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News Items Documentation

Menu Location: Settings > Content & Marketing > News Items

Access Level: Manager and above

Last Updated: 2026-03-01

Overview

The News Items page allows you to create, publish, and manage blog posts, announcements, and news articles for your website. News content helps engage customers, share company updates, promote products, improve SEO, and build brand authority.

Primary Functions:

  • Create and edit blog posts and news articles
  • Publish announcements and company updates
  • Schedule posts for future publication
  • Organize content with categories and tags
  • Feature news on homepage and newsletters
  • Track article views and engagement
  • Improve website SEO with fresh content

Page Layout

Header Section

  • Add New News Item button: Creates new article
  • Search Bar: Find articles by title, content, or author
  • Filter Dropdown: Filter by status, category, date range, or author
  • View Toggle: Grid view (with images) or List view (compact table)

News List Table

Displays all news items with columns:

  • Title (clickable to edit)
  • Featured Image thumbnail
  • Category tags
  • Author name
  • Status (Published, Draft, Scheduled)
  • Publish Date
  • Views count
  • Actions (Edit, Duplicate, Delete, Preview)

Article Editor (when editing)

  • Title and Subtitle fields
  • Content Editor with rich text formatting
  • Featured Image uploader
  • Category & Tags selectors
  • Author assignment
  • Publish Date/Time scheduler
  • SEO Settings (meta title, description, URL slug)
  • Related Articles linker
  • Call-to-Action button settings

Creating News Articles

Basic Article Creation

Quick Start Steps:

  1. Click "Add New News Item" button
  2. Enter compelling article title
  3. Write subtitle/preview text (appears in article cards)
  4. Upload featured image (1200x630px recommended)
  5. Write article content using rich text editor
  6. Select category and add tags
  7. Configure SEO settings
  8. Choose status (Draft, Published, or Scheduled)
  9. Click "Save" or "Publish"

Required Fields:

  • Title (minimum 10 characters)
  • Content (minimum 100 characters)
  • Featured image
  • Category (at least one)
  • Publish date

Writing Effective Titles

Title Best Practices:

  • Keep under 60 characters for SEO
  • Front-load important keywords
  • Create curiosity or promise value
  • Use action words and numbers when appropriate
  • Be specific and descriptive

Good Examples:

  • "5 Ways to Reduce Food Waste in Your Kitchen"
  • "Introducing Our New Organic Meal Prep Service"
  • "Behind the Scenes: A Day on Our Partner Farm"
  • "Customer Spotlight: Sarah's Healthy Eating Journey"

Avoid:

  • Clickbait: "You Won't Believe What Happened Next!"
  • Vague: "Important Update"
  • All caps: "AMAZING NEWS FOR CUSTOMERS"
  • Too long: "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Organic Farming Practices and Sustainable Agriculture"

Article Subtitles

Purpose:

  • Appears below title in article cards and previews
  • Provides context before reader clicks
  • Improves click-through rates
  • Displayed in social media shares

Subtitle Guidelines:

  • 100-150 characters ideal length
  • Expand on title without repeating it
  • Include additional keywords
  • Entice readers to click through

Example:

  • Title: "Meet Our New Farmers"
  • Subtitle: "We're excited to partner with three local family farms bringing heirloom tomatoes, fresh herbs, and pasture-raised eggs to your boxes."

Content Editor

Rich Text Formatting

Available Formatting:

  • Bold and Italic text
  • Headings (H2, H3, H4 for article sections)
  • Bulleted and numbered lists
  • Block quotes for callouts
  • Hyperlinks to internal and external pages
  • Inline images and photo galleries
  • Embedded videos (YouTube, Vimeo)
  • Tables for data presentation
  • Horizontal dividers
  • Code blocks (if needed)

Using Headings:

  • H2 for main sections
  • H3 for subsections
  • H4 for minor points
  • Never use H1 (reserved for article title)
  • Maintain hierarchy (don't skip levels)

Adding Images to Content

Inline Images:

  1. Place cursor where image should appear
  2. Click "Insert Image" button in editor
  3. Upload new image OR select from Media Library
  4. Add caption and alt text
  5. Choose alignment (left, center, right, full-width)
  6. Set image size

Image Guidelines:

  • Break up long text blocks with images
  • Use relevant, high-quality photos
  • Include captions to provide context
  • Optimize file sizes (under 500KB for inline images)
  • Always add descriptive alt text for accessibility

Embedding Videos

Add Video to Article:

  1. Get video URL from YouTube or Vimeo
  2. Click "Embed Video" button in editor
  3. Paste video URL
  4. Video embeds responsively
  5. Add caption below video if needed

Video Best Practices:

  • Host on YouTube/Vimeo (not uploaded directly)
  • Use descriptive video titles
  • Enable captions/subtitles
  • Appropriate video length (2-5 minutes ideal)
  • Place videos strategically in content flow

Internal Links:

  • Link to other news articles
  • Link to recipes
  • Link to products
  • Link to website pages

External Links:

  • Set to open in new tab
  • Add rel="nofollow" for untrusted sites
  • Verify links work before publishing

Link Best Practices:

  • Use descriptive anchor text (not "click here")
  • Link to 2-5 relevant internal pages per article
  • Don't over-link (reduces readability)
  • Verify external links regularly

Categories & Tags

News Categories

Common News Categories:

  • Company News & Announcements
  • Farm & Producer Spotlights
  • Recipes & Cooking Tips (if not in separate recipes section)
  • Sustainability & Environment
  • Customer Stories & Testimonials
  • Seasonal Updates
  • Product Launches
  • Community & Events
  • Health & Nutrition
  • Behind the Scenes

Assigning Categories:

  1. In article editor, scroll to Categories section
  2. Check appropriate category boxes (can select multiple)
  3. Primary category determines URL structure
  4. Categories enable filtering and browsing

Creating New Categories:

  • Click "Add New Category"
  • Enter category name
  • Write category description
  • Set display order
  • Save category

Article Tags

Purpose of Tags:

  • More specific than categories
  • Enable detailed filtering
  • Improve internal search
  • Help with content organization

Tagging Best Practices:

  • Use 3-8 tags per article
  • Mix broad and specific tags
  • Create tags for recurring themes
  • Use consistent tag naming
  • Don't create one-off tags

Example Tags: Article: "Summer Grilling Tips from Our Executive Chef"

  • grilling
  • summer
  • chef-tips
  • cooking-techniques
  • outdoor-cooking
  • seasonal

Image Requirements

Technical Specs:

  • Recommended size: 1200x630px (Facebook/social media optimized)
  • Minimum size: 800x400px
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9 or 1.91:1
  • File format: JPG or PNG
  • File size: Under 1MB (optimized for web)

Content Guidelines:

  • Eye-catching and relevant to article
  • High quality and well-composed
  • Consistent style across all articles
  • Include text overlay sparingly (if at all)
  • Avoid stock photos when possible

Steps:

  1. In article editor, find Featured Image section
  2. Click "Upload Image" button
  3. Select image file from computer
  4. Image uploads and displays preview
  5. Add alt text describing the image
  6. Optional: Adjust focal point for cropping
  7. Image automatically resizes for different displays

Image Editor Features:

  • Crop and resize
  • Adjust brightness/contrast
  • Set focal point for responsive cropping
  • Replace image
  • Remove image

Publishing & Scheduling

Draft Status

Use drafts for:

  • Articles still being written
  • Content awaiting approval
  • Seasonal posts for future publication
  • Ideas and outlines

Draft Behavior:

  • Not visible on public website
  • Accessible to admins with proper permissions
  • Can be edited freely
  • Preview available via private link
  • No SEO impact

Published Status

Published articles:

  • Live on website immediately
  • Visible in news archive
  • Searchable by customers
  • Indexed by search engines
  • Shareable on social media
  • Can still be edited after publishing

Before Publishing Checklist:

  • ☐ Proofread for typos and grammar
  • ☐ All links working and relevant
  • ☐ Featured image uploaded and optimized
  • ☐ Categories and tags assigned
  • ☐ SEO settings completed
  • ☐ Author assigned correctly
  • ☐ Preview on mobile and desktop
  • ☐ Call-to-action included if appropriate

Scheduled Publication

Schedule Future Posts:

  1. Create article (can be draft or ready to publish)
  2. Set status to "Scheduled"
  3. Choose publish date and time
  4. Save article
  5. Article automatically publishes at scheduled time

Scheduling Use Cases:

  • Plan content calendar in advance
  • Time posts for optimal engagement
  • Coordinate with product launches
  • Space out multiple articles
  • Publish during business hours when team monitors

Scheduling Best Practices:

  • Schedule 1-2 weeks ahead for review buffer
  • Consider customer timezone for timing
  • Avoid publishing multiple articles same day
  • Coordinate with email newsletter schedule
  • Set reminders to promote when published

SEO Optimization

URL Slug

Purpose: The web address for your article.

Example:

  • Title: "5 Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights"
  • Slug: 5-easy-dinner-recipes-busy-weeknights
  • Full URL: yoursite.com/news/5-easy-dinner-recipes-busy-weeknights

Slug Best Practices:

  • Auto-generates from title if left blank
  • Keep short but descriptive (3-6 words)
  • Include primary keyword
  • Use hyphens (not underscores or spaces)
  • Lowercase letters only
  • Don't change after publishing (breaks links)

Meta Title

Purpose: Appears in search results and browser tab. Critical for SEO.

Guidelines:

  • Maximum 60 characters (or truncated in search results)
  • Include target keyword near beginning
  • Make compelling to encourage clicks
  • Add brand name at end if space allows

Example: "Easy Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights | FarmBox"

Auto-populates from article title if left blank

Meta Description

Purpose: Appears below title in search results. Influences click-through rate.

Guidelines:

  • 150-160 characters ideal (longer gets truncated)
  • Summarize article value proposition
  • Include primary and secondary keywords naturally
  • Include call-to-action
  • Unique for every article (don't duplicate)

Example: "Discover 5 delicious dinner recipes ready in 30 minutes using fresh farm ingredients. Perfect for busy families seeking healthy, easy weeknight meals."

Focus Keyword

Select Primary Keyword:

  • The main search term you want to rank for
  • Should appear in title, URL, meta description
  • Include in first paragraph of content
  • Use naturally throughout article (1-2% density)

Keyword Research:

  • What would customers search for?
  • Use Google Suggest for ideas
  • Check search volume (Google Keyword Planner)
  • Consider competition level
  • Long-tail keywords often easier to rank

Example Keywords:

  • "easy dinner recipes" (high competition)
  • "weeknight dinner ideas" (medium competition)
  • "30 minute healthy dinners" (more specific, lower competition)

Linking Related Content

Why Link Related Articles:

  • Keeps readers on site longer
  • Reduces bounce rate
  • Improves SEO (internal linking)
  • Provides additional value
  • Guides customer journey

Adding Related Articles:

  1. Scroll to Related Articles section in editor
  2. Click "Add Related Article"
  3. Search for article by title
  4. Select from dropdown
  5. Up to 3-5 related articles recommended
  6. Articles display at bottom of post

Selecting Related Articles:

  • Same category or topic
  • Sequential content (Part 1, Part 2)
  • Different perspectives on same theme
  • Seasonal relevance
  • Complementary topics

Example: Article: "How to Store Fresh Vegetables" Related:

  • "Reducing Food Waste in Your Kitchen"
  • "Best Containers for Produce Storage"
  • "Seasonal Produce Guide"

Call-to-Action Buttons

Adding CTAs to Articles

CTA Purpose: Guide readers to take next step after reading.

Common CTAs:

  • "Shop Our Products"
  • "Try a Free Box"
  • "Read More Recipes"
  • "Subscribe to Newsletter"
  • "View Our Menu"
  • "Get Started Today"

CTA Settings:

  1. Enable CTA in article editor
  2. Enter button text (2-4 words)
  3. Select button style/color
  4. Choose link destination
  5. Position (end of article or inline)

CTA Best Practices:

  • One primary CTA per article
  • Clear, action-oriented text
  • Relevant to article content
  • Visually distinct button styling
  • Mobile-friendly button size

Common Use Cases

Use Case 1: Announce New Product Launch

Goal: Create buzz and drive sales for new product

Steps:

  1. Click "Add New News Item"
  2. Title: "Introducing [Product Name]: [Key Benefit]"
  3. Compelling subtitle highlighting what's new
  4. Upload product photo as featured image
  5. Write article content:
    • What is it and why customers will love it
    • Key features and benefits
    • How to use/prepare it
    • Where it's sourced from
    • Pricing and availability
  6. Link to product page
  7. Add CTA: "Shop [Product] Now"
  8. Category: Product Launches
  9. Tags: product name, category, seasonal
  10. Publish immediately
  11. Feature on homepage
  12. Share in newsletter and social media

Use Case 2: Share Customer Success Story

Goal: Build trust and community through customer testimonial

Steps:

  1. Interview customer (email or phone)
  2. Get permission and photo
  3. Create new news item
  4. Title: "[Customer Name]'s [Achievement/Benefit] Story"
  5. Subtitle: Brief quote or hook
  6. Use customer photo as featured image
  7. Write story covering:
    • Customer background
    • Challenge or goal
    • How your service helped
    • Results achieved
    • Favorite products or recipes
    • Advice for other customers
  8. Include pull quotes in block quotes
  9. Link to products mentioned
  10. Category: Customer Stories
  11. Add CTA: "Start Your Journey"
  12. Publish and share with customer for approval

Use Case 3: Create Seasonal Content Series

Goal: Engage customers with timely, relevant content throughout season

Summer Grilling Series Example:

  1. Plan 4-6 articles for summer months
  2. Create first article as template
  3. Article ideas:
    • "Summer Grilling Kickoff: Essential Tips"
    • "5 Marinades to Transform Your BBQ"
    • "Grilled Vegetable Perfection"
    • "Desserts on the Grill"
    • "Grilling Safety and Cleanup Hacks"
  4. Write all articles as drafts
  5. Schedule one per week throughout June-July
  6. Cross-link articles in "Related Articles"
  7. Create matching email series
  8. Tag all with "grilling-series"
  9. Feature series on homepage
  10. Track engagement to inform next year's content

Use Case 4: Address Common Customer Questions

Goal: Reduce support inquiries by answering FAQs through content

Steps:

  1. Review customer service emails/chats
  2. Identify most common questions
  3. Group related questions by theme
  4. Create article for each theme
  5. Example: "Everything You Need to Know About Pausing Your Subscription"
  6. Content covers:
    • When and why to pause
    • How to pause (step-by-step)
    • What happens during pause
    • How to resume
    • Alternatives to pausing
  7. Include screenshots from customer portal
  8. Add video tutorial if helpful
  9. Link to relevant help pages
  10. Publish and add to FAQ section
  11. Customer service team references in responses

Use Case 5: Build SEO with Evergreen Content

Goal: Attract organic search traffic with timeless, valuable content

Evergreen Topic Examples:

  • "Ultimate Guide to Meal Prep for Beginners"
  • "How to Read Food Labels: A Complete Guide"
  • "Farm-to-Table: What It Really Means"
  • "Seasonal Eating: A Month-by-Month Guide"

Evergreen Content Strategy:

  1. Research high-volume, low-competition keywords
  2. Create comprehensive, authoritative articles (1500+ words)
  3. Include multiple images and examples
  4. Optimize thoroughly for target keyword
  5. Link from related content
  6. Update annually to keep current
  7. Monitor rankings and traffic
  8. Promote in welcome email series
  9. Feature in resource library
  10. Build backlinks through outreach

Article Analytics

Tracking Performance

Available Metrics:

  • Total views
  • Unique visitors
  • Average time on page
  • Bounce rate
  • Social shares
  • Click-through rate on CTAs
  • Product links clicked
  • Scroll depth
  • Traffic sources

Viewing Analytics:

  1. Open article in editor
  2. Click "Analytics" tab
  3. Select date range
  4. Review metrics and graphs
  5. Export data if needed

Using Insights:

  • Identify top-performing content themes
  • Understand what resonates with audience
  • Optimize underperforming articles
  • Guide future content planning
  • Measure ROI of content marketing

Troubleshooting

Article Not Appearing on Website

Symptoms: Published article not visible in news section

Check:

  1. Status is "Published" not "Draft"
  2. Publish date is not in future
  3. Category is active and not hidden
  4. Article isn't marked "Admin Only"
  5. Website cache cleared
  6. News section enabled on website

Solutions:

  1. Verify image size under 1MB
  2. Check file format (JPG or PNG)
  3. Re-upload image
  4. Clear browser and CDN cache
  5. Check image URL in source code

Formatting Lost When Pasting Content

Problem: Text from Word/Google Docs loses formatting or adds unwanted code

Solution:

  1. Use "Paste as Plain Text" button
  2. Manually reformat using editor tools
  3. Or: paste into Notepad first, then copy to editor
  4. Never paste directly from Word

Check:

  1. URL is complete (includes http:// or https://)
  2. Link target page exists
  3. No typos in URL
  4. Internal links use relative paths if possible
  5. External links set to open in new tab
  • Recipes - Link articles to recipes
  • Products - Reference products in articles
  • Email Templates - Feature news in newsletters
  • Front Page - Display recent articles on homepage
  • Media Library - Manage article images

Permissions & Access

Required Access Level: Manager or higher

Access Levels:

  • Manager: Create, edit, publish articles
  • Administrator: All + delete, bulk operations
  • Kiva Admin: All + advanced SEO, technical settings

Best Practices

Content Quality

  1. Publish consistently (weekly minimum)
  2. Write original, valuable content
  3. Include visuals in every article
  4. Proofread carefully
  5. Optimize for mobile readers

SEO

  1. Research keywords before writing
  2. Optimize title and meta description
  3. Use headings hierarchically
  4. Add alt text to all images
  5. Internal link to related content

Engagement

  1. Write compelling headlines
  2. Start with hook to grab attention
  3. Use short paragraphs (2-3 sentences)
  4. Include clear CTA
  5. Make content scannable (headings, lists, bold)

Things to Avoid

  • ❌ Publishing without proofreading
  • ❌ Copying content from other sites
  • ❌ Neglecting mobile formatting
  • ❌ Keyword stuffing
  • ❌ Forgetting featured images
  • ❌ Irregular publishing schedule

Quick Reference Card

Task Action
Create article "Add New News Item" button
Edit article Click title in list
Upload featured image Editor > Featured Image > Upload
Add inline image Place cursor > Insert Image
Embed video Insert Video > Paste URL
Schedule post Status: Scheduled > Set date/time
Add related articles Related Articles section > Add
Publish Status: Published > Save
Preview Preview button (top right)

FAQs

How often should we publish news articles?

At least weekly for active engagement and SEO. More frequent is better, but quality over quantity. Batch-write and schedule to maintain consistency.

Can we import articles from our old blog?

Yes, contact Kiva Logic support for bulk import. Review and optimize each article post-import.

Should news articles be emailed to customers?

Feature in newsletter summary. Don't email every article individually (avoid spam).

How long should articles be?

300-1000 words for standard posts. 1500+ for comprehensive guides. Mobile readers prefer concise.

Can multiple authors contribute?

Yes, assign author when creating article. Author name displays on article.

End of Documentation

For additional help, contact your system administrator or Kiva Logic support.