January 2025 Web Updates

On January 28, our team came together to discuss some exciting developments that many of you may have wondered about. Whether you’re a longtime follower or new to our day-to-day operations, here’s a behind-the-scenes look at what’s been happening and what’s coming next.

Raising the Bar on Testing

Quality is our top priority, and our latest meeting emphasized extensive testing improvements. We’re expanding our visual regression test coverage to include more post types and different block configurations. In simple terms, this means we’re making sure that every visual element on our platform looks and works perfectly, even as things change. Additionally, we’re introducing a testing rubric and manual testing guidelines to ensure every launch meets our high standards. This structured approach will help us catch issues early and keep your experience smooth.

Spotlight on the Fancy Paragraph Block

A big part of our conversation centered on the Fancy Paragraph block. If you’re not familiar, this block is a flexible content tool that makes it easier to create rich, engaging content on our platform. We’re gearing up for a major awareness push around it, including:

• New Functionality: In version 4.10, the Floated Fact and Float Spotlight Box blocks will seamlessly migrate into the Fancy Paragraph block as part of our design system refinements.
• Awareness Campaign: Look out for a large-scale campaign—featuring detailed documentation, a newsletter, and spring workshops—designed to highlight the benefits and new features of Fancy Paragraph. This initiative is in direct response to the feature requests we’ve received, aiming to make your content creation experience even better.

Enhancements to Our Brand Site

Our brand site is also getting some exciting upgrades. You might have already seen some of these updates:

• Customizable Compact Masthead: Now, the “Info For” label is easily changeable, offering more flexibility in presenting information.
• Asset Download Block: Managing downloadable branded assets is about to become a breeze with a new, streamlined block.
• Custom-Coded Static Solutions: We’re working on tailor-made solutions for specific content types, such as displaying color palettes and typography options. These improvements will ensure that our brand assets are not only attractive but also easily accessible and manageable.

Sneak Peek at v4.8 Release

We’re thrilled to announce that version 4.8 is just around the corner. Here are some highlights:

• Table of Contents Functionality: Enhances navigation and organization, making it easier for your readers to explore content.
• Multiple Authors Support: You can now showcase the collaborative efforts of your team by listing multiple authors on a single news post.

Looking Ahead to Future Releases

Our planning doesn’t stop at the current release. We’re already looking at future enhancements:

• SEO Improvements: We’re updating the Accordion block to boost search performance, ensuring your content gets the visibility it deserves.
• Last Modified Date: Soon, you’ll be able to set the last modified date on posts. This feature is designed to help capture long-tail search traffic, ensuring that even older content can continue to attract attention.

Fresh Ideas from Our December Brainstorm

During our in-person brainstorming session in December, a flood of creative ideas emerged. Many of these ideas are set to transform our NC State Theme to align with evolving design conventions. Plus, we’re working on further improvements to our news template functionality, making sure your content always looks its best.

Wrapping Up

We’re excited about these updates and the direction we’re heading. Our team is committed to continuous improvement and innovation, ensuring that every aspect of our platform—from testing and functionality to design and user experience—is top-notch. Stay tuned as we roll out these features and share more updates along the way.

Thanks for reading, and we hope this behind-the-scenes look gives you a better idea of how we’re working to make our platform the best it can be!