The Easy DNN News module is similar to how blogs work and allows super-users to quickly update and add content sitewide. This covers how the module works on a conceptual level.
List or Catalog View
The list/catalog view displays a feed of articles that the user can choose from. The newsroom view below shows two lists: the list on the left, used to show the most recent article, and the list on the right, used to show the next 3 most recent articles.
Below is an example of the catalog view, used for the resource library. This view is using cards to display resources and a menu has been added to help users navigate through categories.
The list or catalog can be displayed as cards, text, or other templates and may contain different information depending on the template. It usually will contain a title, summary, and link for each item, and sometimes the date or other information.
2. Article or Resource Details View
After clicking on a resource/article, the user is taken to a details page where they can read the full article/resource. Below are examples of a resource and a newsroom article details view.
Differences between using a blog/Easy DNN News and standard webpages:
Hundreds of content items share a single page.
Instead of creating a page for each individual resource or article, only 1-2 pages need to be created (a catalog or list page and a details page. You could also list all articles and have them open on the same page). After setting these pages up, a super-user can add new content (new articles, resources, webinars, etc) without needing someone to build a new page and add/configure modules.
Add new content items in a fraction of the time.
Creating a Standard Webpage | Creating a Blog Item |
|---|---|
Add a page & configure settings Add individual content modules Configure modules Add and format your content Add links to your new page from other pages | Paste content into a form that is set up with a readymade template |
Time: 30 min to 4 hours | Time: 15-30 min |
Left: Copy/paste text into these fields and upload an image into the box
Right: Your text and image are automatically formatted to use the correct template, display a responsive image, and have entry portals on the correct pages without additional work.
Share content across multiple pages.
Have a course or resource that is relevant to more than one section of the website? Add your resource, course or article once, and you can show a list of courses on as many pages as you like. If the information changes, you only have to modify it in one place--changes are reflected across all pages.
Below, the same article is displayed on both the homepage and the newsroom (as well as other places). Once this has been set up, all new items added in a given category will show up in the right place without manually adding new links or entry points. Users will see refreshed content immediately after it is published.
Set your content to be published and be archived--ahead of time
If you are publishing time-sensitive material, you can choose the dates you want your item to be published and unpublished when you enter the content.
View all content you publish in one place
Find all the articles or resources you have worked on in a single place. Items you publish are attached to your login/username to make them easier for you to manage later.
Track views and manage articles from one place
Instead of logging into Google Analytics, you can track user visits/views to the content from within the site using the article manager dashboard.
0 Comments