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5 Tips for Creating WordPress Posts

Posts on the MLML website are meant to be a brief, but intriguing introduction to an event or article affiliated with the labs. It is important that they look nice and give enough information that someone reading can understand the article or event without clicking on further links.

1. Include Pictures and Make Them Interactive

Always include at least one picture when creating a post (the more the better). Make your photos interactive when possible. At the very least, enable Lightbox for the photos you include in your post. Give photos descriptive captions. Templates on different ways to display captions are available under the Media Information section of the WordPress Resources website. You can also have your photo link to another website by assigning it a Destination URL.

When posting a photo always ensure you have permission to use the photo and give credit as best you can. Click here to learn more about MLML's image use guidelines.

2. Format Text for a Clean Appearance

Something as simple as setting a paragraph of text to align center (ctrl+alt+c) or justify (ctrl+alt+j) can greatly improve the aesthetics of your post.

Example:

Default alignment (align left):

Screen-Shot-2019-08-06-at-10.32.16-AM.png

Text Justified:

Screen-Shot-2019-08-06-at-10.35.17-AM.png

3. Incorporate Quotes

When creating a post about an article, include relevant quotes directly from the article using blockquote in WordPress.

Blockquote is dictated by an open quotation mark in the WordPress Toolbar.

Screen-Shot-2019-08-06-at-10.38.25-AM.png

Blockquote makes quotes stand out from the body of the text. For example:

Screen-Shot-2019-08-06-at-10.38.58-AM.png

This is especially important if a link directs you to an outside website. It allows the viewer to easily navigate back to MLML's website.

Screen-Shot-2019-08-06-at-10.45.59-AM.png

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5. Use a Previous Post as a Template

When in doubt, finding a post that you think looks nice and copying it as a template is a simple way to create a great post. There are also a host of templates on the WordPress Website.

If you want further help creating a post, feel free to drop by the IT Help Desk in the main office or submit an iTicket.

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