{"id":3368,"date":"2023-11-06T15:38:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-06T20:38:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/university-communications.ncsu.edu\/documentation\/?page_id=3368"},"modified":"2025-05-07T12:07:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T16:07:04","slug":"enhance-your-site","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/university-communications.ncsu.edu\/documentation\/enhance-your-site\/","title":{"rendered":"Enhance Your Site"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n

Our Best Practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Effective communication goes beyond just the words on a page. It also includes how you lay out and design your content. People have limited attention when browsing the web, and the difference between a good site and a bad site can mean losing a valued user.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NC State Web Platform offers a wide variety of blocks designed to make your content as eye-catching, digestible and unique as possible. Below, you’ll find some basic principles to level-up a webpage\u2019s look and feel <\/strong>\u2014 and motivate your users to keep exploring your website.<\/p>\n\n\n

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A webpage that uses a limited selection of blocks can feel dull. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Choose a diverse collection of blocks to add visual interest.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

1. Show Hierarchy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Using a variety of fields of color, different typefaces and heading sizes helps orient a reader through a page. When you want to emphasize an idea, link or action your user will care about, pick a block that stands out to guide them there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Another important tip: Different headings sizes aren’t just there for decoration. Use heading levels correctly<\/a> so search engines and screen readers can understand your content.)<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n Undergraduate Admissions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n
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Help guide your users’ eyes to important calls to action.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Break Things Up<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We can help users quickly understand our content by \u201cchunking<\/a>\u201d it into logical sections. Visual ways to break up content using blocks of color and full-width elements can help make the pacing of a page feel natural and intriguing.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n Wilson College of Textiles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n
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Full-width blocks break your content into sections, and splashes of color improve pacing.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Keep the Eye Moving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are many blocks that can be used to alternate the alignment of content. When put together, these create a visually interesting layout that engages the viewer. Adding floating elements can also help to break things up and guide the user\u2019s eye down the page<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n Undergraduate Admissions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n
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Play with different widths and alignments to keep your layout engaging.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Balance Copy and Visuals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The user\u2019s eye still needs a break. When everything is emphasized, nothing is emphasized. As tempting as it may be to minimize copy and use blocks to enhance visuals, the content must still be key. Likewise, emphasizing all text in the same way is overwhelming.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n \n Academic and Student Affairs<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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A healthy mix of copy and visuals is key for a well-balanced webpage.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n
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Visit the Inspiration Gallery<\/p>\n \n

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\n \n Explore sites across the university<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n
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More Topics<\/h2>\n <\/div>\n
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Content Strategy<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

If you want to build a well-structured website that your users enjoy navigating, the first step is creating a strong content strategy. Browse tools and tips to make your own plan.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n \n

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Content Auditing<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

After launching your site, it\u2019s vital to set aside time periodically to review its content. Learn more about scheduling and tracking audits of your webpages to ensure they’re up to date.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n \n

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Writing a Marketing Page<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Marketing pages help users explore and learn about a topic using persuasive language, varied content and bold imagery.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n\n\n\n \n \n

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Writing a Utility Page<\/h3>\n \n\n \n\t \t

Utility pages are meant for sharing practical information and helping users perform specific tasks.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n\t \t \n <\/div>\n\n <\/a>\n<\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our Best Practices Effective communication goes beyond just the words on a page. It also includes how you lay out and design your content. People have limited attention when browsing the web, and the difference between a good site and a bad site can mean losing a valued user. The NC State Web Platform offers…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ncst_custom_author":"","ncst_show_custom_author":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/floating-box-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{\"pageIntro\":\"Your site has officially launched \u2014 now what? Use these helpful tips and principles to continue evolving and making the most of your NC State web properties.\",\"backgroundColor\":\"custombg_four\",\"boxPosition\":\"left\",\"ctaNum\":\"one\",\"useCTA\":false,\"focalPoint\":{\"x\":0.67,\"y\":0.41},\"imageURL\":\"https:\/\/university-communications.ncsu.edu\/documentation\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/21\/2023\/11\/MAH038612-scaled.jpg\",\"imageID\":3552,\"imageAlt\":\"Student using computer in Talley\"}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"","ncst_content_audit_display":false,"ncst_backToTopFlag":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-3368","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/university-communications.ncsu.edu\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3368","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/university-communications.ncsu.edu\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/university-communications.ncsu.edu\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/university-communications.ncsu.edu\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/university-communications.ncsu.edu\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3368"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/university-communications.ncsu.edu\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3368\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38632,"href":"https:\/\/university-communications.ncsu.edu\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3368\/revisions\/38632"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/university-communications.ncsu.edu\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3368"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}