AEM Best Practices for Content Authors

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a leading digital experience platform that empowers businesses to seamlessly create, manage, and optimize digital experiences. 

Within any enterprise, the content author is one of the key roles responsible for getting the most out of AEM. As the architects of your website narrative, content authors must create compelling, engaging, and relevant content that resonates with your target audience.

This article will explore some of the best practices content authors should follow when using AEM.

Leverage AEM's Intuitive Interface

AEM's user-friendly interface is designed to facilitate content creation. Content authors should familiarize themselves with the authoring environment and use drag-and-drop capabilities and inline editing to enhance their efficiency.

Structured Content

Adopt a structured content approach when creating content in AEM. The platform’s various components enable authors to organize content into well-defined structures, making it easier to manage and ensuring a consistent look and feel across the website. This approach also facilitates easier personalization and adaptation for different channels.

Optimize Images and Media Files

Visual content plays a crucial role in engaging audiences. Content authors should optimize images and media files for use within AEM. AEM offers built-in tools for image compression, specifying alt text for accessibility, and ensuring that media files are appropriately formatted to enhance page load speed and overall user experience.

Personalization for Targeted Experiences

AEM provides powerful personalization features, allowing authors to tailor content based on user behavior, demographics, and preferences. Leverage these capabilities to create targeted and personalized experiences for different audience segments, enhancing engagement and satisfaction.

SEO-Friendly Content

Create content with search engine optimization (SEO) in mind. AEM's SEO tools can help to optimize metadata, including title tags and meta descriptions. Additionally, content authors should incorporate relevant keywords naturally within the content, headings, and URLs to improve website visibility in search engine results.

Version Control and Approval Workflows

AEM offers robust version control and approval workflows to ensure content accuracy and consistency. Content authors should learn these workflows to have a process for content creation, review, and approval before publishing. This helps maintain quality standards and avoids errors in the live environment.

Responsive Design for Multi-Device Compatibility

In an omnichannel world, content authors should prioritize responsive design within AEM. Ensure that content adapts seamlessly to various devices and screen sizes, guaranteeing a consistent and user-friendly experience across desktops, tablets, and smartphones.

Regular Content Audits and Updates

Periodically review and audit existing content within AEM. Remove outdated or irrelevant information, update statistics, and ensure your content remains accurate and aligned with the latest trends. Regular content audits contribute to maintaining a fresh digital presence.

Collaborate and Communicate Effectively

Effective collaboration is key to success in AEM. Content authors should communicate with other team members, including designers, developers, and stakeholders. Leverage AEM's collaboration features to leave comments, provide feedback, and streamline the content creation process.

Wrapping Up

As content authors, you can help shape your organization's digital identity. By adhering to these best practices, you can harness AEM's full capabilities to create exceptional digital experiences. From structured content to SEO optimization and responsive design, following these guidelines ensures that your content engages audiences and contributes to the overall success of your organization's digital strategy.

To learn more about content authoring in AEM, see our ebook, AEM Content Editing Best Practices.

Oshyn is a certified Adobe partner with years of experience working with AEM and the suite of products in the Adobe Experience Cloud. We can assist you with implementing, maintaining, or upgrading an Adobe solution.