Headless CMS for SSG: Benefits and Uses, on a real use case

Let's analyze a real-world use case on the implementation of a headless CMS solution with SSG (Static Site Generation), in order to improve the speed of content fruition, security and SEO of websites, separating content and presentation for greater flexibility.

What are Headless CMS?

Headless CMS are content management platforms without a predefined presentation structure.
Unlike traditional CMS, they separate data from presentation, offering only a backend for content management, which can then be distributed to various front-ends via APIs.
This allows content to be used across multiple channels, such as websites, apps, and even IoT devices, improving the versatility and optimization of data management.

What is a Static Site Generator?

An SSG is a tool that generates static HTML pages from predefined content and templates.
Using a headless CMS, the SSG extracts content via API and turns it into static files, making the site faster and more secure.
Static generation is ideal for sites with content that does not change frequently, as it improves caching and reduces rendering time in the browser.

Advantages of Headless CMS combined with SSG

A headless CMS allows you to use a Static Site Generator (SSG) to create fast, scalable sites.
This approach reduces load times and increases security, as it eliminates the dependency on a dynamic server.
A headless CMS also improves the development experience, as teams can work separately on the front-end and back-end.
This makes it ideal for projects that require flexibility and high performance.
Using a headless CMS in combination with an SSG can help with SEO.
Static sites are generally faster, which Google takes into account in its ranking factors.
A static site also improves search engine accessibility, as all content is visible without depending on JavaScript.
The separation of content and structure ensures that each page can be optimized individually.


Real Use Case

Tecnology Reply Financial Services supported a major insurance client in the design and implementation of a solution for the migration from a traditional CMS to a headless CMS, reviewing the site architecture and implementing a dedicated design system through the development of responsive Web Components.


The approach adopted also included the use of SSG in combination with the headless CMS.
SSG allowed to generate highly optimized static pages, pre-rendered at build time and distributed via CDN (Content Delivery Network - network of geographically distributed servers) to offer content to visitors quickly, reducing loading times and improving performance since the content is delivered from the server closest to the user's location.

The adoption of a headless CMS has proven to be particularly advantageous to meet the needs of flexibility in distribution channels, high performance and security, ideal features for large companies and projects that aim to grow on multiple platforms.
Headless CMS-based solutions are perfect for distributed teams, encouraging collaboration between front-end developers and content authors, who can work simultaneously and independently.
In addition, the SSG architecture has significantly reduced the load on servers, increasing efficiency and reducing the operational costs related to managing dynamic servers. This approach has led to a significant increase in the speed and overall performance of the site, ensuring greater efficiency and scalability.