Writing is not just art; it’s also a process. Whether you’re trying to squeeze that perfect headline into that tight space on a deadline or spending weeks on a major project, you need that second set of eyes to make sure your work gets to the readers in its best form. And as an editor, you need to know when content is ready for that second set of eyes.
This is where workflow is crucial.
I know, ugh, process, right? It’s true that there isn’t a prize for following process. But that award-winning kicker that ties your article together will never outshine the mistake in the paragraph above it in the eyes of your readers. Fact errors are fatal to credibility, and in the worst cases, could be costly if they wind up in court. And the best writing ever won’t matter if an editor can’t find it in the CMS or if the article winds up in the wrong place on the site.
An intuitive, easy-to-follow workflow that serves all stakeholders is where the best content management systems shine. Workflow brings value in the form of fewer mistakes, fewer missed deadlines and better teamwork among your creative producers.
Here are three ways a CMS helps writers and editors with workflow:
1. Minimize the number of steps.
Workflow requiring complex forms or lots of clicks is a workflow that will not be followed. In Naviga Writer, a single click allows you to let your editor know that a story is ready for review. In the Naviga Dashboard, articles are color-coded by status, and can easily be filtered so editors and producers can quickly find content that is ready for review.
2. Be flexible.
Some articles only need a quick second read before going live on the site or the app. Other projects may require more involvement from multiple editors, or perhaps a legal review. In the Naviga Content Creation Tools, workflow steps are customizable to the needs of different teams — and different types of content.
3. Validate.
Sometimes we need a gentle reminder to properly tag content for publishing. This tagging is crucial to make sure that the article is in the right place on the site at the right time. The Naviga Writer’s Dynamic Validation plugin allows content teams to set reminders to add images, metadata, or structure to articles. These messages can be “soft warnings” to remind the user early in the workflow, or they can be mandatory steps to prevent an article from being published without all the pieces in place. Most important: You choose the rules that the Naviga Writer enforces, based on your team’s needs.
Following a process doesn’t have to stifle creativity. Having a good workflow in place can maximize creativity by allowing writers to focus on writing, while tools like Naviga Writer help focus on efficiency and precision.
While we at Naviga appreciate a good turn of phrase as much as anybody, we equally love to dive deep into workflow and process to help your teams help your readers. If your team is overdue for a process overhaul, get in touch.