Content Authoring in AEM

7. Content Authoring in AEM

Content authoring in Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a crucial aspect of managing web content effectively. AEM is a content management system (CMS) that allows users to create, edit, and publish digital content for websites, mobile apps, and other digital channels. In this tutorial, we will delve into the process of content authoring in AEM, step by step, and provide examples where applicable.

Prerequisites:

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

• Access to AEM: You need access to an AEM instance, either hosted on your local machine or a remote server.
  
  
• User Account: You should have a user account with appropriate permissions to author and manage content in AEM.

Step 1: Logging into AEM

• Open your web browser and navigate to the AEM instance URL. It is usually something like 'http://localhost:4502' or your organization's specific AEM URL.
  
  
• Log in using your username and password.

Step 2: Accessing the AEM Authoring Environment

After successfully logging in, you'll be taken to the AEM authoring environment. This is where you can create and edit content. You will typically see the following components:

• Sidekick: A panel on the right-hand side that provides various tools and components for authoring content.
  
  
• Toolbar: A bar at the top with options for creating, editing, and publishing content.

Step 3: Creating Content

Let's start by creating a new web page.

• In the AEM authoring environment, click on the "Websites" tab in the top menu.
  
  
• Navigate to the location where you want to create the new page, such as a specific folder or section of your website.
  
  
• Right-click on the folder or area where you want to create the page, and select "Create" > "Page" from the context menu.
  
  
• Fill in the required information for the new page, such as the title, template, and any other relevant metadata.
  
  
• Click "Create" to create the page.

Step 4: Editing Content

Now that you have created a page, you can edit its content.

• Select the page you created in the AEM authoring environment.
  
  
• You'll typically see the page content displayed in a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editor. You can edit text, add images, links, and other multimedia elements using the editor.
  
  
• Use the formatting tools in the WYSIWYG editor to style your content as desired.

Step 5: Adding Components

AEM allows you to enhance your web pages by adding components like images, videos, forms, and more.

• In the Sidekick panel, navigate to the "Components" tab.
  
  
• Drag and drop the desired components onto your page where you want them to appear.
  
  
• Configure the components by filling in relevant information and settings.

Step 6: Previewing Content

Before publishing your changes, it's a good practice to preview how your content will look on the live website.

• Click the "Preview" button in the toolbar to see how the page will appear to website visitors.
  
  
• Make any necessary adjustments based on the preview.

Step 7: Publishing Content

Once you are satisfied with your content, it's time to publish it to make it visible on the live website.

• Click the "Publish" button in the toolbar.
  
  
• AEM will publish your content to the live website, and it will be accessible to users.

Step 8: Review and Maintenance

Regularly review and update your content in AEM to keep it fresh and relevant. You can follow the same steps to edit and publish content as needed.

Example: