If you’ve seen the news from HubSpot, then you know that the Content Optimization System (COS) is finally here. For customers looking to take their website to the next level, it couldn’t come soon enough!

But maybe you’re not quite convinced yet. Your current website isn’t broken, and it has HubSpot integrated. Or you just redid your website. Or it’s unclear to you how it would actually help your business. Let’s look at some common website scenarios and see whether you need the COS or not.

Is your site mobile-friendly?

Now that Google is factoring in mobile websites into it’s search algorithm’s, it’s time to get onboard. If you’re still waiting to do that responsive upgrade, then it could be a great opportunity to do that at the same time. 

If your site is already mobile-ready, then great. You’re set on this point.

Is it easy to build out new page layouts on your current website?

If you’re a marketer or business owner, the thought of getting a developer involved every time you want to make a new page layout is enough to make you give up. Developers don’t relish it either. The COS offers a great template builder, where you can create new layouts very easily. 

If you want a layout without a sidebar, then just remove that module and you’re done! Need a single column layout to have two columns for a comparison? Easy. Maybe you decide that the call to action on the homepage would be better if it were higher up? That’s now a change you can easily make yourself. 

If you can do this on your current CMS or have some development chops, then you’re fine. 

Do you have the ability to change the content on a page, based on who’s viewing it?

Ok, trick question. That’s HubSpot’s new smart content. And if you aren’t on the COS, then it’s pretty unlikely you can do that. But if you’re considering making the switch, then this can be a great feature that provides a more personalized experience to your customers and prospects. 

Is your website fully integrated with your social media efforts?

Hopefully you have some sharing buttons on your blog. But do you have it set up to automatically post to different channels when you publish a new post? What about having Google Authorship integrated? Twitter cards?

If you don’t have the website ready to take advantage of the latest in social integrations, it might be worth considering the COS. In addition to the basic social integrations you would expect, you can also easily integrate your Google+ profile into your site (which is a pretty good idea), which has some great SEO benefits. Also, twitter cards let people see a preview of your article directly inline in twitter. 

Do you have a content distribution network for your website?

A content distribution network (or CDN) is designed to help your site load fast, wherever the person reading it is. It’s not a requirement for a website, but as Google has begun factoring in load times, it’s worth considering whether your site could benefit from one. It helps your images, documents and other website assets load really quickly. On their own, a CDN for a normal sized site can start at $200/month, but with the HubSpot COS, it’s completely integrated. 

Those are some common questions I’ve heard so far, but if you have any other, feel free to let me know, and I’ll add them to this list.

Interested in learning more about the COS? Download our guide to supercharging your website with it: