# Content Guidelines for Posts on MLML Website
**Goal****:** To outline desired content and format of different types of posts
**Target Audience****:** Front Desk, Social Media, IT, WAG
**Review:** No formal review of posts → please proofread carefully
##### Types of posts covered:
- **Press coverage**
- Posted by Front Desk or Social Media
- **Events**
- Posted by Front Desk
- **Public seminars**
- Posted by Front Desk or HelpDesk
- **Defense seminars**
- Posted by Front Desk
---
### Content Guidelines
- Use an existing post or a post template from the [WordPress Resources webpage](https://mlml.sjsu.edu/wordpress-resources/)
- To learn how to use an existing post or template follow these [instructions](https://mlml.sjsu.edu/wordpress-resources/how-to-use-page-templates/)
- Writing for the general public, not MLML community
- [5 Tips for Creating Posts](https://kb.mlml.sjsu.edu/books/wordpress/page/5-tips-for-creating-posts)
##### **All posts must follow these guidelines:**
- Have a **minimum of one photo** (make sure you have permission)
- If a photo is not provided use:
- A photo of the speaker or MLML personnel involved
- A picture of the journal the article is published in
- Relevant embedded video is encouraged
- **Set a "featured image"**
- **Add links** where possible
- Hyperlink all MLML personnel to their pages on the website
- If you mention a lab, hyperlink to that lab
- Hyperlink to original article if appropriate
- **Add tags**: faculty names, subject matter, MLML lab, etc.
- **Change the url ending** (default is title of post with dashes)
- E.g. for a seminar speaker, you can change the url to be firstname-lastname-seminar
#####
##### **Additional guidelines based off type of Post:**
##### Press/Achievement posts:
- - **Catchy title** relevant to article or achievement
- Good → MLML professor creates only land based seaweed business in the USA
- Bad → MLML’s new aquaculture facility in The Californian
- **Catchy one-line description** that can be on front page with links to key player and/or article
- **Summary of article** (150-250 words)
- Provide some details about the article or achievement
- Provide information so the general public can understand even if they do not click on the article link
- Include links to labs and faculty involved
- Properly cite source material
**Example:**
[](https://kb.mlml.sjsu.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2019-04-Apr/Screen-Shot-2019-04-05-at-9.50.38-AM.png)
##### Event Posts:
- - Title should be in the following format:
- **"Title of Talk/Event - Month DD, YYYY"**
- Add post to **"Upcoming Events" category**
- After the event, change the category to **"Events"**
**Example:**
[](https://kb.mlml.sjsu.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2019-07-Jul/Screen-Shot-2019-07-02-at-9.26.50-AM.png)
##### Seminar Posts:
- - The Visiting Scientist collects information about the speakers and adds them to a[ google sheet schedule](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1HwMlhqYhIUlaQ2SB1xtFVF6qbUrr1xKKJaaFmtRInDc/edit?usp=sharing) and a[ google drive folder](https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B6TtNqjDg-8LdjlneGMycGZzYzA?usp=sharing)
- Use previous Seminar posts as a template
- Content to include
- **Talk title** is title of post: "Title of Talk - Month DD"
- **At the top of each page include:**
- Presenter name, position title, university or institution affiliation
- Moss Landing Marine Labs Seminar Series - Month DD, YYYY
- Hosted by the xxx Lab (link this to the lab's webpage)
- MLML Seminar Room, 4pm
- (or Watch it Live [here](https://mlml.sjsu.edu/mlml-live-stream/)!) <- only if they agree to be publicly streamed
- Open to the public
- ~*More info coming soon!~* (until you receive the abstract and more info)
- **Brief talk abstract** (~100-200 words)
- **Link to speakers website**
- **DO NOT include post date** (confusing with two dates)
- Put post in **"Upcoming Seminars" category**
- After seminar, change the category to **"Seminars"**
- Create the last seminar's post first - this way they display in chronological order
**Example:**
[](https://kb.mlml.sjsu.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2019-04-Apr/Screen-Shot-2019-04-05-at-9.54.58-AM.png)
##### Thesis Defense posts:
- - Front desk will request talk title, abstract, and photos 2-3 weeks before a thesis defense
- Content to include:
- **Post title**: "Thesis Defense by \[NAME\] - Month DD"
- **At the top of each page include:**
- Talk title
- Presenter name
- Lab affiliation (link to lab's webpage)
- Date and Time
- MLML Seminar Room
- (or Watch it Live [here](https://mlml.sjsu.edu/mlml-live-stream/)!) <- only if they agree to be publicly streamed
- ~*More info coming soon!~* (until you receive the abstract and more info)
- **Brief talk abstract** (~100-200 words)
- **DO NOT include post date** (confusing with 2 dates)
- Put post in **"Upcoming Thesis Defenses" category**
- After defense, add to **"Thesis Defenses" category**
- Note: having a website post is not a requirement; the students are busy and likely stressed about the talk, so don’t bombard them with emails to send info.
**Example:**
[](https://kb.mlml.sjsu.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2019-04-Apr/Screen-Shot-2019-04-05-at-9.58.07-AM.png)