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Online CMS training

Learn how to create a new page and style content, add an image and a document.

SDP case study
SDP case study

Are you a new CMS user?

The first step is to complete an application form. Once your team leader or manager confirms your eligibility you will be sent details on how to log in to the CMS. The Single Digital Presence CMS is the entry point for centrally supported content on vic.gov.au as well as other semi-independent sites and sections. 

Request access

These training activities are a mix of guides to read as well as hands-on work in the Vic Gov Content Management System (CMS).

    The activities are self-paced and will link you to the resources available to you as a CMS editor.

    Start your CMS training

    Read through each accordion below and follow the instructions.

    By the end of the activities you'll know how to:

    • ensure all content you create is accessible
    • create a new page in the CMS and add content to it
    • apply formatting, heading styles and hyperlinks to your content
    • add an image to your page
    • send your page to the publishing queue for review
    • review your feedback and edit your content to address any issues
    • request your page to be archived.
    • All content on vic.gov.au must meet WCAG AA guidelines.

      Any content included in Word or PDF documents should also be provided in HTML format, such as:

      Word and PDF documents of this content can be uploaded in addition to the online version, but not instead of.

      Learn more about digital accessibility requirements.

      • Open your browser and go to https://www.content.vic.gov.auExternal Link .
      • Your username should be firstname.lastname (for example: john.brown).
      • Your password will be what you chosen when you were sent the email to log into the CMS.

      View video in full-screen size

    • In the CMS go to the Content tab, choose Add Content and then the Landing Page template.

      Add your name as the page title and write "TBC" in the summary field.

      Add a Basic Text component in the Page Content section.

      Copy and paste the below text into the Basic Text component:

      VicFreeWiFi is the largest and free outdoor wi-fi network of its kind in Australia.
      What you get: 1GB per day, per device, no need to enter your personal details to join, no ads
      Find wi-fi locations
      About the network: The pilot will run until April 2022, and is a partnership with Victorian Government, local government, and industry.
      The network is managed and maintained by telecommunications company TPG Telecom.
      Benefits of the free service
      Helps meet demand for free wi-fi connection in urban areas.
      Establishes communications infrastructure for future projects.
      Provides an opportunity to trial the Internet of Things (IoT) and advanced technologies.
      Has a combined coverage zone of over 600,000 square metres across Melbourne, Ballarat and Bendigo CBDs.
      New free public wi-fi networks are planned for Shepparton and Geelong as part of the Connecting Regional Communities Program. For more information visit Connecting Victoria
      For more information phone TPG (iiNet Customer Service) 1300 668 847 or email vicfreewifi@vic.gov.au


      In the topic field add Science and technology.

      In the right-hand column, check that the selected site is –Vic Gov CMS training.

      Click Save to save a draft of your new page.

      View video in full-screen size

    • Go back to your draft page in the CMS and click the Edit tab.

      Using the guidance below, write a new page title and summary/introduction text. These will help a user find your page in search engines.

      Save your draft once you're finished, so you don't lose your progress.

      Page title

      About 6 to 8 words that use your main keywords (up to 70 characters).

      Summary and introduction text

      Make this text meaningful – don’t just reuse the first sentence from your page content. It needs to describe the content of the page using keywords that will help people find it. Make them want to click on your link more than other links.

      The summary text field has a limit of 200 characters and the introduction text field should be 1 or 2 brief sentences.

      You can use Google TrendsExternal Link to see which keywords are most popular with users in Australia.

      Use the SERP snippet optimizer toolExternal Link to get the length right for your title and summary.

    • Go back to your draft page in the CMS and click the Edit tab.

      Start formatting your content by:

      Our publishing checklist can help you ensure your content is user-focused, accessible and following our style guide.

      View video in full-screen size

    • Download this image to add to your page: Queen Victoria Market.jpg (1636×992)External Link

      You'll need to resize the image to the correct dimensions of 818 wide x 496 high. This means the image will be sized correctly to load on a web page and to be viewed on different devices.

      You'll then need to follow our instructions for uploading the image to the CMS media library: Add an image.

      View image video in full screen

      How to resize your image

      You should be able to resize any images by opening your photo and resizing the image using the Windows photo editor, and the custom dimensions:

      • Open your image and select the other options icon.
      Open your image in Window editor and select the other options icon
      • Select Resize and Define custom dimensions.
      • Uncheck the "Maintain aspect ratio" check box and type 818 for the width and 496 for the height.
      To resize your image uncheck maintain aspect ratio and include the height and width
      • Save the image to your desktop.
    • Save your page and preview it on the front end of the CMS.

      If you are happy with how the content looks:

      • change the current state to Needs review
      • enter comments in the Change request detail field
      • click Save.

      The SDP content team will be notified in the Publishing queue that your page is ready to publish.

      Next steps

      We will send you feedback on a few things we would like you to edit on the page (we do this for everyone) to show you how the revisions comments works inside the CMS.

      You will need to check the feedback we send you and edit your page again to address the feedback.

      Once you have made those changes, set your page back to Needs review.

      The publishing team will provide any further relevant instructions from here.

      Resources

    Other helpful resources

    Online how-to guide for CMS

    For notes on how to complete anything, visit our How to publish content guide.

    Sample of all landing page components

    Visit our sample page to see the various components available for you to use and their corresponding label in the CMS.

    Australian Government content style guide

    Your content needs to follow the Australian Government content guidelinesExternal Link on writing style, punctuation and grammar, numbers and measurement.

    Hemingway Editor

    Use the Hemingway toolExternal Link to help you ensure your content meets our Grade 8 reading level rule.

    Single Digital Presence Community of Practice

    We share new features, research and analytics. We also keep half our time for you to meet with experts and get help with using SDP, content design, analytics and service design.

    Anyone who has completed this training will automatically be added to our mailing list.

    Digital content that gets results workshop

    We run monthly in-person training on how to meet user needs, write so your content is discoverable and easy to understand; and manage stakeholders. Join the Innovation NetworkExternal Link to get notifications of upcoming sessions.

    Victorian Government digital guides

    The Whole of Victorian Goverment (WOVG) digital guides are best practice for you as a digital services practitioner.

    The digital guides include:

    • 12 digital design principles
    • how-to guides covering all Victorian Government digital activities
    • a range of mandatory standards comprising legal obligations, policy requirements and industry standards.

    Reviewed 16 January 2023

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