Template strategies

Templates are designed to be adaptable and fit both the content and the business architectures. It’s important, however, to get the right people and processes in place.

Consider the following factors when starting out to create content model templates:

• Define the purpose and goal of the template.
  This will help guide the structure and content of the template.

• Keep it simple and easy to understand.
  A template that is easy to use and understand should make sense for content creators.

• Use a consistent naming structure.
  Consistency in the format and structure of naming templates and versions will make it easier for all users to understand and use.

• Document examples and best practices.
  Including examples and best practices in your organisation's documentation system will help users understand how, why and where you are using templates.

• Test and iterate.
  Begin by testing the template and making iterations with a small group of users, gathering feedback to make improvements.

• Make sure it is flexible enough to handle different types of content and variations.
  Depending on how you’ve split your content into different spaces (for example, Geographies, Brands, Business Units) not all spaces will have the same requirements. It's important to take this into consideration early on.

• Think about scalability and how to modularize content for reuse.
  What works today might not meet the needs of next month. So, to ensure durability when creating your content model, it's important to think about scalable, modular content types and their content.