CMS Implementation Checklist
4.8/5 with 313 votes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Our CMS Implementation Checklist is designed to guide you through each critical step of the content management system rollout. From assembling your implementation team to developing a comprehensive content management policy, this template covers all necessary tasks to ensure a smooth and effective implementation process. Utilize our Checklist App to save and customize the template, enabling you to track progress and collaborate seamlessly with your team. Sync across devices for real-time updates, making sure everyone stays on the same page throughout the project.
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Toggle Build An Oversight Committee status
Build An Oversight Committee
Toggle Upper Management status
Upper Management
At least one high-level manager to give you executive input and buy-in.
Toggle Unit Managers status
Unit Managers
For departmental input and prioritization.
Toggle Information Technology status
Information Technology
Guidance for high-level technical decisions.
Toggle Vendor Management status
Vendor Management
Committee member who communicates directly with any related vendors.
Toggle Impartial Party status
Impartial Party
Someone who is not directly involved with implementation, for improved perspective.
Toggle Customer Advocate status
Customer Advocate
Represents customer concerns in strategic decisions.
Toggle Legal Counsel status
Legal Counsel
Helps to make sure that your new site does not set you up for legal problems.
Toggle Assemble Your Implementation Team status
Assemble Your Implementation Team
Toggle Project Manager status
Project Manager
A team leader who can talk to various parties and drive the project.
Toggle IT. Key IT staff members who are vital to resolving technical issues and integrating systems. status
IT. Key IT staff members who are vital to resolving technical issues and integrating systems.
Toggle Content Managers status
Content Managers
Business unit experts who will develop the individual CMS pages and posts.
Toggle Web Designer status
Web Designer
Someone with an eye for detail and aesthetics to make your website appealing and user-friendly.
Toggle Vendor status
Vendor
Maintain regular contact with your CMS vendor contact for training and guidance.
Toggle Build Your Project Plan status
Build Your Project Plan
Toggle Structure status
Structure
How will you run your project? Waterfall? Scrum?
Toggle Scope status
Scope
Determine the overall goals of your CMS implementation project.
Toggle Backlog status
Backlog
Build a catalog of all known tasks that need to be completed.
Toggle Estimate status
Estimate
Develop a rough idea of how long each task will require to complete.
Toggle Risk assessment status
Risk assessment
Determine which tasks are foundational to success and prioritize them first.
Toggle Prioritize status
Prioritize
Determine the relative importance and risk of remaining tasks.
Toggle Organize status
Organize
Group tasks to be done by related functionality and to fit into your implementation time blocks.
Toggle Communication status
Communication
Decide how and when you will communicate with project stakeholders.
Toggle Progress tracking status
Progress tracking
Agree on mechanisms for tracking project progress.
Toggle Develop Your CMS Implementation Schedule status
Develop Your CMS Implementation Schedule
Toggle Target status
Target
When do you need to have the entire project completed?
Toggle Start status
Start
When can work on CMS implementation begin?
Toggle Milestones status
Milestones
What major tasks do you need to have completed by which dates to stay on track?
Toggle Fill the calendar status
Fill the calendar
Complete your schedule with grouped, prioritized tasks until all available time is filled.
Toggle Re-evaluate status
Re-evaluate
Are there tasks that did not fit into your schedule? Do you need to re-prioritize?
Toggle Publish status
Publish
Make the implementation schedule available to all members of the implementation team and oversight committee.
Toggle Develop Your Content Management Policy status
Develop Your Content Management Policy
Toggle Access status
Access
Who will be allowed to create content on the new site?
Toggle Design status
Design
What design standards with content creators need to follow?
Toggle Appropriate use status
Appropriate use
What type of content is appropriate (or not appropriate) for the site?
Toggle Images status
Images
What types and sources of images will be used on your site?
Toggle Social media status
Social media
Will you include social media components in your site content?
Toggle Deliver the Content Management System Implementation status
Deliver the Content Management System Implementation
Toggle Build status
Build
Complete the foundational, high-risk tasks.
Toggle Evaluate status
Evaluate
Does the foundation function as you expected?
Toggle Implement features status
Implement features
Build on the CMS foundation by completing other tasks in priority order.
Toggle Test status
Test
Does your site perform correctly, and does it look the way you want?
Toggle Track progress status
Track progress
Meet regularly with the implementation team to make sure that you are on track.
Toggle Report status
Report
Meet regularly with the oversight committee to report progress and get feedback.
Toggle Refine status
Refine
Adjust your project plan as organizational priorities shift.
Toggle Policy status
Policy
Review and adjust content policy as your site takes shape.
Toggle Train status
Train
Engage administrative users to make sure they can use the new CMS efficiently.
Download or Print this CMS Implementation Checklist
Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.
Presented by:
Adam Hughes
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Tasks: 47
Details
Content Management System (CMS) Implementation Checklist Tips
- If possible, market testing your site and design as you build it can be very helpful in solidifying your content management system implementation. Customer feedback about visual appeal, navigability, and usability can help you head off major problems down the road.
- While modern CMS software makes it easy to build nice looking websites, enlisting a web design professional early in the process can help you produce a more polished and better-performing final product.
- Developing a clear content policy near the beginning of your project will help you focus your design and implementation efforts, and it will also inform your training material later on. A solid, consistent policy also helps maintain a consistent voice and look-and-feel as your site evolves, and it can help avoid undesirable posts from popping up.
- While the ultimate design of your new CMS site is up to you and your organization, it is generally best to avoid adding in too many complicated features. Especially since the advent of nearly ubiquitous mobile computing, most of the best and well-read websites maintain a simple and elegant design.
Who it's for
This CMS Implementation Checklist is for teams that want consistent execution, less rework, and clear ownership.
- Standardize quality - run the same CMS Implementation steps every time, regardless of who executes
- Save time - reuse a proven CMS Implementation workflow instead of rebuilding processes from scratch
- Improve accountability - assign owners and see what's done vs. what's pending
- Onboard faster - use the CMS Implementation checklist as the SOP and training guide
- Coordinate across roles - handoffs are clear and everyone works from the same source of truth
How to use it
How to use this CMS Implementation Checklist:
- Start by saving it - save as a Template if you'll reuse it, or as a Checklist if it's a one-off project.
- Customize it once for your workflow - remove what doesn't apply and add your team-specific steps.
- Assign ownership and execute - set owners/due dates where needed and track completion as work happens.
- Reuse without rebuilding - when CMS Implementation comes up again, start from your saved version and run it with clear ownership.
Rate this Checklist
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Scores 4.80 with 313 votes