How Sitecore’s new Pages editing tool redefines content creation for marketers.
For years, the Experience Editor has been a trusted ally for Sitecore marketers, offering a robust way to edit web pages directly within the platform. Now, with the introduction of Pages, Sitecore has reimagined the page editing experience with modern workflows, advanced features, and greater flexibility. But what sets these two tools apart, and how can marketers leverage the best of both worlds? Let’s dive into the exciting differences and what they mean for your content creation strategy.
Experience Editor: A Tried-and-True Classic
The Experience Editor has long been the go-to tool for marketers managing content directly on their Sitecore websites. It enables WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) editing, where changes can be made directly on the page, providing an intuitive view of how content will appear to visitors.
Key Features:
- In-Context Editing: Marketers can edit text, images, and components directly on the page, previewing changes in real time.
- Personalization Integration: The Experience Editor seamlessly integrates with Sitecore’s personalization features, making it easy to tailor content for different user segments.
- Familiar Workflow: For teams already accustomed to Sitecore, the Experience Editor’s interface is familiar and straightforward.
Best For: Marketers who need in-the-moment adjustments or are working on well-established pages with minimal structural changes.
Pages: A New Era in Page Editing
Sitecore’s Pages represents a leap forward in content creation. Designed with flexibility and modern workflows in mind, it combines ease of use with powerful customization options, offering a truly headless content editing experience. Unlike the Experience Editor, which relies on direct on-page editing, Pages is built for managing content modularly, enabling greater scalability and adaptability.
What Makes Pages Stand Out:
- Drag-and-Drop Interface
Pages introduces a visually driven drag-and-drop editor, making it easy for marketers to add, move, and customize components without needing technical expertise. - Seamless Multichannel Management
Unlike Experience Editor’s web-centric approach, Pages supports headless architecture, allowing content to be reused across multiple channels like mobile apps, IoT devices, and social platforms. - Faster Page Creation
Prebuilt templates and components in Pages streamline the creation of new pages, enabling faster time-to-market for campaigns and updates. If, like me, your nightmares are filled with the Sitecore Experience Editor loading GIF, then Pages will seem like an amusement park ride’s level of excitement. - Collaborative Workflow
Pages enhances collaboration by supporting multiple team members working on the same content simultaneously, with real-time updates and versioning.
Best For: Teams creating content for omnichannel experiences or those looking for a modern, scalable content management solution.
Comparing the Two: Which One Should You Use?
While Experience Editor excels at providing in-context editing for traditional web pages, Pages is designed for the future of content management, offering a more modular and scalable approach. Here’s how they compare:
| Feature | Experience Editor | Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Editing Style | In-context editing | Modular, drag-and-drop |
| Personalization | Direct integration | Supports API-based personalization |
| Channel Focus | Web-focused | Omnichannel |
| Scalability | Limited | High |
| Ease of Collaboration | Minimal | Enhanced real-time collaboration |
Choosing the Right Tool
The decision to use Experience Editor or Pages often depends on your project’s needs:
- If your focus is on quickly updating existing web pages or creating personalized content for the website, the Experience Editor remains a reliable option.
- For organizations building multichannel strategies or those seeking modern, flexible workflows, Pages offers a clear advantage.
Why Marketers Should Be Excited
Sitecore’s Pages is a game-changer for content editing. Its modern features make it easier than ever to create engaging, scalable content that works across all channels. At the same time, the Experience Editor’s familiar interface ensures marketers can continue to make quick, impactful changes where needed. Together, these tools provide the flexibility and power needed to meet the demands of today’s digital marketing landscape.