Effective CMS Editing
13 Jan 2021
Setting up a CMS for Success:
Effective CMS Editing
Tips on working more efficiently in a CMS that is set-up in a user-friendly way.
The ease and simplicity of updating, editing, and maintaining a website are sometimes overlooked in favor of the parts of the website that are publicly displayed. For website administrators, it is however important that their work can be done efficiently and without headaches.
There can be vast differences in how a theme is set up in a CMS. By setting up a flexible and easy-to-understand system with good opportunities to automate certain changes, it is possible to achieve a smoother working environment for the administrator. This can cut costs by saving several hours of work, not to mention frustration.
Automate
A CMS that is efficiently set up uses the technology to automate and relieve the user of repetitive tasks or actions with predictable results.
By using web technology e.g. for automatic image processing, it is possible to save working hours and other costs for image processing and image processing software. An effective way of working is to let the user automatically add predefined image effects directly in the CMS interface.
Example of background image with automatic color filter on the website of our client seadot.se.
Another example of automated effects is being able to add text with an elaborate graphical style on top of images. Adding the text as real text instead of including the words in the image itself is good for search engine optimization and saves time for the administrator.
Example of styled text that can be edited on a background image for Office Relief.
Adapting a CMS to the Customer’s Needs
The complexity of editing options should be adapted to the customer’s needs. A system with greater flexibility usually means that the administrator is given more responsibility, which they need to be willing and able to handle. For customers who prefer more guidance, the possibilities and design of the system can be adapted accordingly.
Structure
Order and structure among fields and settings make it easier to quickly find where to edit and also prevents accidentally making editing errors. This applies to both the naming and placement of fields, buttons, and menus, as well as to how logically and visibly they are placed in the CMS tool.
Having the Right Tools in the Toolbox
Many CMS can, with the help of additional plugins, get extended functions that supplement and facilitates working with the website. Among the thousands of plugins available, it is important to choose the ones that best suit the website’s and customer’s needs.
Installing plugins that are not used or needed “just to be on the safe side” can lead to increased security risks, slower website, and longer time needed to update the website’s CMS.
Advantages of Setting up a CMS Effectively
- Even junior or less experienced and qualified staff can perform the work.
- Time savings due to faster editing when the system is easy to navigate and changes are straight-forward to make.
- Automations such as automatic image processing can offer ways of saving costs for image processing and image processing software.
- By adapting the system’s complexity to the customer’s needs, a balance is found between a flexible system and a more controlled template that fits the customer’s working methods and organization.
- Optimizing performance, security, and the time it takes to update the CMS by installing only the plugins needed to improve the website.
These principles generally apply to different CMS regardless of type, such as WordPress, Craft, or Drupal. If you want to know more about how we can help you with your CMS solution, feel free to email us!
