Understanding how to orient yourself and navigate within the website’s content management system (CMS) is essential for managing your professional membership organisation’s online presence efficiently. This section introduces core website concepts related to orientation and navigation within the CMS, helping you confidently update and maintain your organisation’s site.
1. Orientation: Understanding Your Website Structure #
Orientation is about understanding how your website is organised, so you know where content lives and how it relates to other parts of the site.
- Homepage: The landing page where members and visitors first arrive. It typically features key announcements, upcoming events, membership benefits, and navigation to important sections.
- Pages: These are the main sections of your website that provide permanent information. Examples include:
- About Us — information about the association’s mission, leadership, and history.
- Membership — details about membership types, benefits, and how to join or renew.
- Events — a calendar and registration details for conferences, webinars, or networking events.
- Resources — downloadable documents, guides, or links useful to your members.
- Contact Us — how members can get in touch for support or inquiries.
- Posts: Blog-style content or news updates. For a professional membership organisation, this might include:
- Announcements of new professional development opportunities.
- Industry news or policy updates relevant to members.
- Recaps of recent events or highlights from conferences.
- Menus: Navigation menus guide users to important parts of your website. Typical menus for a membership organisation might include:
- Main menu with links to Home, Membership, Events, Resources, and Contact.
- Secondary menu for member-specific tools like login, profile management, or member directory.
2. Navigation: Moving Around the CMS and Website #
Navigation refers to how you move through the website and the CMS dashboard to find and manage content.
Navigating the Website (Frontend) #
- Top Navigation Bar: Your primary menu is visible to all users. For example, a member looking to register for the annual conference will click on Events from this menu.
- Footer Links: Additional navigation at the bottom of each page, often including policies, social media links, or quick access to membership FAQs.
- Search Function: Helps visitors and members quickly find specific content, such as “continuing education” or “mentorship program.”
Navigating the CMS (Backend) #
- When you log in as an administrator or content editor, you access the CMS dashboard. This is where you add, edit, and organise all website content.
- The dashboard menu will include:
- Pages: To create or update permanent website pages (e.g., update membership benefits page).
- Posts: To publish news or blog updates relevant to members.
- Events: To create and manage upcoming conferences, workshops, or webinars.
- Media Library: Where all images, PDFs, and downloadable files are stored (e.g., brochures, forms).
- Menus: To update navigation links, ensuring members easily find important content.
- Users: Manage member access roles, such as who can view restricted content or edit the site.
3. Content Types & Examples Relevant to a Membership Organisation #
| Content Type | Purpose | Example Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| Page | Permanent, structured info | Membership tiers & benefits page detailing individual, corporate, and student membership types |
| Post | Time-sensitive news updates | Announcement post about the upcoming Annual General Meeting or new government policy affecting the profession |
| Event | Schedule and registration | Creating an event for a “Professional Development Webinar” with ticketing and attendee registration |
| Media | Visual & downloadable resources | Uploading a PDF guide on “Ethics in Practice” available to members for download |
| Menu | Website navigation | Adding a new menu link for “Mentorship Program” to highlight a member-exclusive benefit |
4. Practical Navigation Tips for AMS Users #
- Quick Access: Use the CMS sidebar menu to quickly jump to frequently updated sections such as Events or Membership.
- Preview Content: Always preview pages or posts before publishing to see how members will view the content.
- Use Categories and Tags: Organise posts by categories like “Policy Updates,” “Event Recaps,” or “Member Spotlights” to make content easier to find.
- Keep Menus Intuitive: Ensure navigation menus reflect how members think about your site — use familiar terms and logical groupings.
- Update Regularly: Frequently update events, news posts, and membership info to keep content fresh and relevant.
5. Scenario Walkthrough: Updating Membership Benefits Page #
Imagine the association has introduced a new corporate membership tier. Here’s how you would update the website:
- Log in to the CMS dashboard.
- Go to Pages > Find the existing Membership Benefits page.
- Click Edit to open the page editor.
- Add a new section describing the corporate membership benefits.
- Upload any new brochures or PDFs in the Media Library to support the page.
- Preview the page to check the layout and content.
- Click Update to publish the changes live.
- Navigate to Menus and ensure the membership page is linked correctly for easy member access.
Summary #
Mastering website orientation and navigation in your content management system empowers your professional membership organisation to maintain a vibrant, user-friendly online presence. Whether updating event details, posting industry news, or enhancing member resources, a clear understanding and navigation ensure your members get timely and relevant information at their fingertips.
