A good design of the website with CMS takes into account both the recipient and the person publishing the content. The layout of the site and the way of editing is worth working together, on real materials.
What the editor will change
Create a list of content types: services, realizations, persons, news, documents. In each case, indicate common information and optional elements. Description of the implementation may need photos, scope of work and related service, while the actuality requires title, date and content.
This distinction helps to avoid one big field in which each subpage needs to be manually arranged from the beginning. However, it is not necessary to create a separate field for each fragment if this makes daily work difficult. The model should result from the frequency of changes and responsibility of editors.
Design on long and short examples
Prepare materials representing various cases: short title, long service name, no photo, several categories and extended description. Check them in the list view and on the subpage. This way, the rules of operation of components will be known before the panel is launched.
For example, the implementation card should remain legible even if the editor does not add a short introduction. You may need to complete this field or design a sensible variant without it. It is not worth leaving such a decision to accidentally preserve the template.
Freedom of editing with clear borders
The editor needs the possibility to develop the website without affecting its consistency. It is helped by the named modules, predictable settings and preview of the effect. It is worth agreeing:
- which elements are mandatory before publication;
- which formats and descriptions are to receive photos;
- who can edit content and who can change structure;
- how to prepare the working version and transmit it for verification;
- what happens after the removal of the content used in another place.
Panel reception by future user
Ask the person who will be running the page to add an example entry without hinting at more clicks. Note where the field name is incomprehensible or it is not known if the change has been saved. These are specific tips to improve the panel and instructions.
Not every CMS has the same functions in the basic configuration. The necessary mechanisms need to be confirmed for implementation. Read more about organization of work in the text roles in administration partyabout project verification in the guidebook reception of the website.
