The Pitfalls of Using a CRM as a CMS: Not the Optimal Business Choice

Discover the limitations and challenges of using a CRM as a CMS. Learn why dedicated CMS platforms may offer more control, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness for your website. Explore the pitfalls and make an informed decision for your business.

enterprise, website, b2b, marketing

Having a powerful content management system (CMS) is crucial for businesses to effectively manage their online presence. 

 

While customer relationship management (CRM) systems offer robust features for managing customer data and sales processes, using them as a CMS may not be the optimal solution.

 

 In this blog post, we will explore the reasons why using a CRM as a CMS can present challenges and limitations for businesses.

 

Limited Website Building Capabilities:

CRM systems primarily focus on providing a comprehensive suite of tools for customer management, and their website-building features are often secondary. 

 

When using a CRM as a CMS, the actual work of building and maintaining the website is usually outsourced to third-party consultants. 

 

This can result in high costs and a lack of control over the website's development and customization.

 

Conflicts of Interest:

When a business uses a CRM as its CMS, there is a potential conflict of interest between the CRM company and the consultants hired to build and maintain the website.

 

 The CRM company's primary goal is to sell and promote their CRM product, while the consultants have a financial incentive to perform additional work on the platform. 

 

This misalignment can lead to increased costs and a reliance on expensive consultants for even minor website changes or updates.

 

Learning Curve and Expertise:

CRM systems often have their own languages and complex functionalities that require significant time and expertise to master. 

 

Building a website solely on a CRM platform can be challenging, as it may involve learning specialized languages and navigating intricate development processes. 

 

The need for highly skilled consultants adds to the overall complexity and costs of using a CRM as a CMS.

 

SEO Limitations:

Effective search engine optimization (SEO) is vital for improving a website's visibility and attracting organic traffic. 

 

However, CRM systems may have limitations when it comes to optimizing web pages for SEO purposes. 

 

URL structures, canonical tags, and other SEO-related elements may be restricted or require external consultants for modifications. 

 

This lack of control can hinder a business's ability to optimize its website effectively.

 

Lack of Design Flexibility:

CRM systems are primarily designed to manage customer data and sales processes, rather than offering extensive design capabilities. 

 

As a result, websites built solely on a CRM platform may lack unique design elements and may appear similar to competitors' websites using the same CRM. 

 

The limited design flexibility can restrict a business's ability to create a visually appealing and distinctive online presence.

 

Integration Challenges:

Using a CRM as a CMS may require additional third-party tools or plugins for specific website functionalities, such as landing pages or advanced analytics. 

 

This reliance on external integrations can introduce compatibility issues and limit the seamless operation of the website. 

 

Subdomains and other complexities may arise when attempting to achieve specific features that are not readily available within the CRM platform.


While CRM systems offer valuable features for managing customer relationships, using them as a CMS can present significant challenges and limitations for businesses.

 

The lack of extensive website-building capabilities, conflicts of interest, SEO limitations, learning curve, design inflexibility, and integration challenges are factors to consider when making the decision. 

 

Exploring dedicated CMS platforms that prioritize website development and customization may provide businesses with more control, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness in building and managing their online presence.