CMS Options For SMEs in Ireland

Website CMS Platforms - What I Use For SME Clients

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 13:46:02 GMT

The Pros, Cons, and My Experience

I started managing website content back in 2008, long before CMS platforms were as intuitive as they are today. Over the years, I’ve seen the landscape evolve dramatically. Thankfully, things have moved on from clunky interfaces and limited design flexibility of the early CMS platforms to modern platforms that make content management accessible for businesses of all sizes.

Today, I manage website content for around 10 companies across a mix of sectors, and I rely on a handful of CMS platforms that consistently deliver results for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Typically, websites are built and up and running for a while by the time a client reaches me with website content needs, so I don’t choose the CMS for them.

Below is a breakdown of the CMS tools I currently use, along with the pros and cons of each, as well as a look back at some tools I’ve used in the past.

WordPress

Best for: SMEs across multiple sectors that need flexibility and scalability. WordPress is the most widely used CMS among my clients, and for good reason.

Pros

Extremely flexible with thousands of plugins for additional functionality
Large community and vast resources for troubleshooting or learning
SEO-friendly structure and robust blogging capabilities
Cost-effective for businesses of all sizes

Cons

Can become complex with too many plugins, which may slow down sites
Requires regular updates and security management
Learning curve for non-technical users if customised heavily

WordPress is suitable for almost every SME client, from service-based businesses to e-commerce ventures. It’s the go-to CMS for businesses looking for flexibility and growth potential. There are two common mistakes I see with WordPress websites that I don't see with other website CMS, they are:

Businesses not staying on top of the necessary updates, which can lead to expensive upgrades and slow websites.
Bad planning. Every website needs to be planned out in advance so that every page has a clear purpose. Without a plan, websites become content-heavy and difficult for the user to navigate.

SilverStripe CMS

Best for: SMEs requiring customisation and robust, enterprise-grade solutions. SilverStripe is a developer-friendly CMS that offers flexibility without compromising on structure.

Pros

Highly customisable and scalable
Good security standards
Ideal for complex websites with bespoke requirements

Cons

Smaller community and fewer plugins compared to WordPress
Steeper learning curve for non-technical users
Development-heavy for major changes

SilverStripe websites are highly customisable and are ideal for businesses that are prepared to invest in a professional developer. It’s a very intuitive CMS that I use for several websites and have also provided client training for. If you would like a recommendation for an Irish developer specialising in SilverStripe, get in touch and I'll share some details.

HubSpot CMS

Best for: SMEs who want a CMS fully integrated with marketing, CRM, and sales. HubSpot CMS is more than just a content management system; it’s part of a broader marketing ecosystem.

Pros

Full integration with HubSpot CRM and marketing tools
Easy drag-and-drop editor for non-technical users
Advanced reporting and analytics built in
Ideal for inbound marketing strategies

Cons

Higher cost than other CMS options
Less flexibility for very customised designs compared to WordPress
Overkill if the client doesn’t leverage HubSpot’s marketing features

HubSpot CMS is perfect for clients who want their website to directly support lead generation and marketing automation. For SMEs that don’t use HubSpot fully, it can feel like paying for features they don’t need.

Register 365

Best for: SMEs looking for reliable, UK-based hosting with CMS management. Register 365 combines hosting with CMS tools for simple website management.

Pros

Easy-to-use interface for smaller websites
Register 365 offers website packages that suit all budgets.
Quick setup for simple websites
A fantastic customer service team

Cons

Limited functionality compared to WordPress or HubSpot
Not ideal for large-scale, complex websites
Less flexibility in design and plugins

Register 365 is excellent for clients who need a straightforward website and hosting package without complexity. My own business website was built by Register 365, as were those of a few clients who asked me for recommendations when it came to scrapping their existing website and building a new one.

I’ve been managing websites and website content for a long time now, and I’ve seen just about every type of CMS platform available. Today, I primarily work with WordPress, HubSpot CMS, SilverStripe, and Register 365, and rarely come across an SME using any other.

Each of the CMS tools I have mentioned above has its own strengths: WordPress for flexibility, HubSpot for marketing integration, SilverStripe for bespoke projects, and Register 365 for simple, reliable management. I hope that understanding the pros and cons of each helps you choose the right website tool for your business.

If you have a question about small business websites, pop me an email and I’d be happy to offer any advice I can.

Meet Visa Ireland's She's Next Alumni

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:00:53 GMT

Visa Ireland Are Supporting Small Businesses and Female Founders

I had the honour of representing Suzanne Moloney at the Visa Ireland She’s Next Alumni event in Dublin last week.

Networking isn’t my natural strength; I usually avoid it, but this event was different. The room was packed with inspiring female founders and businesswomen from across Ireland. We heard an incredible speech from Breege O Donoghue about business, community, and never giving up, and we learned more about the amazing alumni. All in a stunning venue with great food – what more could you ask for?

A huge thank you to Suzanne for trusting me to represent her and HidraMed Solutions, to Visa Ireland for hosting such a brilliant event, and of course to Breege O'Donoghue for her words of inspiration.

I’ve shared the full list of She’s Next alumni below. It’s well worth a look!

Learn more about HidraMed Solutions here > www.hidramedsolutions.com

Visa Ireland's She's Next Alumni

Visa Ireland's She's Next Alumni

Suzanne Moloney , HidraMed Solutions
hidramedsolutions.com

Claire Fullam, Remi Scalp Care
Claire Fullam
https://remiscalp.com

Marian Kennedy, Anewmum
Marian Kennedy
anewmum.com on LinkedIn

Denise Walsh, CurlyCo
www.curlyco.ie
Denise Walsh on LinkedIn

Sinead Ryan, Little Fitness
Sinead Ryan on L inkedIn
littlefitness.ie

Lisa Kleiner, Nibbed Cacao
nibbedcacao.com
Lisa Kleiner on LinkedIn

Rachel Hennessy, Happy Days Fashion Rental
happy-days.ie
Rachel Hennessy

Suraya Rahman, Little Eden Terrariums
Little Eden Terrariums on LinkedIn
www.littleedenterrariums.com

Alison McGrath, My First Steps
www.myfirststeps.ie
Alison McGrath on LinkedIn

Mamobo Ogoro, GORM
www.gormmedia.com
Dr. Mamobo O on LinkedIn

Marion Cantillon, PitSeal
www.pit-seal.com
Marion Cantillon on LinkedIn

Jane Conlon, Sodalicious
www.sodalicious.ie
Jane Conlon on LinkedIn

Siobhan McKenna, Moss and Cable
www.mossandcable.com

Fiona Fahy, Feed Me Mother
feedmemother.ie
Fiona Fahy on LinkedIn

Maria Hall, Hub Planning Ltd
www.hubplanning.ie
Maria Hall on LinkedIn

Tammy Darcy, The Shona Project
https://shona.ie
Tammy Darcy on LinkedIn

Maximising Your Small Business Marketing with Google My Business

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 14:31:42 GMT

In today's digital age, having a strong online presence is essential for small businesses to thrive. One powerful tool that can significantly impact your digital marketing efforts is Google My Business (GMB).

This free platform offers a range of features designed to help small businesses enhance their visibility, attract customers, and grow their brand. In this blog post, we'll explore how you can leverage Google My Business to take your small business marketing to the next level.

Create and Optimise Your Google My Business Profile

The first step is to claim and verify your business on Google My Business. Once verified, ensure that your profile is complete and accurate.

Provide essential information such as your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and business hours. Add high-quality photos of your business, products, and services to make your profile more appealing to potential customers.

Little Wren Tip ~ Use your keywords to name your images files e.g. I might name my images something like ‘Small Business Marketing Specialist Dublin.’

Manage Google Reviews and Ratings

Customer reviews and ratings play a crucial role in influencing purchasing decisions. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on your Google profile. Respond promptly to reviews, both positive and negative, to show that you value customer feedback and are committed to providing excellent service.

Utilise The Google My Business Posts Function

Google Posts allow you to share timely updates, promotions, events, and offers directly on your profile. Take advantage of this feature to engage with your audience, promote your products or services, and drive traffic to your website or store. Keep your posts concise, visually appealing, and relevant to your target audience. They needn’t be too complicated - even resharing business updates from your social media channels works here.

Optimise for Local SEO

Google My Business is a powerful tool for local search engine optimisation (SEO). Ensure that your business information is consistent across all online platforms, including your website, social media profiles, and online directories.

Use relevant keywords in your Google profile, business description, and posts to improve your visibility in local search results.

Track Performance with Insights

Google My Business provides valuable insights and analytics to help you track the performance of your profile and understand how customers find and interact with your business online. Monitor key metrics such as views, clicks, calls, and direction requests to measure the effectiveness of your marketing efforts and make informed decisions.

Engage with Your Audience

Google My Business offers various communication tools to engage with your audience directly. Respond to customer inquiries, messages, and questions promptly to provide excellent customer service and build trust with your audience.

Use the Q&A feature to address common queries and provide helpful information to potential customers.

Google My Business is a powerful tool that can help small businesses increase their online visibility, attract new customers, and grow their brand. By creating and optimising your Google profile, managing reviews and ratings, utilising Google Posts, optimising for local SEO, tracking performance with insights, and engaging with your audience, you can maximise the impact of your small business marketing efforts on Google My Business. Start leveraging the power of Google My Business today.

Here are three different examples of small businesses asking for Google Reviews...

Why Little Wren Brands Is The Ideal Marketing Solution For Small Businesses

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 10:27:50 GMT

“Business has only two functions — marketing and innovation.”

— Milan Kundera, Writer & Playwright

At Little Wren Brands, we understand that not every business has the budget for an in-house marketing manager or to hire a marketing agency. That’s why we aim to make professional marketing services more accessible to small businesses, entrepreneurs, start-ups and artists,

Whether you’re running a salon, a restaurant, or a local gift shop or you’re a gigging musician or commissionable artist we are here when you need us.

Approachable

Now, this list is written in no particular order but if it were, we reckon being approachable is important enough to be at the top.

We don’t believe there are such things as daft questions and we don't expect you to come to us with a plan. We definitely don’t expect you to come to us with a marketing plan already made*. At Little Wren Brands, we're friendly and easy to talk to and very down to earth (at least 98% notion free). Every one of our clients is treated with the same respect and all business is treated with the same importance - no matter how big or small a task.

* (but if you do that’s great too)

Professional & Experienced

You’ll always be assigned a Little Wren Brands Pro with a minimum of 10 years of professional marketing experience. Professionalism is a given and it goes without saying that we take your brand and business as seriously as if it were our own.

Jargon Free

We could spend all day boring you with marketing jargon in an effort to impress you, SEO this, funnel that and let’s not forget integrated marketing campaigns. But we won’t.

Tell us what you want and we’ll tell you in plain English how we can help. Whether you want more footfall instore or someone to manage your social media accounts, we won’t bug you with buzzwords. You get the picture. Let’s have a proper chat and get things done - get in touch.

Personal Service

We like to get to know who we’re working with so that we can understand the business and brand in full. That’s why you will always deal with a real life person - it’s a bit old school but it’s how we like to work.

As our client, your business and brand growth is as important to us as our own. We love nothing more than seeing our clients’ expand into new markets, win awards and grow, grow, grow.

Collaborative

You know what you want better than anyone else so it’s integral that we work closely for the best results. Having a collaborative approach means we can combine your expertise with our marketing knowledge. By learning from each other, we can create marketing solutions that really work.

Helpful

We really want your business brand to be a success. So, when we work with you, we will always be on the lookout for ways we can go that extra step. If we find something outside our remit that we think would help grow your brand, we’ll pass it on to you. When we have a contact that we think you should connect with, we’ll put you in touch.

Our philosophy is ‘not everyone knows what you know’ and we strive every day to share the knowledge we have.

Hopefully, that’s all swung you and you’re now dying to get in touch and start working together. Pop an email to rebecca@littlewrenbrands.ie and let’s get started.

Benefits of Hiring Freelancers For Your Business

websitebuilder-hub@register365.ie (admin admin) — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 09:29:21 GMT

Now that it has been proven that remote working works* more businesses in Ireland are reviewing how they hire. Flexible work models are becoming mainstream and that includes more businesses using freelance services.

You might be considering working with a Freelancer for your own business needs, but have not quite made up your mind. Then this article is for you. In this article, we look at the benefits of hiring freelancers and answer some of the most common freelance related questions. If you have any other Freelancer related questions after reading this, get in touch .

What Is A Freelancer?

A Freelancer is a skilled professional who works for themselves and is hired by a business for a set time. In Ireland, Freelancers generally trade as Sole Traders. Typically, they will work remotely, though it isn’t unknown for some to temporarily work in-house for clients too.

There are Freelancers for every industry and profession. From marketing professionals and mural painters to accountants and curators, whatever skill set you require, there is a Freelancer available.

What Are The Advantages Of Freelancer?

Flexibility is a word that is synonymous with Freelance professionals and it relates to a number of things. Here are some of the main benefits of hiring a Freelancer:

Freelancers Offer Flexible Availability

Freelancers work on a project-based model and can be hired for a time period or a particular project. For example, you might hire a Freelance Web Developer to build your new website or a Freelance Videographer for a corporate video.

Freelancers are ideal for businesses with project work as you get the exact skill you need when you need it. You might also find that a Freelancer is a perfect solution for covering employee leave.

The working hours of each Freelancer vary depending on their location and availability. You might find some that work any hours that are needed or that some work mornings. When you are considering hiring a Freelancer be open and realistic about what availability you will need.

Freelancers Are Skilled Professionals

The beauty of hiring Freelancers is that you can hire any skill set. Rather than putting off projects because you can’t afford to take on a new skilled full-time employee, hire a Freelancer.

Examples of skilled freelance professionals include (but are definitely not limited to:

Graphic Designers
Social Media Managers
Content Creators
Writers
PAs and Admins
Data Analysts
Web Conversion Specialists
Tax consultants
Business Coaches and Life Coaches
Legal Professionals
Translators
Marketers
PR pros
Advertising Specialists
Everything IT related

Freelancers Are Focused

When you hire Freelancers you will find that they are some of the most focused professionals you have worked with. Freelancers have learnt the real value of time. Whether it's to earn more or to get more from their day, they know how to focus like no one else. There is no chatting around the proverbial water cooler, wasted commute time or time zapping meetings. Just focus. On your business project.

Freelancers Are Cost-Efficient

The cost-efficiency of hiring Freelancers comes from their flexibility. These are self-employed individuals who manage their own business, including taxes and insurance. They do not need you to provide a workspace or tools. You will not need to cover the costs of annual leave or any leave in fact. All you pay for is the pre-agreed project deliverables or time period.

We should probably get one common misunderstanding out of the way. Just because Freelancers are cost-efficient that doesn’t mean they are cheap. When you hire a professional, skilled, Freelancer you are paying for their experience and expertise and they will price themselves accordingly.

There are of course some Freelancers who offer extraordinarily cheap work. If that works for you then so be it. Keep in mind though that there is a reason they are cheap and as the old adage says, ‘Pay less, pay twice’.

Why should we hire you as a freelancer?

When it comes to hiring a Freelancer for your business needs, base your decision on a combination of the following:

Your needs
Their skills
The suitability of their availability
Their reputation
Your preferred working style

If you have any other Freelancer related questions, get in touch . We’re always happy to help.

*(albeit by enforced pandemic lockdowns)

Where To Find Good Freelancers In Ireland

Tue, 12 Apr 2022 09:29:21 GMT

So, you’ve heard that Freelancers are the bee’s knees and have decided to hire one but you’re not sure how. You’re in luck, we know exactly where to find great Freelancers in Ireland.

Here’s our Little Wren Brands’ Guide to Finding Freelancers.

The social site for all things business and careers, LinkedIn is a great place to start looking for Freelancers. There are several ways to use LinkedIn as a Freelancer search tool:

Follow and use the hashtag #Freelancer .
Pay for a job advertisement.
Share a post about your Freelancer requirements.
Ask your network.
Outside of Ireland LinkedIn has specific Freelancer features so keep an eye out from their arrival.

The Indie List

The Indie List was born from the ashes of the Covid-19 pandemic by Ùna Herily and Peter McPartlin. It's now home to hundreds of Ireland’s creative and professional Freelancers and works with businesses in many sectors. Such was the need for a professional job resource for Freelancers in Ireland, that Creatives and Freelancers flocked to the site. For a reasonable fee, employers can access Freelancer details including portfolios and references.

Upwork

Upwork is an American based Freelancer platform on which you can hire a Freelancer from Ireland , the UK or anywhere in the world. Freelancers can also find jobs and add details about their services and experiences. The site has an intuitive design with step by step hiring instructions make it popular with freelancers and employees in Ireland. To hire a Freelancer on Upwork you only pay for the task and do not pay a fee to use the site. However, Freelancers are charged a hefty percentage for every completed task.

Business Networks

There are networking groups for pretty much every niche and business industry that you may or may not be a member of already. Business networks are always great sources of recommendations. In Ireland, you might choose to ask the advice of:

Women Mean Business - A platform for women running their own businesses in Ireland .
BNI aka Business Networking Ireland - Who provide "a positive, supportive, and structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals."
Irish International Business Network ( IIBN ) - A network of Irish entrepreneurs and business professionals.
Women's Inspire Network - A community of women in business run by Tweeting Goddess Samantha Kelly.
Local Enterprise Offices - Not a network per se, but a business resource that can most likely point you in the right direction.

Right Here

As with all industries, Freelancers tend to network with one another. At Little Wren Brands, we are proud to have a network of brilliant Freelancers who we have got to know through shared jobs and networking. If you don’t see the type of work you need doing listed on our site, then pop us an email and we will let you know if we can recommend someone that can help you.

CMS Options For SMEs in Ireland

Website CMS Platforms - What I Use For SME Clients

The Pros, Cons, and My Experience ﻿

WordPress

Pros

Cons

SilverStripe CMS

Pros

Cons

HubSpot CMS

Pros

Cons

Register 365

Pros

Cons

Meet Visa Ireland's She's Next Alumni

Visa Ireland Are Supporting Small Businesses and Female Founders

Visa Ireland's She's Next Alumni

Maximising Your Small Business Marketing with Google My Business

Create and Optimise Your Google My Business Profile

Manage Google Reviews and Ratings

Utilise The Google My Business Posts Function

Optimise for Local SEO

Track Performance with Insights

Engage with Your Audience

Why Little Wren Brands Is The Ideal Marketing Solution For Small Businesses

“Business has only two functions — marketing and innovation.”

Approachable

Professional & Experienced

Personal Service

Collaborative

Helpful

Benefits of Hiring Freelancers For Your Business

What Is A Freelancer?

What Are The Advantages Of Freelancer?

Freelancers Offer Flexible Availability

Freelancers Are Skilled Professionals

Freelancers Are Focused

Freelancers Are Cost-Efficient

Why should we hire you as a freelancer?

If you have any other Freelancer related questions, get in touch . We’re always happy to help.

Where To Find Good Freelancers In Ireland

LinkedIn

The Indie List

Upwork

Business Networks

Right Here

If you have any other Freelancer related questions, get in touch . We’re always happy to help.

The Pros, Cons, and My Experience