The Goal: Create and publish a blog from the back office to engage your members and deliver information immediately.
Before You Begin:
- You need access to the Web Content area in the back office.
- Confirm the Blog content type is enabled. If it is not displayed, you will need to enable it as a content type — refer to Enabling Common Content Types.
- If you plan to categorize blogs, set up your categories first — Click Here for details on setting up categories.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Go to Marketing & Communication, Web Content section.
-
Click Blog.
NOTE: If Blog is not displayed, you will need to enable it as a content type. Refer to: Enabling Common Content Types.
- Click the Add button.
-
On the General tab, configure the following:
- Contact - Enter a Contact's name. The software's type-ahead functionality will display options as you type.
- Content Status - Select status of this blog. The content will not display on your web-sites until status is marked as Approved.
- Title/Subtitle - Enter a title and subtitle. Both of these will be displayed on your website.
- Tags - Add tags to enable filtering and searching.
- Description - Provide a description. This describes the purpose of the blog and will be published to your site.
- Search Description / Teaser Text
- Content Date - Enter the date the blog was created.
- Publish Start - Enter the date the blog should start to be published to your sites. If the publish date is less than five days old, a tag called New will show on the content.
- Publish End - Enter the end date for the publication of this content. Note: the Web Content Pre Expiration Notice automated email will be sent to the contact three days prior to the Publish End. Within the email will be a link, that will take them to the Info Hub where they could update the blog end date.
- Require Approval After Edit - if your designated staff must approve the content prior to publication, click this check-box.
- Category - Select a category(s) from the list. Categories provide a way to report, search and filter blogs. Click Here for details on setting up categories.
- Click the Images tab to add images to your blog. Adding an image to the Search Image will populate it in the first page. Other images appear after clicking into the content.
- Click Done when you have completed configuration.
Common Pitfalls
- Blog never appears on your site: The content will not display until the Content Status is set to Approved and the Publish Start date has arrived. Double-check both before assuming something is broken.
- Missing custom fields: If you have added custom fields to your content lists, these will also be displayed for you to configure. Refer to Adding Custom Fields to your Content Lists for details on adding custom fields.