I’m working on a content management application – the part of the content management system the authors and administrators use – and jotted down a few principles to follow. They may not be applicable in every case, but expanding along these lines might lead to some design patterns.

• Manage content, not pages. This makes content reuse easier.


• Reuse existing content when possible. The interface should make it easy to
  
  

  do so.



• Content should improve the user experience. When deciding whether to reuse
  
  

  content or create new content that will facilitate a significantly better user experience, create new content.



• Store content once: Do not create (or allow the user to create) copies.


• Facilitate quick updating: Reduce need to update the site through less
  
  

  convinient processes, such as uploading templates outside of the CMA.



• Content is valuable: Content takes a long time to create and update. Do
  
  

  not delete or expire content unless absolutely necessary. In general, more content is better.



• Separate content from presentation: wherever possible, separate display
  
  

  text from HTML and other formatting information.



• Design CMA display to resemble CDA: when possible, this helps to present
  
  

  authors with a familiar visual design