Creating an efficient and user-friendly experience for content teams can transform Drupal from a robust CMS into a content editor’s dream tool.
With over 15 years of experience working with Drupal, I’ve seen firsthand how its flexibility can either empower teams or lead to frustration when workflows are inefficient.
Let’s explore how to streamline workflows and optimize Drupal for content editors.
The Role of Content Editors
Content editors are at the heart of your website’s success. They write, organize, update, and archive content to ensure it’s ready for presentation. Their tasks go beyond simply adding text—they manage SEO elements, metadata, accessibility labeling, and more. Yet, they often face challenges:
- Navigating Drupal’s backend interface.
- Managing multiple pieces of content simultaneously.
- Maintaining consistency and accuracy.
- Reproducing complex content flows.
- Collaborating effectively with other team members.
- Handling revisions and approvals.
These obstacles can slow down workflows and create frustration.
The solution? Tailoring Drupal to meet the specific needs of your content team.
How to Create a User-Friendly Dashboard
A streamlined dashboard can save editors hours of time. Drupal's Layout Builder offers powerful tools for creating custom dashboards tailored to your team’s needs. Combine this with the Block system, which manages how content displays in specific areas of your site, and you have a solid foundation for efficient workflows.
Leverage the Power of Layout Builder
Drupal's Layout Builder allows for complete customization of dashboards. With its drag-and-drop interface, even non-technical users can design layouts that cater to their unique needs. Editors can organize their workspace to display the most relevant tools and shortcuts, such as quick links to drafts, scheduled posts, or frequently used templates.
Integrate Contextual Links
Contextual Links ensure editors can quickly edit blocks directly from the front-end view. These links allow users to bypass navigation layers and make immediate changes to specific sections. For example, an editor viewing a landing page can instantly adjust a featured article block or a call-to-action button without sifting through the backend.
Add a Settings Tray for Seamless Access
Enable the Settings Tray module to add a sidebar that consolidates block configuration settings. This eliminates the need to navigate to separate admin pages for updates, streamlining the process for editors who need to work quickly.
By combining these tools, you empower your content team with a dashboard that not only simplifies their tasks but also increases their productivity.
Use These Modules for Efficient Editorial Workflows
Drupal’s ecosystem offers a treasure trove of modules designed to optimize content creation and management.
Each module addresses specific challenges, making it essential to choose the right ones for your team’s needs.
1. WYSIWYG Editor
A WYSIWYG editor, such as Drupal’s default CKEditor, ensures that editors can format text without writing HTML. For teams with varying technical expertise, this tool simplifies content creation while maintaining a polished look. Enhance CKEditor with plugins to allow embedding media, tables, or advanced formatting options.
2. Metatag Module
SEO is a critical part of content strategy. The Metatag module simplifies metadata management by allowing editors to configure meta descriptions, titles, and tags. For large sites with diverse content types, Metatag ensures consistency while improving search engine visibility.
3. Pathauto
Manually creating URLs for each piece of content is time-consuming and prone to errors. Pathauto automates this process by generating clean, SEO-friendly URLs based on configurable patterns. This is particularly valuable for maintaining a logical site structure, improving both user experience and search rankings.
4. Redirect Module
Content teams frequently update or reorganize pages, leading to potential broken links. The Redirect module helps manage URL changes by ensuring visitors are directed to the correct pages, preserving SEO rankings and enhancing user experience.
5. Entity Browser
For sites with extensive content libraries, editors often need to reuse media, taxonomy terms, or custom entities. The Entity Browser module simplifies this process by providing a user-friendly interface to search and select entities. This reduces duplication and streamlines the editing process.
By implementing these Drupal modules, you create an ecosystem where editors can focus on content quality rather than backend complexity.
How to Simplify Content Workflows
A well-structured workflow ensures that content moves smoothly through each stage of creation, review, and publication. Without it, teams risk bottlenecks and miscommunication.
Workflow Module: Defining Editorial Stages
The Workflow module allows teams to establish clear content stages such as Draft, Review, and Published. By assigning permissions to each stage, you ensure that only the right people can make changes at the right time. This not only improves quality control but also fosters accountability within the team.
Revision History: Safe Experimentation
Drupal’s revision history enables editors to experiment with confidence. When changes are tracked, teams can revert to previous versions if necessary. For added transparency, use contributed modules like Diff Plus to visually compare revisions and highlight specific changes.
Real-Time Collaboration Tools
Incorporate modules like Content Moderation Notifications, which send automatic alerts to team members when their input is required. This keeps the workflow moving and ensures deadlines are met without unnecessary delays.
By simplifying workflows, you create an environment where editors can focus on producing high-quality content while maintaining a clear overview of each task’s progress.
Automation Is a Big Part of the Game
Automation reduces repetitive tasks, allowing content teams to focus on strategy and creativity. Drupal offers several tools to streamline operations and enhance efficiency.
Event-Condition-Action
The ECA module is a modern replacement for the classic Rules module. It automates tasks such as assigning content to editors, sending notifications for revisions, or scheduling content for publication. With its intuitive interface, ECA allows administrators to define triggers and actions without requiring coding skills.
Automating SEO Tasks
Modules like SEO Checklist guide editors through optimization steps, ensuring that every piece of content adheres to best practices. Combine this with Metatag for automated metadata management, and you significantly reduce manual effort while improving results.
Scheduled Publishing and Archiving
Drupal’s core functionality supports scheduled publishing, but additional modules like Scheduler enhance these capabilities. Editors can set precise times for content to go live or archive, ensuring consistent updates without manual intervention.
Automation saves time and reduces the risk of errors, creating a smoother content management experience.
Conclusion
Optimizing Drupal for content editors means creating efficient editorial workflows and intuitive tools. When editors can focus on creating high-quality content without battling the backend, your website thrives.
Whether through custom dashboards, must-have modules, or automation tools, small adjustments can lead to significant improvements.
At Optasy, we specialize in helping teams harness Drupal’s potential to create seamless workflows.
Empower your content team with the tools they need, and watch your site’s content management process transform for the better.
