7 Essential Tips for Using Business Catalyst with Dreamweaver

From Setup to Launch: Building Websites with Business Catalyst & Dreamweaver

Building a client website using Adobe Business Catalyst (BC) together with Dreamweaver lets you combine a hosted CMS/e-commerce backend with Dreamweaver’s visual design and code-editing tools. This guide walks through a practical, end-to-end workflow—from initial setup through launch—so you can deliver a polished, functional site efficiently.

1. Plan the project (requirements & structure)

• Scope: Define pages, content types (blog, products, events), required integrations (payment gateway, analytics), and user roles.
• Content inventory: List required assets (logos, images, copy) and map pages to templates.
• SEO & URLs: Decide on main URLs, redirects, and on-page SEO basics (titles, meta descriptions).

2. Set up Business Catalyst (site & modules)

• Create the site: Sign into Business Catalyst and create a new site account; choose the appropriate plan and hostname.
• Enable modules: Turn on modules you’ll use (Content, Web Apps, E‑Commerce, Forms, Membership, Email).
• Organize content: Create content lists (for blogs, staff, products) and set up any web apps needed for structured data.
• E‑commerce setup (if needed): Configure tax, shipping, payment provider details, product categories, and sample products.
• Users & permissions: Add collaborator accounts with appropriate roles for content editors or developers.

3. Prepare Dreamweaver for development

• Connect to BC: In Dreamweaver, add a new site and configure the server settings to connect via Business Catalyst’s FTP/hosting connection or use the built‑in BC integration if available in your Dreamweaver version.
• Download files: Pull existing site files (if any) into your local site root. Maintain a clear folder structure: assets (images/CSS/js), templates, includes.
• Set up Live View & Browser Preview: Use Dreamweaver’s Live View to test server‑side includes and BC tags if supported; preview across browsers and devices.

4. Design templates and master layout

• Create a master template: Build a base HTML/CSS template with a responsive grid, header, footer, and navigation. Use Dreamweaver’s CSS Designer for consistent styling.
• Implement BC placeholders: Insert Business Catalyst content tags and modules where dynamic content will appear (e.g., {!Content:MainContent!}, catalog tags, or web app repeaters).
• Responsive considerations: Use media queries and flexible images. Test breakpoints in Live View and real devices.

5. Build pages & dynamic content

• Content pages: Create page templates in Dreamweaver and populate with BC Content tags; upload to the server and create corresponding pages in BC using those templates.
• Web apps & listing pages: For lists (blog, products), design the list and detail templates. Use repeaters or web app tags to pull items dynamically.
• Forms & interactions: Build and style forms (contact, signup). Configure form handlers in BC to send emails, store submissions, and trigger automations.

6. Integrations & functionality

• E‑commerce flows: Ensure product templates include add‑to‑cart and checkout integration. Test transactions in sandbox mode.
• Membership & gated content: Set membership areas with login/register templates and protect pages as required.
• Third‑party services: Add analytics, tag manager, marketing pixels, and connect email services or CRMs if used.

7. Content population & QA

• Populate content: Upload final images, copy, product data, and metadata. Use BC’s admin to enter content into content lists or web apps if preferred.
• Quality assurance checklist:
  • Cross‑browser testing (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge)
  • Mobile and tablet responsiveness
  • Link checks and form submission tests
  • SEO basics: titles, meta descriptions, structured data where applicable
  • Performance: optimize images, minify CSS/JS, enable caching where supported
  • Accessibility basics: alt text, semantic headings, keyboard navigation

8. Staging, redirects & final checks

• Staging review: Use a staging subdomain in BC for client review; gather feedback and iterate.
• 301 redirects: Prepare redirects from old URLs to new ones in BC’s Redirect Manager.
• SSL & security: Enable SSL for the site, verify secure assets, and ensure forms transmit securely.

9. Launch

• Switch DNS: Update DNS to point the domain to the Business Catalyst hosting (or follow BC’s domain mapping instructions).
• Final sanity tests: After DNS propagation, re‑test forms, transactions, and analytics tracking on the live domain.
• Monitor: Watch server logs and analytics for errors or traffic issues in the first 72 hours.

10. Post‑launch maintenance

• Backups & exports: Export site content and product lists regularly.
• Content editorial calendar: Schedule updates, blog posts, and promotions.
• Training: Provide simple editor documentation or a short walkthrough to the client on updating content via BC and Dreamweaver.
• Migration planning (optional): Since Business Catalyst reached end of life, plan for a migration strategy to a modern CMS if long‑term hosting is required.

Quick checklist (essentials)

• Site plan, URLs, and content inventory completed
• BC modules and web apps configured
• Dreamweaver site connected and templates created
• Dynamic tags/web apps implemented and tested
• E‑commerce/membership configured and tested (if used)
• SEO, performance, accessibility checks passed
• DNS, SSL, and redirects configured for launch

This workflow balances Dreamweaver’s design capabilities with Business Catalyst’s hosting and CMS features to move efficiently from setup to a reliable launch.