What is Concrete CMS?

Concrete CMS, formerly known as Concrete5 CMS, is an open-source content management system. In simple terms, this means:

Open Source:

Open source software is free for anyone to use and modify for their own usage, similar to a recipe for a cake.

Content Management System:

Content management systems, also known as CMS, are programmes designed to make building and maintaining websites easier. On a CMS, you can create pages, add text and images and make changes using a simple interface rather than having to manually write code.

Concrete CMS is simple enough for beginners, yet powerful and customizable enough for professional web design agencies such as ourselves.

The prerequisites before you start

Before you begin building a website using Concrete CMS, you will need:

A web server
PHP version 7.4 or higher
MySQL database
FTP (File Transfer Protocol) client
A domain name

How to install Concrete CMS
Firstly, visit the Concrete CMS website and download the latest version of the software.
Then, use the FTP client to upload the Concrete CMS files to your server, placing the files in the root directory or a subdirectory, such as /yourwebsite
Log in to your hosting provider’s control panel, and create a new MySQL database, making sure to note down the database name, username and password
Run the installation wizard by opening your web browser and heading to your domain. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure the database settings and set up the admin account

3) Setting up your website

To begin setting up your website, start by visiting your Concrete CMS website and log in. Then, go to Dashboard > Page & Themes and select either a default theme or install a new one from the Concrete CMS marketplace.

Once you have installed a theme, you will need to configure your site settings. Navigate to Dashboard > System & Settings and update the basic information such as site name, timezone and email settings.

4) Get to grips with the Dashboard

The Dashboard is one of the most important parts of the Concrete CMS. It is here that you can find:

Pages & Themes
Files
Reports
System & Settings

5) Design your website

Concrete CMS lets you add Custom CSS, enabling you to add your own custom designs to your web build. To do so, visit Dashboard > System & Settings > Design & Custom CSS.

If you simply want to change the colours, fonts or layouts, visit Dashboard > Pages & Themes > Customize.

6) Add pages and content

To add a new page, click on the toolbar and then select Add Page. You will be able to choose from a selection of page types, such as blog, contact or gallery.
To edit page content, open the page and click on the Pencil button. This will open the in-context editor which will enable you to add, rearrange and delete blocks such as images, text and videos.
To save your work, click upon Save. Saving does not publish your work, to do this, you will need to click on Publish Page to make your changes live.

7) Manage Users and Permissions

To add users to your Concrete CMS, navigate to Dashboard > Members > Add User and fill in the required information.

To set permissions, head to Dashboard > System & Settings > Permissions, where you will be able to assign roles and permissions for users and groups.

8) Publish your website

Before you publish your website, review your website’s functionalities and design by clicking on Preview.

To set your website live to the general public, click on Publish Changes in the toolbar.

9) Website Maintenance

Stay on top of maintenance to make sure your website is safe, secure and working as intended.

To backup your Concrete CMS site, head to Dashboard > System & Settings > Backup & Restore. It is recommended you do this often to avoid data loss.
Check for updates by visiting Dashboard > System & Settings > Update Concrete CMS.
Monitor the performance of your website by visiting Dashboard > Reports where you will find site analytics

Overview

Guides