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Web Platforms and Documentation

Writing a Utility Page

Help Your Users Complete Tasks

Utility pages are meant for sharing practical information and helping users perform specific tasks. Keep it simple — avoid fluff and frills that could slow users down from reaching their goals.

Characteristics of a utility page:

  • Helps users perform a task
  • Addresses specific needs
  • Linear, skimmable
  • Helpful, practical
  • Focused content
  • Typically a discrete task
  • If successful, ends the session

If you’re looking for something more wide-ranging and designed, try out a marketing page. Marketing pages use persuasive language, varied content and bold imagery to help users explore and learn about a topic.

Organizing Your Page’s Content

When it comes to organizing a page’s content, “chunking” — or breaking up content into small, distinct units of information — is a good place to start. Create meaningful, visually distinct units of content that make sense in the context of the whole page. By focusing on one portion of information at a time, you help your users to better scan, understand and retain the information you’re sharing.

What’s more, take some time to prioritize your calls to action and elevate the most important links. Think: What are users visiting your utility page page to do? Use labels that are clear, concise and easy to understand. The Icon Links block below works well for highlighting a few prominent links.

Utility Link 1

When you’re visiting a website to complete a specific task, you want things to be as simple as possible.

Utility Link 2

Ask questions and use analytics to learn your users’ key goals, then elevate the content that will help.

Utility Link 3

Trust us, a motivated user will invest in reading content they know will help them reach their goals …

Utility Link 4

… But simplifying things for your users improves their experience — and reduces inquiries for you.

The Text Links block below is better suited for secondary links.

Display Your Content Wisely

Depending on the content you’re sharing, a Paragraph block isn’t always the best way to communicate complex information. Consider using a List block or a Table block instead to improve readability.

SemesterTotal Enrollment
Fall 201936,762
Fall 202036,472
Fall 202137,556
Fall 202237,873

Show (and hide) complex or detailed content in collapsible panels.

Accordions can be used for frequently asked questions, course descriptions and more.