Choose Your Approach

You have a few different options if you're designing a site that will run on a content management system. You can build a template from scratch, or you can work off of an existing template.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both approaches. If you do everything yourself, you'll have more control over the finished product. With that said, working with a template can save you a great deal of time. It's easy to create a fantastic-looking site when you have the right template to work with.

Figure Out How Much Control You Have

Content management systems are designed to be easy to work with. However, these systems come with many limitations. When you're focusing on CMS design, you won't have the level of flexibility that you would have if you were simply designing a site for the web.

You should spend some time learning about the CMS you are working with. Find out what sort of limitations that you have. Try to become familiar with the boundaries of the system. If you know what you can and can't do, it will be much easier for you to create an appealing design.

Make Sure Your Work Is Consistent

While consistency is important to any site, it's particularly important in the world of CMS design. You need to make sure that the elements that content editors are working with are consistent across all pages of the site. You need to ensure that your design will hold up in a number of scenarios.

You should do a lot of testing when you're building your template. Don't just focus on getting the site to look right; pay attention to how the site operates. You should keep an eye out for potential issues. It's best to catch these problems sooner rather than later.

Don't Make Any Assumptions About Content Length

When you're designing a site, you shouldn't assume that the content that is being written for that site is going to be short or long. You should assume that a wide range of content is going to be created for the site. You should create a design that works for content of every length.

By the same token, you shouldn't make any assumptions about the height of blocks. You're already working within limits when you're designing a site for a content management system. Don't place any additional limits on yourself.

Don't Forget About Plug-Ins

Content management systems offer all kinds of incredible plug-ins. You should definitely take plug-ins into account when you're building your site. The right plug-ins will help you to build the kind of site that you want to build.

If you're working with a popular CMS like WordPress or Joomla, you'll find all kinds of plug-ins available to use. In many cases, plug-ins will make your job a lot easier. If you're trying to design a custom element for the site you're building, you should check to see if there's a plug-in that can handle the task instead.

Now that you know a little bit more about CMS design, you're more than ready to build a site for a content management system. No matter what sort of site you wind up building, you'll be able to create a design that you can be proud of. Working within the confines of a content management system can be an adjustment. With that said, the right CMS can offer a lot of impressive advantages.