Pages vs Posts: Understanding Content Types in the NC State Theme

WordPress Pages: The Foundation of Your Site

Pages are the building blocks of your website’s permanent structure. Think of them as the “rooms” in your digital house that visitors will navigate to find specific types of information.

Characteristics of Pages:

• Static content that doesn’t change frequently
• Hierarchical structure – pages can have parent-child relationships
• Timeless information not tied to a specific date
• Not categorized or tagged in the traditional sense
• Appear in your site’s main navigation menus

When to Use Pages:

• About Us information
• Contact details
• Services or program overviews
• Landing pages for marketing campaigns
• Policy documents
• Course syllabi or program requirements
• Any content that serves as a permanent reference

Page Header Options in NC State Theme:

The NC State Theme provides three distinct header types for pages:

1. Default Header – Most commonly used for standard subpages
2. Split Header – Ideal for landing pages and top-level content
3. Floating Box Header – Great for marketing-focused pages

The available header options may vary depending on your page’s purpose and position in your site hierarchy.

WordPress Posts: Dynamic, Time-Based Content

Posts represent your site’s dynamic content stream. They’re designed for information that’s tied to a specific time or that you want to organize chronologically.

Characteristics of Posts:

• Time-sensitive content with publication dates
• Categorized and tagged for organization
• Appear in chronological order (newest first)
• Designed for sharing on social media
• Can be filtered and searched more easily

When to Use Posts:

• News announcements
• Event coverage
• Blog articles
• Research updates
• Press releases
• Stories about people or achievements
• Any content with a specific publication timeline

Posts and the Newswire:

For optimal integration with NC State’s Newswire system, posts should use .jpeg/.jpg format images. This ensures better compatibility when content is syndicated across university communications channels.

NC State Theme: Custom Post Types

Beyond standard Pages and Posts, the NC State Theme introduces several specialized custom post types that combine the best features of both while serving specific institutional needs:

Academic Programs

• Purpose: Create filterable, searchable program listings
• Features: Pre-configured landing page format, automatic advertising landing pages
• Use case: Graduate programs, undergraduate majors, certificate programs
• Unique benefit: Automatically generated advertising landing pages (append ?masthead=false to hide the site’s menu and masthead for paid campaigns)

Resources

• Purpose: Create filterable databases of any type of resource
• Features: Highly flexible, renameable to match your content
• Use case: Tools, documents, classroom listings, equipment databases
• Unique benefit: Can be renamed to anything that fits your needs (e.g., “Blocks,” “Tools,” “Facilities”)

Non-Credit Programs

• Purpose: Showcase workshops, camps, and non-degree offerings
• Features: Automatic program page generation, date-based filtering
• Use case: Summer camps, professional workshops, continuing education
• Unique benefit: Programs automatically hide after their end date

Courses

• Purpose: Create searchable course catalogs
• Features: Filter by semester, department, and other criteria
• Use case: Course listings, academic catalogs
• Future enhancement: Automatic population from university systems

Making the Right Choice

Choose a Page when:

• Content will remain relevant for months or years
• Information serves as a reference or resource
• You need hierarchical organization
• Content supports your site’s primary navigation structure

Choose a Post when:

• Content is tied to a specific date or event
• You want to categorize and tag content
• Information is time-sensitive or newsworthy
• Content will be shared on social media

Choose a Custom Post Type when:

• You need filterable, searchable databases
• Content requires specialized formatting or fields
• You want consistent presentation across similar items
• Standard pages or posts don’t meet your organizational needs

Content Organization Best Practices

For Pages:

• Create a logical hierarchy that supports user navigation
• Use descriptive, SEO-friendly titles
• Include comprehensive meta descriptions for search engines
• Consider your audience’s journey through your site

For Posts:

• Use consistent categories and tags
• Include compelling featured images (preferably .jpeg format)
• Write engaging meta descriptions for social sharing
• Consider how content will appear in feeds and archives

For All Content Types:

• Visibility settings can be adjusted for any content type (Public, Private, or Password Protected)
• Meta descriptions help with both search engine results and social media sharing
• Featured images improve engagement and visual appeal
• Header selection impacts user experience and conversion goals

Conclusion

Understanding when to use Pages versus Posts—and when to leverage the NC State Theme’s custom post types—is crucial for creating an effective, well-organized website. Pages provide the structural foundation, Posts deliver timely content, and custom post types offer specialized solutions for academic institutions.

Remember: the choice between content types isn’t just about organization—it affects how users discover, navigate, and interact with your content. Choose the type that best serves both your content strategy and your users’ needs.

For technical questions about implementing these content types, contact the University Communications team.