How do you foster collaboration and feedback among CMS users and stakeholders?

Keep it simple and intuitive. CMS systems can become overly complex when they're packed with features that are meant for marketers but still require a developer's touch--this defeats the purpose of empowering content editors directly. If you're investing in page builder features but still need developers to create the pages, you might want to consider simplifying your components and content model or the streamlined approach of a headless CMS. Focus on understanding the actual users, their preferred interfaces, and the workflows that best suit your team's operations.

CMS UX challenges often stem from the complexity and flexibility these systems offer. Users, ranging from tech-savvy developers to non-technical content creators, may find navigation cumbersome, struggle with a cluttered interface, or become overwhelmed by the sheer number of options and settings. Content discoverability can be hindered by inadequate search functionalities, making it difficult to find and reuse existing materials.

One thing to remember when offering flexibility is to keep the content type / data model in mind. I’ve seen the term “flexibility” used at different companies and what ends up happening is: more fields are added by different business groups without much thought into whether that data field really belongs there. It’s important to define what is meant by an intuitive interface that allows for customization and flexibility.

Additionally, Error messages are often over looked aspect in CMS system. Provide actionable error messages which will CMS users if they are using API or UI.

In the CMS world, things are getting friendlier and smarter. AI helps with personalization, while headless CMS gives flexibility across devices. Voice interfaces simplify tasks, and collaboration features boost teamwork. Accessibility is key, making tools usable for all. It's about making CMS a helpful friend in content creation.

Sanity uses a React app for the editorial user interface, making it completely customizable for the people using it. Image hotspot and cropping is one feature enables users to create more engaging and accessible content by eliminating the need to create multiple images outside the CMS.

The BILDIT CMS renders mobile app content natively. This allows developers to build content for marketers that is capable of almost anything that can be rendered in UI: animations, analytics, inventory checks, unique component interactions, carousels, and videos.

The Optimizely CMS is recognized time and again by customers, implementation partners and leading analyst firms for it's ease of use and marketer friendly tool set. On-page editing, drag and drop forms, reusable content, powerful multi-site capabilities and customizable and flexible workflows are all capabilities that ensure marketers and editors aren't reliant on developers to create amazing customer experiences.

To enhance CMS user experience: simplify navigation, prioritize common features, offer a robust search function, provide intuitive content creation tools, ensure responsiveness across devices, gather user feedback, and offer accessible support. It's about creating a workspace as friendly and efficient as a well-organized desk.

One thing I've found helpful is to cut your content in half (usually you can say more with less and keep people interested). The importance of consistency and repetition really helps keep that intuitive sense for the user.

Prioritize usability, collaboration, and customization for an enhanced CMS UX. Regular feedback and usability testing are essential for continuous refinement based on user preferences and needs. For CMS Users (Content Creators): ? An intuitive interface with clear labels and recognizable icons. ? Real-time, visual content previews across various devices. ? Drag-and-drop functionality for effortless content placement. ? Version control features for tracking changes and easy rollback. ? Robust user permission systems and define roles clearly. For Stakeholders: ? Analytics tools and visually accessible reporting features. ? Customizable dashboards for tracking relevant KPIs. ? Collaboration tools such as comments and approval workflows.