Why Content Editors Love Drupal: A Week with Drupal CMS

At the heart of DrupalCon Atlanta 2025, a compelling story unfolded as Simon and Alisa from Evolving Web took center stage. Tasked with the migration of BC Housing’s nearly completed WordPress site to Drupal, their journey was sparked by a mission for organizational unity. Faced with the quirks and inconsistencies of the Gutenberg editor, they embarked on a rapid transformation. Within a week, they discovered how Drupal’s structured, AI-supported editing reframed the content creation landscape—efficiency soared, and consistency became second nature. This is why editors gravitate toward Drupal CMS, a platform built with the content storyteller in mind.

A New Chapter in Structured Content

In every great narrative, structure sets the stage. For digital content, that structure makes all the difference. Where WordPress’s openness can encourage design drift, Drupal’s approach to content weaves a seamless brand tapestry, ensuring every update fits the overarching strategy. Simon and Alisa revealed how BC Housing encountered friction with Gutenberg’s design limitations, prompting the shift. Drupal welcomed them with prebuilt components—each one flexible, but anchored in brand purpose. The migration didn’t just rebuild a website; it wrote a new future where scalability and adaptability empower even the most complex organizations to thrive.

Setting Forth: First Steps in Drupal CMS

Beginnings come with uncertainty—especially under tight deadlines. When BC Housing faced the prospect of rebuilding an entire site, anxiety was part of the story. Yet Drupal’s intuitive, block-like editing experience shifted doubt into relief. Familiar options greeted content editors: a simple path through Content > Add Content, the selection of a type (“Basic Page”), and easy, structured fields for essentials like titles and hero images.

• Interface: Navigate content creation with clarity, choosing types and components designed for storytelling.
• Learning Curve: For those with WordPress roots, Drupal’s system blends comfort and control—no need for a rewrite of your skills.

This structuring accelerates onboarding and lets every editor step confidently into their role as brand storyteller.

Crafting Pages: The Art of Component-Based Content

Imagine building not with scattered fragments, but with the storytelling clarity of Lego bricks. Through layout paragraphs and a custom “style options” module, Drupal let BC Housing’s editors compose content with both freedom and discipline. Design became an ally, not a hurdle, as Simon and Alisa’s team found new independence.

• Layout Paragraphs vs. Layout Builder: Layout paragraphs, rooted in community innovation, give editors intuitive control, while layout builder appeals to those with technical ambitions. For BC Housing, this meant creative power without the need for constant developer intervention.
• Efficiency: Drag, drop, publish—dramatic workflows distilled to mere minutes. Editors could rearrange, preview, and launch pages with confidence.

Storytelling Tools: Drupal’s Component Examples

• Hero Banner: Enter headline and image, and reveal a striking hero that anchors every page’s purpose.
• Two-Column Section: Mix imagery and narrative in a layout that adapts effortlessly for every device.
• Accordion: Address questions with clarity, transforming content into accessible, expandable stories.
• CTA Banner: Guide the journey with branded calls to action, crafted to resonate and inspire engagement.

This modular approach, powered by Drupal’s digital transformation strength, writes results that are both polished and primed for growth.

Advanced Features: Elevating the Editor’s Journey

Midway through the migration, the plot took a turn for the innovative—Drupal’s advanced features expanded the editorial toolkit:

• AI Assistance: Let machines handle repetitive tasks such as alt-text and taxonomy, freeing human energy for deeper storytelling and boosting accessibility for all.
• Live Preview: See the story as it comes to life, immediately, right within the front-end theme.
• Revision History: Every chapter is preserved. Roll back or revisit any moment, minimizing risk and maximizing confidence.
• Inline Editing: Correct typos or polish prose on the live stage, assured by robust role-based permissions.

These elements, essential to Drupal’s no-code platform, mirror the aspirations outlined by Lullabot—an editorial experience built for storytellers by storytellers.

One Week In: Measurable Triumphs

With just a week on Drupal, the transformation was nothing short of remarkable:

• Brand Consistency: No more straying from the path—every page stays true, thanks to predefined components.
• No Plugin Overload: Essential functionality is built in, simplifying analytics, SEO, and compliance. Maintenance takes a back seat to momentum.
• Speed: From vision to reality in minutes—place hero images, arrange content, and publish with grace.
• Confidence: Empowerment flows from structure—editors are free to focus on narrative, not technical woes.

BC Housing’s verdict: Drupal brought clarity to the chaos, making site updates simple and sustainable—a win for storytellers and strategists alike.

Migration Wisdom: Lessons from the Field

• Content Strategy is Critical: The most resonant stories are those crafted with intent—structured strategy lights the way, just as it did for BC Housing.
• Flexibility with Control: Layout paragraphs and tailored modules give the freedom to innovate within trusted boundaries, countering the unpredictability of Gutenberg.
• Empowerment: When editors hold the keys, the brand voice rings through. With Drupal, they steer the narrative, and dependency on developers fades.

It’s no wonder that the champions of government and education are turning to Drupal for its blend of governance and freedom.

Quick Start: The First Page, Simplified

1. Navigate to Content > Add Content > Basic Page.
2. Add a hero image and captivating headline.
3. Select Add Section—then mix in Two-Column, CTA, or other modules to shape your tale.
4. Preview, save, or schedule as the story demands.
5. Release a page that’s as brand-centered as it is beautiful.

Pro Tips: Secrets from the Scriptorium

• Use Ctrl + Space in rich-text fields to link with finesse.
• Duplicate sections to build recurring motifs in your design symphony.
• Always preview with a mobile lens—stories must travel far and wide.
• When specialization calls, request custom components tailored to your audience.
• Choose layout paragraphs for an editorial journey as intuitive as it is powerful.

Elevate Content: Unlocking the Drupal Narrative

Where WordPress sometimes favors boundless variety at the cost of cohesion, Drupal CMS is the editor’s ally—delivering structure, velocity, and AI-powered enhancements that elevate brand storytelling. The BC Housing migration, brought to life at DrupalCon Atlanta 2025, reveals the impact: workflows are streamlined, creativity is unshackled, and every page advances both message and mission. With tools like layout paragraphs and customized modules, Drupal empowers content architects to build, adapt, and inspire—resulting in websites that stand the test of time and change.