WYSIWYG Editors and the Future of Content Management Systems

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Have you ever used Wix, Squarespace, Glide, or Microsoft Word? Such platforms feature an intuitive interface where you can create apps, websites, or content with just a few clicks. This functionality is due to WYSIWYG, a type of software that allows users to manipulate the content or layout of a web page without coding. 

The acronym WYSIWYG stands for “What You See Is What You Get.” What you see on the screen while editing a blog post or web page matches the final output. Before WYSIWYG became mainstream, users had to enter text commands to create content without the possibility of visualizing the results in real time. 

Today, WYSIWYG editors are integral to modern website builders, email platforms, and other tools. This technology has been around since the ’70s and only keeps growing. Some say it’s the future of content management systems. 

Here’s what you should know about it.

How Does a WYSIWYG Editor Work?

Whether creating a web page or writing a blog post, WYSIWYG can make your work much easier. With this technology, you’ll get a real-time view of the edits made to that web page, which matches the desired result. 

For example, when you add bullet points in Microsoft Word, the bullet points appear on the document. Similarly, you can see an image when you upload it to a web page created in WordPress. Simply put, you don’t have to guess what that web page or document will look like once you’re done with it. 

Advanced WYSIWYG editors like TinyMCE also feature built-in spell checkers, accessibility checkers, media embeds, and other helpful tools. For instance, TinyMCE’s Spell Checker Pro highlights typos as you write, potentially saving you hours of editing time. 

This technology continues to evolve and has come a long way since its inception in the 1970s. 

The Evolution of WYSIWYG Editors

The first WYSIWYG editor, Bravo, was created by Xerox PARC in 1974. Users could change font styles, sizes, and attributes (e.g., italic or bold), select and edit text, and add page breaks, margins, or columns. 

Thanks to WYSIWYG, people could see exactly how a document would appear when printed on paper as they typed and edited it on the screen. This innovation was a huge step forward from using control codes to create, edit, and format documents. 

Four years later, Hewlett-Packard launched a similar program and made it available to the public. Its WYSIWYG editor, BRUNO, ran on the HP 1000 minicomputer and was used for creating slides. Other companies released their own WYSIWYG editors over the next four decades, but these were very basic compared to what we use today. 

An example is Roxen, one of the first content management systems (CMSs). Although it supported WYSIWYG text editing, it still required coding. Things changed following the release of Open Diary, LiveJournal, and Blogger. These platforms appealed to non-technical users, allowing them to create content in WYSIWYG editors without writing code. 

WYSIWYG underwent further improvements with the rise of Web 2.0. WordPress, Drupal, Wix, and other CMSs used this technology to streamline content creation. 

Fast forward to 2024, and WYSIWYG is a key component of low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms and modern text editors. Users can build apps and web pages, craft marketing emails, and create digital artwork more easily.

How Does WYSIWYG Fit into Digital Marketing?

In today’s digital age, marketers use WYSIWYG editors to create written and visual content that delights audiences worldwide. These tools enable them to craft landing pages, banners, display ads, or entire websites without calling on the IT department.

For example, this guide on mastering your B2B marketing strategy recommends email newsletters, blog posts, eBooks, and social media content to attract and nurture prospective clients. Many of the tools required to create these assets integrate WYSIWYG editors. 

Say you want to write an eBook for new email subscribers. First, you’ll research the topic and craft an outline. After that, select a WYSIWYG editor that meets your needs. A good choice could be:

• Microsoft Word
• Google Docs
• Scrivener
• Adobe InDesign
• Sigil

These tools allow you to write and edit your eBook content, add illustrations, and style your text. 

Since you can see the results as you go, making changes on the fly is easy. So, if something doesn’t look right, you don’t have to start all over to fix the issue. 

But that’s not all.  

You can also use WYSIWYG software to create product pages, email newsletters, and visual content for your marketing campaigns. Let’s see a few examples. 

Craft Beautiful Newsletters 

GetResponse, Mailmodo, and other email marketing service providers feature built-in WYSIWYG editors with drag-and-drop elements, interactive widgets, and reusable blocks. Your only job is to arrange those blocks as you see fit, add content, preview the results, and click “Send.”

Alternatively, choose a multi-purpose WYSIWYG editor like TinyMCE, which also comes with an AI assistant to help you write better and faster.

As a side note, remember to use the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) or other protocols for email authentication. This practice can improve email deliverability and ensure your newsletters don’t end up in spam folders. 

Create Landing Pages That Convert 

Content management systems like WordPress, Squarespace, and Weebly use WYSIWYG editors. Their intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces enable marketers to build landing pages without writing code. 

You can customize these platforms through pre-built templates and adding your company’s name, logo, and messaging. WYSIWYG allows you to drag and drop images, buttons, text boxes, and forms to create landing pages that resonate with your audience. 

It’s also worth mentioning that modern WYSIWYG editors are mobile-friendly. Therefore, they offer a consistent experience across different devices, allowing users to create, edit, and publish web pages on the go. 

Improve the User Experience 

Marketers can leverage WYSIWYG editors to deliver better user experiences. 

For example, this technology enables them to create responsive content that adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes. You could do that without a WYSIWYG editor, but you’d need to learn to code. As discussed earlier, WYSIWYG tools allow you to edit and update their web pages in real-time. 

If you realize that a product page doesn’t look right, you can make the necessary changes almost instantly. This aspect alone can improve your site’s user experience, potentially increasing sales. 

Another option is to use WYSIWYG for A/B testing. You’ll create two versions of an ad, landing page, or email newsletter in a WYSIWYG and then test them on a small scale to see which performs best. 

These insights can help you create content that resonates with your audience and drives conversions. 

WYSIWYG Technology Is Shaping the Future of Content Management

Most content management systems use WYSIWYG software in one form or another. These technologies are strongly connected, and they both evolve quickly. 

Soon, we’re likely to see an integration of generative AI, natural language processing (NLP), and machine learning into WYSIWYG editors. This trend could revolutionize content management, leading to higher-quality outcomes, such as greater customer engagement. 

For instance, AI and machine learning can enable WYSIWYG editors to generate content based on the user’s input and preferences. These technologies also allow for predictive customization, helping marketers craft more personalized content. 

We can also expect more platforms using WYSIWYG editors and complementing technologies. For example, project management tools like Notion and Trello leverage WYSIWYG to streamline collaboration. Zendesk, on the other hand, features a WYSIWYG editor aimed at customer support teams. 

These editing tools are becoming more and more sophisticated with every update. Their integration with AI, NLP, and other emerging technologies could open new possibilities for content creators, marketers, and SEO professionals. 

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