Preplanning the relationships of custom post types, taxonomies and custom fields using Information Architecture and Content Architecture best practices. This ensures your WordPress content structure is organized effectively by taking the time to conduct analysis and planning, before implementation.

1. Triple Crown of
Custom Content
Information Architecture Strategy Session
by Gloria Antonelli
WordCamp Chicago 2014

2. Triple Crown of Custom Content
creating content structure with
Custom Post Types
Custom Taxonomies
& Custom Fields
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI

3. !
about me
artist
trainer
designer
consultant
ux designer
web strategist
wordpress developer
& scuba diver!
!
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI
RB

4. !
stuff i know
html
css
php
wordpress
web standards
front end design
user experience
usability testing
content architecture
information architecture
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI
RB

5. Beyond Posts & Pages
What: analyze, organize & preplan
! ! ! ! Custom Post Types (CPT)
! ! ! ! Custom Taxonomies
! ! ! ! & Custom Fields!
How: Information Architecture
! ! & Content Architecture skills.!
Why: Supports UX, Business !Goals, !!
! Authoring UI & Content Portability.
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI
Agenda

6. Standard WordPress Posts or
Pages may not be sufficient for
different types of content.
Each content type can be
separated into its own
section instead of mixing
in with posts or pages.
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI

7. Build-in vs. Custom
Pages, Posts, Categories & Tags are
build-in content structures. !
Custom Post Types, Taxonomies &
Custom Fields - you build & extend
the content structure.
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli Triple Crown of Custom Content #WCCHI

8. Custom Post Types
Create your own
content containers.
Look for content that works better
when separated from pages or posts.
Options - books, movies, reviews,
products, recipes, menus, venues,
reports, artists, events, authors …
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI
Triple Crown of Custom Content
Presenters 2014
is a Custom Post
Type (CPT)

9. Triple Crown of Custom Content
Custom Taxonomies
A taxonomy is a way
of organizing and
relating content.
They classify and group
like categories and tags.
Presenters 2014
(CPT) relates to
Sessions 2014
(Custom Taxonomy)

10. Triple Crown of Custom Content
Custom Fields
Meta-data is handled
with key/value pairs.
Key Name: WP Book Value: Professional WordPress

11. Why Structure Content?
Avoid long WYSIWYG - formatted pages. !
Create content modularity and portability.!
Content parts are disassembled & reassembled.!
Adapt to contexts, platforms devices & channels.!
Improve content production & guided authoring UI.!
Accommodate content with different requirements.

12. Step 1 Project (New or Redesign)!
Step 2 Assessment & Audit!
Step 3 Brainstorm & Collaboration!
Step 4 Create Content Model
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI
Process
Triple Crown of Custom Content

13. Use
Information Architecture"
for the big picture
!
Content Architecture"
for granular view
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli Triple Crown of Custom Content #WCCHI

14. Designing a System
• build smart components!
• labels are important!
• create relationships !
• capture attributes & methods!
• aim for consistency
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI

15. Content Discovery"
Museum of Contemporary Arts
Audit Curent Content

16. Start Broad
Custom Post Types
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI

17. Diagrams
Broad View
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI
Custom Post Types connect
with Custom Taxonomies.

18. Look for"
Content
Chunks
Hero Image
Body
Title
Date
Art Info
Extra
Talk
Sponsorship
Museum Exhibit Page

19. Detailed content model breaks down"
each content type into its components."

20. Content Elements
for exhibit page
• title of exhibition!
• date of exhibition!
• large image !
• body content about artist!
• booklet download!
• related events!
• funding
• image details!
• artist name!
• title!
• art creation year!
• medium!
• size!
• details!
• related events!

21. Look for Relationships
Exhibit Page
Talks Listing Page

22. MCA Talk Pages
1
2

23. What could be a…
custom post type?"
custom taxonomy?"
custom field?
How does the content
relate to each other?
!
Identify shared elements.
3
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI

24. Collaboration
User Experience Strategist
Information Architect
Content Strategist/Architect
Designer
Developer
Project Manager
Stakeholder
Content Creator
Subject Matter Expert
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI
*Collaborators may have more then one skill.
Your team can be large or small.

25. Content Modeling
The art of designing
structured content.
A detailed description of each content
types, attributes and relationships.!
!
Mines, Defines & Refines
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI

26. Why Content Modeling
• clarifies requirements!
• creates better organization!
• assigns content types & elements!
• communicates tasks to dev!
• roadmap for custom templates

27. Brainstorm Activities
• write out key stakeholders goals!
• target audience goals (personas)!
• compile important content areas!
• organize, group & label content areas!
• sort sticky notes with similar subjects

28. Sticky Notes Strategy
Prioritize sticky notes with dots.

29. Lots of Sticky Notes

30. Card Sorting
Another way to sort and organize.
https://flic.kr/p/esq9T

31. Author Experience
• supports author creation & management!
• author-oriented input considerations!
• build authoring interface for content elements!
• reduces time to create content!
• author is guided through the content input

32. Authoring Interface "
CPT - Artist | Taxonomies - Art Forms, Curricular Themes, Ethnicity, Locations"
complements of @jamieschmid

33. Artist Page continues | Advanced Custom Fields Plugin
Subpages - Residencies tab
complements of @jamieschmid

34. Artist Page continues | Advanced Custom Fields Plugin
Subpages - Stories for Students Tab
complements of @jamieschmid

35. Success is a mix of business
objectives, content strategy &
crafting a user experience.!
Its iterative!
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI

36. Color Purple in memory of
Rebecca Alison Meyer!
#663399Becca
“little spark”
My slides are purple for Rebecca. Becca is Eric
Meyer’s daughter who lost her year long battle
with cancer on her 6th birthday. June 7, 2014.
Purple was her favorite color.
Eric Meyer has lead the way for web standards
for over 20 years. The international web
community showed support for Eric and his
family by tweeting #663399Becca on June 12.
!
Hope Becca’s spirit lends a “spark”
to all of the web community. Lets
continue to make the web better!

37. Join the
Wo rd P re s s G l o b a l
Community
Online
Meetups
WordCamps
make.WordPress.org

38. !
thank you!
Gloria
Antonelli
!
@GloriaAntonelli
google +
linkedin
facebook
!
UX Designer
Web Strategist
WordPress Developer
Consultant & Trainer gloria@gloriaantonelli.com
WordCamp Chicago 2014
@GloriaAntonelli #WCCHI
RB