7 Best-Selling CMS Books Millions Love

Matthew MacDonald leverages his extensive experience as a science and technology writer to demystify WordPress for a wide audience. You’ll learn how to set up WordPress on various hosting environments, customize themes, and enhance your site with widgets and plug-ins. The book dives into practical examples like adding ecommerce features, managing multimedia content, and using SEO tools to expand your site's reach. Whether you’re crafting a personal blog or a full-fledged business website, this manual guides you through making WordPress work exactly as you need it to. It’s particularly suited for those who appreciate a jargon-free approach grounded in clear, hands-on instruction.

The methods Angela Byron and her co-authors developed while working with the Drupal community directly shape this guide's approach, offering you a hands-on path to mastering Drupal 7 modules. This book walks you through building diverse websites—from a job board to an online store—highlighting why particular modules fit each project. You’ll gain insight into configuring modules effectively without drowning in code, thanks to clear examples like Drupal Commerce and Media integration. If you’re new to Drupal or want to sharpen your practice with real-world case studies, this book delivers practical know-how that aligns with the platform’s evolving ecosystem.

This tailored CMS book explores battle-tested methods that align closely with your unique challenges and background. It delves into proven content management system techniques, blending widely validated knowledge with your specific interests to focus on what matters most for your projects. The book examines practical CMS applications, customization options, and efficient management tactics that match your skills and goals. This personalized approach reveals how to navigate CMS complexities effectively by concentrating on your particular needs, ensuring each concept is relevant and actionable. By combining reader-validated insights with your personal context, the book fosters a clearer and more focused learning experience designed just for you.

John Zablocki’s experience with ASP.NET MVC shines through in this guide, which takes a hands-on approach to building websites using Orchard CMS. You’ll move from setting up the Orchard environment to creating a fully functional site, learning to manage dynamic content and customize the look and feel through themes and modules. Zablocki doesn't just show you what to do; he walks you through compiling the source code for deeper control, making it clear how to extend Orchard beyond its default capabilities. If you're comfortable with C# and want to build robust, customizable CMS-driven sites, this book gives you both the foundation and the practical skills to do so.

Drawing from years of hands-on experience in Microsoft Content Management Server (MCMS) communities, Lim Mei Ying and her co-authors crafted this book to elevate developers’ mastery beyond the basics. You’ll dive deep into advanced MCMS and SharePoint Portal Server integration, with detailed C# code samples guiding you through real-world complexities. The authors share insider knowledge gained from active participation in MCMS newsgroups, making this a resource tailored for those already comfortable with MCMS and .NET frameworks. If you’re looking to push your development skills to handle sophisticated MCMS applications, this book offers the exact technical insights and practical examples you need, although it assumes you’re already familiar with the essentials.

Sarah McHarry’s background as a programmer turned freelance webmaster deeply informs this guide, making complex website building accessible to anyone. You’ll learn practical skills like registering your domain, choosing hosting, installing WordPress, and customizing themes and plugins to create a professional site without coding. For instance, the chapters on themes and plugins show you how to transform your site’s look and functionality with just a few clicks. If you want to build a polished, commerce-ready website on your own terms, this book is tailored for you, especially if you’re new to web development and need straightforward guidance without jargon.

This tailored book explores a focused path to accelerating your CMS mastery within 30 days, combining widely validated knowledge with a personalized touch. It examines core CMS concepts, rapid deployment techniques, and practical steps tailored to your background and goals. By narrowing in on what matters most to you, it reveals how to efficiently configure, customize, and optimize content management systems for fast, impactful results. The content matches your interests and skill level, addressing your specific objectives. This personalized approach helps you avoid information overload, making your learning experience targeted and effective, all while unveiling proven methods refined through millions of readers’ experiences.

Dr. Andy Williams, with a Ph.D. in Endocrinology and a background in education, crafted this guide to demystify WordPress for absolute beginners. You’ll find nearly 300 screenshots paired with detailed instructions that walk you through every step of building a professional website, making complex settings easier to grasp. The book’s structure, including end-of-chapter tasks, helps you practice and solidify your skills as you progress. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by WordPress’s learning curve or unsure how to start, this book breaks down the process into manageable parts so you can build confidence and enjoy creating your site.

When Tim Plummer first realized how fragmented Joomla extension resources were, he set out to create a clear, hands-on guide specifically for Joomla 3 developers. You’ll learn how to build your own plugins, modules, and components step-by-step, progressing from simple to complex projects, including backend and frontend development. The book also dives into securing your extensions by exploring common vulnerabilities, and guides you through packaging and distributing your work to others. If you have some PHP, HTML, and CSS knowledge and want to deepen your Joomla skills or customize extensions, this book lays out exactly what you need without unnecessary fluff.