Using WordPress as a Backend for Mobile CMS

WordPress is a leading CMS player that drives the majority of the content online. The baseline on which WordPress works holds remarkably true as it has helped millions of voices to reach places with the democratized publishing. WordPress offers an affordable solution for building an online presence for driving the content. The entire WordPress ecosystem comprises themes, plugins, and hosted service that is growing every day even outside the sternly publishing trade. WordPress is used by Businesses and individuals alike. Blending its richness with the mobility offered by smartphones, the mobile CMS is the best thing that can happen.

 

Knowing Mobile CMS

Technically, three common meanings are associated to the term ‘Mobile CMS.’

• A mobile app for the contentThere is a CMS typically used in managing the content via mobile app for some devices running on iOS and Android by using a single tool.
• A responsive CMS for Website. A dedicated CMS for managing the site content and that it needs to be mobile-friendly as well. Such CMS is responsive, and caters to the content offering need by the displaying information regardless of the screen size.
• An admin app on a mobile platform for existing CMS: It refers to the CMS that runs as an app on the mobile platform, including a tablet. It essentially lets one create and organize content on the go. There are plenty of underlying layers with regards to the mobile CMS.Analyzing in elaborating each one of them will help in easy understanding.

 

Managing Mobile App Content

Mobile app contains a list of the database as a backend which is fetched every time a user generates the query. Like for example, an app for an online vinyl store will require not only the records but also its title, description, a couple of pictures, and even an audio sample.

Storing such a significant content in an app is not only a cumbersome task, but it also is not an ideal approach as it may lead to some unpleasant consequences:

The perfect scenario over here is to resolve such problems by incorporating correct CMS method.

 

Building a custom backend

One possible intention is to build a custom backend for content management and delivery for this one particular project.

 

Selecting a mobile-friendly WordPress Theme

If there is one thing that pushes the boundaries of WordPress, then it is the integration of WordPress themes. There is a range of Woo Themes from Woo Commerce dedicated for the e-commerce CMS to Woo Sensei devoted to the Learning Management System.

 

Mobile Themes

It is pretty standard to build responsive websites integrated with the WordPress themes. There are numerous plugins like WPTouch that lets you have a specific mobile theme. So as soon as you use WordPress as a CMS, you may have a mobile online presence without too many problems.

Websites are hosted on servers, and the same is accessed via mobile browsers. It is also possible to address the screen sizes issue as well. You can also integrate touch-enabled themes for the mobile phones. However, it will not suffice to an app that resides in the phone.

 

Mobile Publishing

It is always an excellent idea to publish a blog with using applications where it opens the floodgates to post in many ways. Mobile application development can help you in this regard.

Also, there are plenty of native apps that offers a platform with moderation functionality including writing and reading.

Such apps can get easily connected to your website using the XML-RPC WordPress interface.

These apps have an ability to provide a modified backend for publishing. Although these apps are not be customized and released via app stores for users to read the content, they remains an open-source.

 

Connecting WordPress to Mobile Apps

Considering that WordPress is your core CMS, and you plan to make an app, then things are easier for you. Because there is a fair amount of chance to capitalize on it for providing mobile app content.

With the advent of XML-RPC interface, WordPress has enabled the third party publishing since a long time. It is with the use of this tool you can simply use Microsoft Word for Publishing WordPress posts.

There are plenty of mobile app developers who draws on the similar functionality in bringing the WordPress content to mobile apps with the help of dedicated connectors.

Mostly, JSON is preferred over XML-RPC in the case of building web services for mobile. Numerous plugins enable bringing JSON to WordPress.

WordPress’s CMS efficiencies are put to best use with the recently introduced JSON REST API in WordPress core as this API lets you use WordPress as a CMS for both a client’s website and his mobile apps. It offers greater simplicity in providing a one-stop backend for holistic content.

Another similar simplicity is offered by WP-AppKit aimed at bringing a WordPress-based solution for building mobile apps. A lot can be achieved with a perfect blend of WordPress and PhoneGap.

 

Using API-based CMS

There is an emerging alternative that uses CMS with a RESTful JSON API, also known as Content as a Service, or CaaS.

It offers the most efficient way to leverage the content creation and content management feature the content creators. Moreover, it still provides an advantageous solution in providing a mobile-friendly format.

 

Now you know how is possible to feed an app with WordPress and why it is the ideal way out if you have your content ready.

To be honest, there are plenty of mobile apps that uses WordPress installations as backend.

However, still, if you are in need to build something specific for you or your customers you’ll first need to dig your head dip in creating web service.

Also, you can opt to select Mobile App Development Company that will create an app which shall consume those developed WordPress content. You will also have to build the app which will be able to consume those web services by choosing the right technology for the same.

 

Author Bio:

Shahid Abbasi is a big time tech geek working with one of the top mobile app development companies, Peerbits. He has a proven efficiency over designing mobile apps for the enhanced UI/UX for websites and mobile apps. Moreover, he likes to share his knowledge over a series of technical blogs to make himself more resourceful globally. Over the weekends, he transforms himself into become an awesome cook.