downloaded from GitHub would be an unnecessary investment if all you need is to change the year in your website’s footer once a year.
Solution #2 – Install a CMS plugin
Installing BitBag’s plugin is the easiest and the most efficient method for including a content management system in Sylius. Built with simplicity in mind, it’s a perfect solution for smaller teams that are starting with content creation in Sylius.
Sylius CMS plugin creates 5 components manageable from your Sylius administration panel:
- Pages
- Sections
- Dynamic blocks
- FAQ
- Media
Sylius CMS plugin components
Some features of SyliusCmsPlugin:
- Sylius 1.11^ support
- Default WYSIWYG editor with image upload module
- Channel awareness
- CSV import module for blocks and pages
- DAM (Digital Assets Management) module
- Preview feature
- Sitemap support
Sylius CMS installation guide (detailed version available on GitHub)
- Add plugin dependencies to your config/bundles.php file
- Install WYSIWYG editor
- Import required config in your config/packages/_sylius.yaml file
- Import routing in your config/routes.yaml file
- Import optional sitemap providers
- Finish the installation by updating the database schema and installing assets
Solution #3 – Integrate an external headless CMS via API
This is the most advanced solution and a popular one among enterprise businesses.
A headless content management system is the best choice for brands that have multiple content creators and editors, need advanced editorial workflows, and aspire to unify the customer experience across all touchpoints.
With headless-ready architecture and an API-first approach, it is much easier to create a truly headless eCommerce tech stack with Sylius than other platforms like Magento.
Risks of running a Sylius store without a CMS
As an open-source platform, Sylius development requires a medium-to-high level of technical knowledge and the ability to write code.
This means that without an implemented CMS solution, a lot of tasks will need the developer’s attention:
- Content creation and publishing that takes much longer
- Missed SEO opportunities
- Higher costs
- Longer time-to-market with developers busy with content management work
As you can see, the right Sylius can save you many headaches and boost your sales with content. If you’re not sure how to approach content management, feel free to contact us! As s Global Leading Partner, we care about sylius code quality and we are happy to help you get started with Sylius and make sure your eCommerce content is managed properly.