A thoughtful and usable contributor experience is critical to the successful adoption of a SharePoint WCM experience. Content drives the site, so making content contributors comfortable in the editing environment is essential. Here are just a few ideas for simple improvements that can make a world of difference in adoptability.{"id":201,"date":"2012-09-19T16:46:43","date_gmt":"2012-09-19T20:46:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.webcritik.com\/?p=77"},"modified":"2012-09-19T16:46:43","modified_gmt":"2012-09-19T20:46:43","slug":"six-ways-to-improve-the-content-contributor-experience-in-sharepoint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.suddenmischief.com\/site\/2012\/09\/web-design\/six-ways-to-improve-the-content-contributor-experience-in-sharepoint\/","title":{"rendered":"Six Ways to Improve the Content Contributor Experience in SharePoint"},"content":{"rendered":"

Originally published in\u00a0CMSWire<\/a>, November 07, 2012<\/em><\/p>\n

As discussed in a previous article (Making SharePoint WCM More Adoptable for Content Contributors<\/a>), a thoughtful and usable contributor experience is critical to the successful adoption of a SharePoint WCM experience. Content drives the site, so making content contributors comfortable in the editing environment is essential. Here are just a few ideas for simple improvements that can make a world of difference in adoptability.<\/p>\n

1. Design for Both Contributors and Visitors from the Start<\/b><\/p>\n

For any WCM project, there are two end user audiences to consider: regular site visitors and content contributors.\u00a0 Approach the project with those two audiences in mind \u2013 not as an afterthought. While designers typically focus on the visitor experience, designers and developers need to work together closely to construct usable experiences for content contributors.<\/p>\n

2. Customize Contribution Experiences<\/b><\/p>\n

SharePoint allows a lot of flexibility in customizing the editing experience.\u00a0 Not\u00a0every<\/em>\u00a0experience requires extensive customization, but many\u00a0key<\/em>\u00a0experiences do. Sometimes this means normalizing the experience so that the content contributor doesn\u2019t have to worry about what piece of content goes where or how to format it consistently.\u00a0 Sometimes it means using form-based editing instead of in-context editing. Sometimes it means automating some sequence of native SharePoint capabilities.\u00a0 And sometimes it means creating custom editing controls, custom site actions, or specialized web parts.\u00a0 Successful customizations will save time and simplify decisions for content contributors.<\/p>\n

3. Remove Extraneous Options Where Possible<\/b><\/p>\n

When creating a page in SharePoint within a site\u2019s \u201cNews\u201d section, it\u2019s unlikely that you\u2019ll need to choose a \u201cProduct Description\u201d layout.\u00a0 So why is it even an option?\u00a0 Removing contextually irrelevant page layouts, ribbon options, site actions, and other such options will help contributors to create the right content using the right tools in the right place \u2013 not to mention that it\u2019ll help keep the branding police off your back.\u00a0 These simple configuration changes in SharePoint can dramatically simplify and improve the page creation experience.<\/p>\n

4. Plan a Clear Content Reuse Strategy<\/b><\/p>\n

Content can be reused in SharePoint in a variety of ways (CQWP, metadata, custom lists, etc.) and can make small contributions go a long way.\u00a0 Automatically surface teaser content on landing pages, blog entries on your home page, and \u201crelated\u201d content on\u00a0any<\/em>\u00a0page. Content contributors will be grateful if portions of the site effectively maintain themselves. Just remember to be clear about where the content\u00a0originates<\/em>\u00a0(don\u2019t make them hunt for the place to make a change!)\u00a0 With a thoughtful content reuse strategy, content contributors can feel like they\u2019re making a real impact on the overall site.<\/p>\n

5. Provide On-Page Guidance<\/b><\/p>\n

Adding content to a SharePoint page experience should never be a guessing game for content editors.\u00a0 Clearly labeled fields with brief descriptive and\/or instructive text can help the editor know what content is expected, how to use metadata tagging, or why certain fields are required.<\/p>\n

6. Use Homegrown Training Materials<\/b><\/p>\n

All content editors should receive some basic level of SharePoint training, but generic training materials have real limitations. If you have customized the look and feel of your SharePoint site or have followed any of the above contribution customizations, the editing experience will differ from that reflected in the generic training materials. Customized training materials for specific editing experiences can make the difference between editors who confidently contribute to the site and those who would prefer to \u201cjust email the webmaster.\u201d\u00a0 A one or two page reference document with screen captures is simple to create, and easy to use.\u00a0 Better yet, record a 5 minute screencast illustrating and describing the editing process for specific templates \u2013 it\u2019s the next best thing to having the developers and designers sitting in the room.<\/p>\n