A content type is a reusable container for content. Content types have a common structure and purpose. They support site architecture and make content presentation consistent. This helps people find what they need.
Choose a content type based on the purpose of your content and the structure you need to help your audience achieve their goals.
There are 10 page-based content types on the DX platform. This guide covers best practices and highlights for each of them.
Basic page
Use for:
- General information about a specific topic
- Supporting information linked from landing pages
- About pages
Use the basic page content type for text information. You can style text bold and italic, and create headers, lists, and tables. You can also embed images and add microcontent components like promos, lists, and link collections.
Highlights
- ✅ Featured image
- ✅ Embed microcontent components
- ✅ Create listing pages
- ✅ Organize and categorize with taxonomy
Learn more about working with Basic page content type.
Contact
Use for
- Email or phone number needed to complete a task
- Primary contact for an [event] or [location]
Use the contact content type to provide contact information for a person or a role at your agency. A contact can be a specific person, with a first and last name, or a role, like Help Desk. Embed a contact in another content type, like a basic page, to provide easy access to contact information for a topic or service. Using taxonomy, you can organize contacts into categories.
Highlights
- ✅ Embed in other content types
- ✅ Create listing pages
- ✅ Organize and categorize with taxonomy
- ❌ Embed microcontent components
- ❌ Featured image
Learn more about working with Contact content type.
Event
Use for:
- Regular meetings
- Speakers
- Celebrations or gatherings for the public
Use event content type for meetings and other events with a scheduled date and time. Events can be in person or online, and allow you to link to a page where people can register. Create lists of events using the listing page content type or the automatic list microcontent component. Use taxonomy to create event series and to organize and list events by type.
Highlights
- ✅ Featured image
- ✅ Create listing pages
- ✅ Organize and categorize with taxonomy
- ❌ Embed microcontent components
Learn more about working with Event content type.
FAQ List
FAQ stands for frequently asked questions.
Use for:
- Answering common questions about a topic
- Grouping content for different audiences on the same page
Use the FAQ list content type to display a list of questions and answers. Each entry on the list has one question and one answer. You can create an unlimited number of questions and answers. Website visitors see question-answer sets displayed in an accordion, with all answers collapsed. They can expand the questions they're interested in.
Highlights
- ✅ Featured image
- ❌ Create listing pages
- ❌ Embed microcontent components
Learn more about working with FAQ List content type.
How Do I?
Use for:
- Tasks that a user needs to complete
- Tasks that require steps to be completed in order
Use the How Do I content type to help a user complete a task with a series of steps or actions. A task can have as many steps as needed. You can display the steps as a numbered or bulleted list. The title of this content type always begins with the phrase How Do I and ends with a question mark, for example, How Do I Apply for SNAP? Use basic pages for general information, and link to How Do I pages for specific tasks and instructions.
Highlights
- ✅ Featured image
- ✅ Create listing pages
- ❌ Embed microcontent components
Learn more about working with How Do I content type.
Landing Page
Use for:
- Site homepage
- Topical navigation pages
Use the landing page content type to create a hub of related content with a custom layout. Landing pages give an overview of a site section, grouping and prioritizing content. Often links in your site's primary navigation will be landing pages.
Landing pages should:
- Show what that site section offers.
- Group content in sections to help visitors achieve their goals.
- Provide clear links to next steps.
Highlights
- ✅ Hero image
- ✅ Embed microcontent components
- ✅ Flexible visual layout
- ❌ Create listing pages
Learn more about working with Landing pages.
Listing page
Use for:
- Recent news or press
- Upcoming events
- Public locations
- Documents
Use the listing page content type to create automated lists of content. You can create lists based on criteria like content type and topic. For example, a list of all public agency office locations, or a list of documents about a topic. Lists are updated automatically as you add or remove content. Site visitors can search and filter lists you create.
Learn more about working with Listing page content type.
Location
Use for:
- Places the public can go to access services
Use the location content type to provide information about a place that the public can visit. You can include hours of operation, areas served, contact information, and other details.
Don't create location content for places that are not open to the public.
Highlights
- ✅ Featured image
- ✅ Create listing pages
- ❌ Embed microcontent components
Learn more about working with Location content type.
News
Use for:
- Announcements
- Press releases
- Urgent news
Use the news content type to create timely, interesting, and noteworthy content. Collect news content on a listing page so site visitors can browse by date.
Highlights
- ✅ Featured image
- ✅ Lists
- ❌ Embed microcontent components
Learn more about working with News content type.