Multisite CMS: Essential Features and How to Choose

Multisite CMS: Essential Features and How to Choose

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6 minutes

An abstract picture of a multisite CMS.

Managing multiple websites separately is increasingly complex, but not with a multisite CMS. If you currently face challenges such as manual content updates, inconsistent branding, or overflowing operational costs, such a CMS might be your best solution.

Why? Because implementing a multisite CMS means centralizing content management and scaling efficiently — all without losing your brand identity and draining resources. Platforms like Kentico, Adobe Experience Manager, and Sitecore are designed to do just that, working as a single spot for multisite management.

To see the impact, look at the case of our client, Anderson Tuftex. They were growing fast and struggling to keep up. We developed a reusable CMS template based on Kentico Xperience 13, letting them quickly create and manage new sites from one dashboard.

In this article, we’re going to talk about the essential features of a multisite CMS. As an experienced CMS development services provider, we’ll also share implementation best practices and tips for choosing a multisite CMS that suits your needs perfectly.

Highlights:

  • Control all your sites from one place — a multisite CMS makes it possible.

  • The multisite CMS benefits? Easy scaling, multilingual support, and granular access controls.

  • How do you choose the right multisite CMS? Define your requirements, evaluate key features, and consider your long-term goals.

Key Features of a Multisite CMS

When choosing multisite CMSs instead of traditional solutions, you get several features that set them apart. Let’s get each of them straight.

Centralized Management

This means that you manage all your websites from one platform. The result? You can easily update content and manage users. For example, Kentico allows you to edit content on all your sites from a single dashboard.

User Roles & Permissions

Roles and permissions feature of a multisite CMS.

With this feature, you effortlessly control access for different teams or stakeholders. This way, you make collaboration a breeze for everyone involved. Using, for instance, Adobe Experience Manager lets you provide granular access controls.

Scalability

A multisite CMS scales hand in hand with your business. For example, it allows you to add new websites or digital channels without much hassle. 

Multilingual Support

Support for multiple languages is one of the distinguishing features of a multisite CMS. This functionality lets you manage content in several languages — perfect for global audiences.

Feature

Kentico

Adobe Experience Manager

Umbraco

Centralized management

Yes, a single dashboard

Yes, enterprise-grade management

Limited

User roles & permissions

Flexible user controls

Granular access control

Basic access control

Scalability

High scalability

Enterprise-level scalability

Moderate scalability

Multilingual support

Built-in tools for language support

Comprehensive language support

Language variants

Target audience

Mid-size to large businesses

Large enterprises

Small to mid-size businesses

You may also be interested in reading about our Kentico multi-solution example

Background

Are high operational costs and inconsistent branding across your websites causing you headaches?

Explore the best multisite CMS solutions for your business to centralize management, reduce operational costs.

How to Choose the Right Multisite CMS

Different CMS platforms with multisite capabilities.

Choosing a multisite CMS might feel confusing, but the process gets way easier with our expert tips. Here’s how to pick a suitable solution:

  • Evaluate your needs: Determine how many websites you will manage. Think about what integrations you need — whether marketing, analytics, or CRM. Plus, consider your content management requirements, especially the content volume.

  • Plan for growth: Use a multisite CMS that can scale as your business grows. Consider future needs like adding new websites, expanding to multilingual markets, or implementing new features.

  • Focus on smooth integration: Make sure the chosen CMS integrates with your existing tools. For example, Adobe Experience Manager and Sitecore easily connect with enterprise ecosystems, while Kentico is perfect for mid-sized businesses that require flexibility.

  • Evaluate costs and ROI: Weigh the upfront costs and licensing fees against long-term ROI. Commercial systems like Kentico, Adobe Experience Manager, and Sitecore offer premium features but are more expensive than, for instance, open-source platforms like WordPress.

  • *Pro tip: When selecting a CMS, match platform features with your company’s long-term strategy and scalability needs.

Best Practices for Implementing a multisite CMS

Multisite CMS implementation best practices.Choosing a suitable CMS is one thing, but implementing it properly is another. Here are several multisite CMS best practices for smooth implementation:

  • Test compatibility before deployment: Before implementing a multisite CMS, test it with your current systems. Make sure there are no compatibility issues to avoid costly delays.

  • Train your team: Ensure your employees understand how to use the new CMS and its features effectively. Host training sessions to teach them key features and workflows.

  • Make security your top priority: Protect sensitive data by implementing strong security protocols. This includes regular updates, access controls, and encryption, especially if you deal with customer information.

  • Monitor performance and optimize: Once your CMS is live, track its performance and gather user feedback. Use this data to fix issues and improve processes.

That said, one of the top best practices for multisite CMS management from our CTO, Serhiy Sydorchuk, is: “Scaling should be gradual. Start with a core site and expand as you ensure everything runs smoothly.”


Background

Ready to enhance your website management strategy?

Discuss how our multisite CMS solutions can simplify your operations and increase efficiency.

Multisite CMS Success Stories

Let’s now look at how proper multisite CMS implementation works in practice. Just consider our flexible enterprise CMS development case study.

Our client, Anderson Tuftex, a subsidiary of leading provider of high-quality flooring products Shaw Industries, was looking for a way to manage multiple websites effectively. In particular, they needed more flexibility in their processes.

We built a customizable CMS template on Kentico Xperience 13 to address this goal. This fully reusable template lets our client’s team easily create and manage new websites for their several brands.

Content pages built with a customizable CMS template for Anderson Tuftex.

The results from managing multiple websites have been impressive:

  • Page views increased by 62%.

  • Item views increased by 67%.

  • Event count increased by 19.7%.

  • Clicks increased by 439,905%.


Custom controls as a multisite CMS feature in Anderson Tuftex.Custom controls as a multisite CMS feature in Anderson Tuftex.

 

Explore our testimonials and see how we’ve helped businesses like yours.


Multisite vs. Multi-Tenant CMS: Core Use Cases and Differences

Before you decide on your CMS solution, you should learn one more fact — the difference between a multisite CMS and a multi-tenant CMS. Here’s a breakdown:

Multisite CMS Use Cases and Characteristics

Choosing a multisite CMS is suitable for businesses managing multiple websites with a unified backend. In particular, it’s useful for companies that need to maintain consistent branding and centralized management. Common use cases are:

  • Managing regional or subsidiary websites.

  • Supporting different brands under a single-parent company.

For example, a retail business can use a multisite CMS to manage its global e-commerce sites from one platform.

Multi-tenant CMS Use Cases and Characteristics

A multi-tenant CMS, on the other hand, is perfect for scenarios where separate clients or tenants need their isolated CMS environments. Key use cases are:

  • Offering CMS capabilities to multiple customers with independent databases.

  • Managing franchisee websites with unique content.

To illustrate this, a SaaS provider might offer a multi-tenant CMS to multiple clients — all while keeping their data and configurations separate.

Conclusion

As you’ve already understood, managing multiple websites doesn’t have to be complicated. Use a multisite CMS to keep track of your content, branding, and operational costs.

And if you’re still thinking about which CMS is right for you, check out our digital transformation insights or simply talk to our professionals. As a .NET, Umbraco CMS development experts, and Kentico development company, we can help you choose the best way to manage multiple websites.

Background

Need expert guidance on managing multiple websites efficiently?

Talk to us about your specific multisite CMS requirements and how our solutions can address your challenges.

Table of contents

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    What is a multisite CMS?

    A multisite CMS is a content management system that lets you manage multiple websites from one platform. It simplifies content updates, ensures branding consistency, and streamlines customer engagement.

    Who benefits most from a multisite CMS?

    Businesses managing multiple websites — like global companies, franchises, or enterprises with several brands — experience most of the benefits of a multisite CMS.

    What is the cost of implementing a multisite CMS?

    The total cost of implementing a multisite CMS depends on your organization’s specific needs, including the number of sites, level of customization, choice of CMS, and integrations required. A detailed project assessment and roadmap are essential for accurately estimating costs and ensuring a scalable, efficient solution. Contact us today to discuss your multisite CMS requirements and get a detailed cost breakdown!

    What are your recommendations for staying competitive with a multisite CMS in 2025?

    Implement advanced tools like AI, use headless CMS architecture, and consider an API-first approach. Also, regularly update your CMS software with best-in-class technology.

    Why should you use a multisite CMS to manage multiple websites?

    The advantages of multisite CMS are centralized management, reduced operational costs, consistent branding, and scalability. These are the main reasons for choosing multisite content management systems.

    Can a multisite CMS be customized for different languages and regions?

    Yes, most multisite CMS websites support multilingual and regional customization. You can also go with a custom CMS to handle communication in different languages.

    What are the potential risks and challenges of implementing a multisite CMS?

    You may have to deal with high upfront costs, integration issues, and a learning curve for your team. Mitigate these risks by thorough testing, providing training, and working with the best CMS development experts.

    What features of a multisite CMS are essential for large enterprises?

    Scalability, advanced user roles and permissions, multilingual support, robust security, and smooth integration with existing tools are essential for large enterprises.

    Author

    Author

    Serhiy Sydorchuk

    Co-founder & CTO at Bits Orchestra

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    As the CTO and co-founder of Bits Orchestra, Serhiy brings over a decade of software development expertise. Serhiy leads the integration of innovative technologies such as AI/ML, enhancing solutions across manufacturing and other industries.

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