TABLE OF CONTENT
- How to deal with copy-paste
- Structure your content
- 1. Develop your own storytelling using Minotaure widgets
- 2. Use structural content elements
- Forms management
How to deal with copy-paste
It is quite common to copy and paste existing content into your new website (managed by WordPress and Minotaure). It is also frequent that this simple copy/paste operation brings a whole series of layout dysfunctions.
The main reason is that we usually do not copy only plain text, but the text AND its typographical enrichment.
The most obvious case is a copy/paste made from a content editor software such as Microsoft Word. The simple copy (Ctrl+C) of the text will also copy all information about the font used, its size, the spacing, the colors, etc. However, all these elements are useless in the environment in which you want to paste (Ctrl+V) the content. Indeed, typography, interlining, element styles, structural styles (titles, subtitles...), color, etc., are already managed by the stylesheet (CSS) of your website. This is even the guarantee of your visual identity and a coherent visual environment.
It is therefore always important to avoid importing more than plain text content.
Tip for editing
The first solution is of course to write your content directly into the widgets. This way, you'll you'll create or adapt your content according to the specific context.
How to avoid problems with 'paste'?
If you really have to paste a text in the Minotaure content editor, then prefer use an external tool which is not able to paste the layout. This can be, for instance, a plain text editor (NotePad on Windows, TextEdit on Mac) or an HTML code editor (Atome, SublimeText,...).
Some softwares allow you to make a "special" paste that will automatically delete the tags - this is the case with TextEdit on Mac: Paste and adapt the style.
Structure your content
The principle of Minotaure is to take maximum advantage of the great flexibility given to editors to create content that is attractive, clear and pleasant to read. A major challenge is to allow your users to quickly "scan" the pages to understand their structure and essential elements in a minimum of time.
Please consider these two ways to achieve this.
1. Develop your own storytelling using Minotaure widgets
If you have had the opportunity to take part to one of the Spade (opens new window) workshops, you are probably already familiar with the Minotaure wooden cards.
Note that these participative workshops are very easy to reorganize in your company according to the contents needed.
Minotaure wooden cards used during workshops
To develop your storytelling, you'll need to take into account some rules in order to remain consistent.
- Create viewing habits within your pages, that is, have some recurrent elements that form a 'familiar universe' in which you users won't be lost. Always start your page with a Hero widget for example to help your users understand how to navigate on your site. End with a contact form or consider contents that allow your users "bounce" to other pages. The repetition of some elements (can be modules, layout or style), is a way to highlight what you consider essential and the expected actions. This way, you'll be able to better and faster answer your users expectations.
- Find the tone of voice of your website. Are you more familiar, pedagogical or rather official? Do you identify yourself with as 'us', or under the name of your company? Once you have your tone of voice, stay focused on it throughout the writing of your content. Another option is to develop a tone of voice based on the typology of your target audience: think about who are your personas (note that Spade can help you to define them).
- In any case, keep in mind that all your visitors won't be experts in your field! Explain the terms, write short sentences,... vulgarize!
- Do the same for your illustrations. It belongs to the tone of voice. If you use drawings, use the same illustrator throughout your website. For photos, use framing, subjects, filters (black&white, sepia...) in a unified way.
- Find the right widget for the right content! This may sound easy said like this 😃 We all know that in practice, the contents are longer and more complex than in previously validated mock-ups... that's precisely the point! Synthesize, your readers will be grateful. Think about adapting the content to the widget. If it really doesn't fit, then change the widget. Considering the number of available modules, you'll for sure find the right one.
- Think Mobile First! don't forget that a big (big) amount of your users will read your content on a smartphone.
2. Use structural content elements
- First: be brief! We are online, not in a university library. Here, users are used to get everything they ask quickly, and without efforts. Therefore, make it easier for them. You are lacking inspiration? Try to put yourself in their shoes - what would you look for on your website? What would you like to see / read / find at first?
- Structure your content with headings. You generally have 3 to 6 levels of titles within your website. Use them, users will scan your content more easily and quickly.
- Use short labels. A button shall not contain more than 3 words. It has to call for only one action, which has to be clearly understandable and unambiguous. When you are on a smartphone, a too long button may leave the viewport (= the visible zone of the page on the screen).
- Typographic enrichments make reading easier. A word in bold, in italic, a bulleted or numbered list, etc., are enhancements that will help the user to find his marks from page to page. Do not forget however that some layout elements are already included in your website stylesheet. Headers, quotations, paragraphs alignment, etc., are already managed. The style sheet assures you a global aesthetic and harmonization, so do not add useless bold, italic or else.
Forms management
Minotaure is delivered with a plugin called Gravity Form (opens new window) which allows you to manage most of the forms you will host on your website.
The editor of this great tool has its own User Guide that we recommend to read before starting working on your forms. You'll learn how to better manage them online.
The mentioned guide is to be read here:
https://docs.gravityforms.com/category/user-guides/ (opens new window)