The Problem
Traditional CMS architecture couples content to presentation, creating limitations:
- Multi-property publishing: Same content needed on multiple websites or apps
- Presentation flexibility: Frontend technology constrained by CMS choice
- Mobile and app delivery: Content locked in web-only format
- Performance constraints: Server-rendered pages slower than modern alternatives
- Future limitations: Architecture decisions that don’t age well
When content is trapped in a monolithic CMS, adapting to new channels and technologies becomes expensive.
How I Solve It
I design and implement headless CMS architectures that separate content from delivery:
Architecture Planning
- Content modeling for multi-channel delivery
- API design for efficient content access
- Caching strategy for performance
- Editorial workflow preservation
CMS Selection and Setup
- Craft CMS with headless/hybrid configuration
- Strapi and other dedicated headless CMS options
- Content structure optimized for API delivery
- Preview and editing experience for content teams
Frontend Implementation
- Static site generation (Next.js, Nuxt.js, Astro)
- Dynamic rendering where needed
- API integration and caching
- Performance optimization
Multi-Property Architecture
- Shared content across multiple websites
- Property-specific content variations
- Unified component libraries
- Consistent branding with flexible presentation
Need This Solution?
If you're facing similar challenges or want to discuss how I can help implement this for your project, I'd be happy to talk.
When Headless Makes Sense
Good Candidates
- Multiple websites or properties needing shared content
- Mobile apps requiring same content as website
- High-traffic sites benefiting from static generation
- Teams wanting frontend technology flexibility
- Future integration requirements with external systems
Better Suited to Traditional CMS
- Single website with standard requirements
- Content teams needing WYSIWYG editing
- Limited frontend development capacity
- Tight timelines and budgets
Common Headless Scenarios
Multi-Property Portfolio
- Three related websites sharing product and content data
- Unified backend with property-specific frontends
- Consistent component architecture across sites
- Gradual migration from legacy systems
Content-Heavy Publishing
- Large content archives delivered performantly
- Multi-format output (web, mobile, API)
- Editorial workflow with preview capabilities
- CDN-first delivery strategy
E-commerce with Modern Frontend
- Commerce backend (BigCommerce, Shopify) via API
- Headless CMS for content and marketing pages
- Custom frontend for optimized experience
- Performance-critical product pages
The Outcome
Content reaches any channel through clean APIs. Frontend teams use modern technologies without CMS constraints. Multiple properties share content efficiently. Architecture decisions today don’t limit options tomorrow. The system is built for how you need to work now and how you might need to work in the future.
