Over the last couple of months, I've been heavily focused on rebuilding one of our Ark content management systems for a major client. From the given design we set out to build a robust website that allows accessible information and gives the client absolute control over their content. Since I’ve been eating and sleeping Ark CMS for a while now, what perfect time to discuss some useful tips and tricks when building a large website.

To start with, Ark is an extremely flexible and diverse system. You can do practically anything with it. In the past, my experience with Ark has involved working on existing Ark systems. Updating, maintaining, expanding and offering support to our customers that use the system often. This time around however, I had the luxury of starting with the basic shell, a blank canvas. Let the fun times begin!

Sure, building a large website can be tedious. There’s a heap of factors involved. SEO, validation, browser testing, programming, all magnified by the complexity and size of the website.

Here's are a few things to remember during the building process to keep things on track:

- Have a plan, stick to it. Page by page. Element by element. It'll become awfully hard to manage with an ad hoc approach and things will get lost. Which is bad!

- Get to know the design before you start to build. Especially if there are repeat elements throughout the site (which is quite likely). It'll help to create your CSS and maintain flexibility down the track.

- Naming conventions. Descriptive is best in a CMS I find. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you just cant find the file you need because there's 300 files all starting with crazy names, say to yourself “I really shouldn't abbreviate my files!”.

- Ask plenty of questions. Never presume! The client usually has something else in mind! Also, keep on top of what they need to supply to you.

- Review the site often.

- Test Test Test!

Then suddenly a light will appear at the end of the tunnel. All your hard work pays off resulting in many beers at the nearest bar.