How can you create an effective CMS training manual?

1 Define your goals and audience

Before you start writing your CMS training manual, you need to define your goals and audience. What are the main objectives of your CMS training? What are the skills and knowledge gaps that you want to address? Who are the users of your CMS and what are their roles and responsibilities? How do they learn best and what are their preferences and challenges? By answering these questions, you can tailor your CMS training manual to suit your specific needs and expectations.

2 Choose your format and structure

The next step is to choose your format and structure for your CMS training manual. Depending on your goals and audience, you can opt for a printed or digital format, or a combination of both. You can also decide whether you want to use a linear or modular structure, or a mix of both. A linear structure follows a sequential order of topics, while a modular structure allows users to access different sections independently. You can also use different elements such as headings, subheadings, tables, images, diagrams, videos, quizzes, and exercises to make your CMS training manual more engaging and interactive.

3 Write clear and concise instructions

When creating your CMS training manual, it's important to write clear and concise instructions that are easy to follow and understand. To do so, use active voice and imperative mood, as well as simple and familiar words. Additionally, break down complex tasks into smaller steps and use numbered lists or bullet points to organize them. Include screenshots, annotations, or arrows to illustrate steps, as well as

tags to highlight code blocks or commands. Moreover, provide examples and scenarios to demonstrate outcomes and use warnings, tips, or notes to highlight important or optional information.
###### Test and revise your CMS training manual
Before you publish or distribute your CMS training manual, it is important to test and revise it to ensure its accuracy, completeness, and usability. Self-reviewing the manual for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors is a great place to start. Additionally, you can ask a colleague or a friend to proofread and provide feedback. Conducting a usability test with a sample of your target audience and observing their behavior and reactions can help you identify areas for improvement. Finally, collecting and analyzing feedback from your users is essential for making any necessary updates or edits.
###### Maintain and update your CMS training manual
Your CMS training manual is not a one-time project; it is a living document that requires regular maintenance and updates. To ensure that your CMS training manual is effective and relevant, you need to keep track of any changes or updates in your CMS software, content strategy, or user needs. To ensure that the manual is maintained and updated, assign a person or team to be responsible for it. Set up a schedule and process for reviewing and updating the CMS training manual, use version control and change logs to document and communicate changes, utilize feedback forms, surveys, or analytics to collect and measure user satisfaction and performance, and incorporate new features, best practices, or tips into the manual.
######Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?