The Playbook: Roadmap to Your First 90 Days on a New CMS – How to Set Yourself Up for Success

So you’ve moved to a new CMS and are ready to hit the ground running, then the to-do list starts mounting. What seems exciting now seems all but daunting. Whether you’ve outgrown your previous platform, faced increasing tech frustrations, or are looking for more scalable solutions, transitioning to a new CMS is a chance to streamline your operations, improve audience engagement, and grow your business. But without the proper planning, it can also be a bumpy ride.

Your first 90 days on a new CMS are critical. It’s during this time that you’ll set the foundation for success, or, potentially, get stuck in the weeds. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step approach to ensure your new CMS launch is smooth, efficient, and sets your team up for long-term growth.

Why the First 90 Days Matter

The first three months of using a new CMS are all about building momentum. It’s during this time that you’re not only learning the new platform, but also implementing workflows, migrating content, and optimizing your processes to ensure your site is running like a well-oiled machine.

Many content creators make the mistake of treating CMS migrations as a one-and-done project. In reality, it’s an ongoing process that requires strategic planning, continuous optimization, and a commitment to improving your digital presence over time. By focusing on your first 90 days, you’ll minimize downtime, increase efficiency, and improve your audience’s experience from day one of launching on a new platform.

The 90-Day Success Roadmap

Here’s a proven 90-day roadmap to guide you through the transition to a new CMS, ensuring a successful migration and optimized workflows.

Days 1-30: Prepare, Migrate, and Test

Your first month should be focused on preparation and execution. This includes migrating your existing content, setting up your site structure, and testing for any issues that might arise.

Checklist for the First 30 Days:

• Migrate Content: Ensure your articles, media files, and pages are properly transferred to the new CMS without any broken links or formatting issues.
• Set Up Your Site Structure: Reorganize categories, tags, and menus to make navigation intuitive for your audience.
• Test for Bugs: Test every part of your site to make sure everything works as expected—from links and forms to mobile responsiveness.
• Configure SEO Settings: Make sure your meta tags, alt text, and other SEO elements are properly configured on the new platform.

??The BoomPress Difference: We simplify the content migration, the set up of your site structure and testing for bugs by handling much of the heavy lifting for you. Our team also works directly with you to ensure a seamless transition and that all your existing content is optimized for your new site.

Days 31-60: Optimize Workflows and Train Your Team

Once your site is live, it’s time to optimize how you and your team use the new CMS. This is where many publishers fall short—they’ve migrated their content, they launched a brand new site with new features but they haven’t taken the time to improve their workflows to get the most out of the new platform. This step is never really done. You should be reevaluating your analytics and deciding what is engaging to your audience on a monthly basis.?

Checklist for Days 31-60:

• Customize Workflows: Take advantage of built-in workflow tools to streamline content creation, editing, and publishing processes.
• Create Content Rules and Checklists: Set up content rules to ensure your writers follow best practices, including proper tagging, image optimization, and SEO guidelines.
• Train Your Team: Schedule training sessions to ensure everyone on your team understands how to use the new CMS effectively.
• Set Analytics Benchmarks: Use your analytics tools to set performance benchmarks and start tracking how your new site is performing.

??The BoomPress Difference: With BoomPress, you don’t need to rely on external plugins or tools to manage your workflows. Our platform includes built-in features like content rules, revisions and customizable editorial workflows to keep your team organized and your content consistent.

Days 61-90: Focus on Engagement and Growth

The final stretch of your first 90 days should be about driving engagement, improving user experience, and planning for growth. You’ve learned the in’s and out’s of the new platform and the new features you have access to. Now you're ready to put it to work. Increasing engagement and growth takes time and takes planning. This is a step that will also be ongoing, as you will need to pivot and adapt to how your audience is responding. This is where you will start to see the real impact of your new CMS.

Checklist for Days 61-90:

• Launch New Engagement Features: Use tools like activity feeds, live play-by-play, and forums to increase time-on-site and foster community engagement.
• Implement Monetization Strategies: Explore ways to monetize your content, whether through subscriptions, ad delivery, or sponsored content.
• Optimize for Mobile: Ensure your mobile experience is seamless. Users are spending more time on their phones, so your mobile site (or branded app) needs to deliver.
• Gather Feedback from Your Audience: Ask your readers for feedback on the new site experience and make necessary adjustments.

??The BoomPress Difference: BoomPress clients who implemented features like the Activity Feed saw time-on-site metrics increase by up to 10 minutes per user. Engagement tools are crucial for building a loyal community. In addition, with BoomPress your site already comes with a fully optimized mobile experience!

How BoomPress Makes Onboarding Simple

We know and understand that transitioning to a new CMS can feel overwhelming, which is why BoomPress was built with simplicity in mind. Our dedicated client services team walks you through every step of the process—from migration to training and optimization. You’re never left to figure things out on your own. Here’s how BoomPress stands out:?

? Seamless Content Migration: We handle the technical side so you don’t have to worry about losing your existing content.

? Built-In Tools, No Plugins Needed: Say goodbye to managing endless plugins. BoomPress comes with everything you need right out of the box.

? Dedicated Client Support: Our team is with you every step of the way, providing personalized support to ensure you get the most out of your CMS.

? Scalable Features: As your site grows, BoomPress grows with you. Easily add new features, expand your audience, and optimize for success.

Final Thoughts: Setting the Foundation for Long-Term Success

The first 90 days on a new CMS is an opportunity to set a new strong foundation for long-term success. By focusing on your content, workflow optimization, engagement strategies, and ongoing growth, you can ensure that your platform not only meets your needs today but continues to scale with your business.

BoomPress isn’t just a CMS—it’s a partner in your journey to content success. Our platform is built for independent journalists, media outlets, and content creators who want to focus on what matters most: their stories.

Ready to make the switch? Schedule a demo with BoomPress today and see how we can make your first 90 days the most successful quarter yet.