Configure Content Types in CMP

Why structured content types matter

Without content types, every piece of content is a blank canvas. Authors make inconsistent choices about what fields to fill, what metadata to include, and how to structure their work. One writer adds SEO metadata. Another forgets. A social post lacks a character count indicator. A product page is missing the required disclaimer field.

Content types in CMP solve this by defining the shape of each content format upfront. When an author creates a “Blog Post,” they see exactly the fields they need — title, body, featured image, SEO metadata, author bio — with validation rules that enforce completeness.

What you will do

1. Create a new content type
2. Define fields and field groups
3. Set validation rules
4. Create a content template
5. Assign a workflow to the content type

Create a new content type

1. Navigate to Settings > Content Types
2. Click Create Content Type
3. Enter a name (e.g., “Blog Post,” “Case Study,” “Social Media Post”)
4. Add a description that explains what this content type is for and when authors should use it
5. Select an icon to help authors identify the type in the content list
6. Click Save

Define fields and field groups

Fields define what data each content item captures. Group related fields together for a clean editing experience.

Add a field group

1. In the content type editor, click Add Field Group
2. Name the group (e.g., “Main Content,” “SEO,” “Publishing Settings”)
3. Field groups appear as collapsible sections in the content editor

Add fields

1. Click Add Field within a field group
2. Select the field type:

Field type	Use case	Options
Short text	Titles, headlines, taglines	Max length, placeholder text
Long text	Summaries, meta descriptions	Max length, multiline
Rich text	Body content with formatting	Toolbar customization, allowed elements
Image	Featured images, thumbnails	Accepted formats, dimension constraints
Date	Publish date, event date	Date only or date-time
Dropdown	Category selection, content status	Custom option list
Multi-select	Tags, target audiences	Custom option list
URL	External links, call-to-action URLs	URL validation
Toggle	Boolean flags (e.g., “Include in newsletter”)	Default value
User reference	Author, reviewer assignments	User picker

3. Configure the field:
   • Label — What the author sees (e.g., “Featured Image”)
   • Machine name — API identifier, auto-generated from label
   • Help text — Guidance shown below the field (e.g., “Recommended size: 1200x630px”)
   • Required — Whether the field must be completed before content can advance in workflow

Recommended field structure for common types

Blog Post:

• Main Content: Title (short text), Subtitle (short text), Body (rich text), Featured Image (image)
• SEO: Meta Title (short text), Meta Description (long text), URL Slug (short text)
• Settings: Author (user reference), Category (dropdown), Tags (multi-select), Publish Date (date)

Social Media Post:

• Content: Platform (dropdown), Copy (long text with character counter), Media (image), Link URL (URL)
• Scheduling: Publish Date (date-time), Campaign (dropdown)

Set validation rules

Validation rules prevent incomplete or incorrect content from being saved or advanced.

1. Open a field’s settings
2. Under Validation, configure rules:

Rule	Applies to	Purpose
Required	Any field	Field must have a value
Min/max length	Text fields	Enforce character limits (e.g., meta description 120-160 chars)
Pattern match	Short text, URL	Validate format (e.g., URL must start with https://)
Image dimensions	Image fields	Minimum width/height for quality
File size limit	Image, file fields	Prevent oversized uploads

Cross-Product Integration

CMP

Validation runs at two points: when the author saves (soft validation — shows warnings) and when content transitions to a review stage (hard validation — blocks advancement). Configure which validations are soft vs hard in the field settings.

Create a content template

Templates pre-populate fields so authors start with guidance rather than a blank page.

1. Navigate to your content type’s Templates tab
2. Click Create Template
3. Fill in the fields with default values, placeholder text, or example content
4. Name the template (e.g., “Standard Blog Post,” “Product Launch Announcement”)
5. Save the template

When authors create new content, they choose from available templates. Templates save time and enforce consistency, especially for recurring formats.

Assign a workflow

Every content type should have an associated workflow that defines its review process.

1. In the content type settings, open the Workflow section
2. Select a workflow template (see the Customize Approval Workflows guide for creating workflows)
3. Save the content type

All new content items of this type will follow the assigned workflow.

Test the content type

1. Create a new content item using your content type
2. Verify that all fields appear in the correct groups
3. Test validation rules by submitting incomplete data
4. Check that the assigned workflow activates correctly
5. Confirm templates pre-populate as expected

Common issues

Issue	Cause	Fix
Field not appearing for authors	Field group is collapsed by default	Set the group to expanded in group settings
Validation not blocking advancement	Rule set to soft validation	Change to hard validation in field settings
Template overwriting author edits	Template applied after content creation	Templates only apply at creation time; existing items are not affected
Content type not available	Type is in draft status	Publish the content type under Settings

Related content

Continue your journey with these related pages.

📖Understand the concepts

• Content Marketing Platform (CMP)
• Content Repository

🔧Follow a guide

• Customize Approval Workflows
• Set Up Brand Guidelines