Descriptions Posts
Intermediate Training Module 1: Content Types
Description posts are used to present information in a question-and-answer format. They are commonly used to create:
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Accordion-style content sections
- Policies and procedures
- Common support questions
- Expandable information panels
In previous versions of Carleton’s web platforms, similar functionality may have been called FAQs, Accordions, or Slidemes.
One of the main benefits of Description posts is that they can be categorized and reused throughout your website. For example, a collection of FAQ items can be displayed together on multiple pages using listing blocks.
When to Use Description Posts
Description posts are ideal when you have information that can be broken into separate questions and answers.
Examples include:
Frequently Asked Questions
- Question: How do I request website access?
- Answer: Submit an access request through the Web Services support process.
Policies and Procedures
- Question: What file formats can I upload?
- Answer: PDF, Word documents, images, and other approved file types.
Service Information
- Question: Who can use this service?
- Answer: The service is available to faculty, staff, and students.
Creating each item as a separate Description post makes it easier to organize and display information consistently across your website.
Creating a Description Post
To create a Description post:
- From the Dashboard, select Descriptions > Add New.
- Enter a title for the Description.
In many cases, the title will be the question being asked. For example:
How do I request website access?
Then add the content of your Description. The content area can contain:
- Paragraphs
- Headings
- Lists
- Buttons
- Links
- Other supported blocks
For an FAQ, this content typically serves as the answer.
Organizing Descriptions with Categories
Descriptions can optionally be organized using categories.
Categories allow you to group similar content together.
Examples:
- Admissions
- Website Support
- Events
- Accessibility
Using categories makes it easier to create filtered listings and display related descriptions together.
Displaying Descriptions on a Page
Description posts are typically displayed using a listing block.
This allows multiple Description posts to be presented together as:
- FAQ sections
- Accordions
- Help centres
- Support resources
You’ll learn more about creating listings in Module 3: Listings & Cards.
Adding Descriptions Directly to a Page
In some situations, you may only need descriptions on a single page.
Instead of creating individual Description posts, you can create accordion-style content directly within a page using custom description blocks.
This approach is useful when the content:
- Will only appear on one page
- Does not need to be reused elsewhere
- Does not require categorization
For more information, refer to the lesson on custom descriptions and custom listings.
Best Practices
Keep Questions Clear
Use titles that reflect the exact question being answered.
Good Example:
- How do I request website access?
Less Helpful Example:
- Access Information
Keep Answers Focused
- Each Description should answer a single question or topic.
- Avoid combining multiple questions into a single Description.
Use Categories Consistently
- Consistent categorization makes it easier to build FAQ pages and filtered listings later.
Avoid Duplicating Content
- If the same information appears in several places, consider creating a single Description post and displaying it using listings.
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Hello, and Welcome to cutheme advanced training, Module 1. In this video, we will be covering Descriptions.
Descriptions are a special type of post that let you create content in question-and-answer format.
You can categorize descriptions, and list them on pages via the description listing block.
To add a descriptions post, go to the left sidebar, hover over Descriptions, and click Add new. You will be redirected to your new description, where you will be able to edit it.
The interface for a description is very similar to creating a new page or post, but descriptions only have simple text blocks. You can add a title, generally in question format, at the top, and below you can write the answer to the question. You can also add lists and buttons if necessary.
Once finished, you can add a category to your description, allowing it to be easily grouped with similar ones.
Try it Out!
Practice creating a Description post.
- Create a new Description.
- Use a question as the title.
- Add an answer in the content area.
- Assign a category.
- Create two or three additional Description posts on a similar topic.
- Continue to the Listings & Cards module to learn how to display them on a page.