Formatting news
This news is a sample of the type of formatting that should be used while publishing a News which is not already defined by a template.
News formatting
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| Size of the pics : 200px |
If a news is not defined by a template, it should be created according to some formatting rules which are defined in this example. What are these rules ? By example, the headline here above was made using the H2 tag. After the headline comes some text which can be formatted only with bold or italic styles. There is no reasonable use of underlined text. The text should not be justified !
A news consists of a combination of predefined elements. No other elements are allowed. The only allowed elements are :
- Headlines
- Text
- Images
- Tables
- Lists
- Links
- Predefined HTML objects
Basic formatting elements
Note that there should be 2 line breaks between the end of a paragraph and the following Headline. Hereunder you will find the definition for each basic formatting elements tha you can use when creating a news.
Headlines
The default headline is Headline2 like here above "Basic formatting elements". You can also use Bold text as a subheadline (here above : "Headlines"). Always add 2 empty lines in front of a new headline (except the first headline at the top of the article).
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consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero .
Text
The biggest part of your news should be plain text. If your news does not look like a text + some elements, you are doing it wrong. As Michael says, Italic text can be used to highlight quotations and to emphasize information. Use it rarely. Here is the exact quote of Michael related to this topic :
Italic text can be used to highlight quotations and to emphasize information. If the quote is very long you can also seperate it from the text using the Indent function, like this particular example !
Bold text can be used either as subheadline or to emphasize information. Use it rarely. Don’t format complete sentences in bold.
Important : red text can only be used very rarely, for very very very important information. Note that we won't use any "Wichtig box" anymore !
Images
 Caption comes here !
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A single image has the following attributes : 200 px wide, aligned on the right, 12 px margin to the left, 6 px margin to the bottom, border : 1px, gray (#c0c0c0).
Furthermore, the following rules apply : if you don't have a picture, don't use a picture. Never scale a picture using html, always use a drawing program. If possible, the image should be linked (people like to click on images). Images should have a caption and an alternative text. Banners and skyscrapers are not allowed !
Exception : these rules don't apply to image collections. If you are providing several images at once, here are the patterns that apply :
- 2 images : 285px each, maximum 177 px high, separated by 15 px whitespace
- 3 images : 185px each, maximum 298 px high, separated by 15 px whitespace
- 4 images : 135px each, maximum 217 px high, separated by 15 px whitespace (see below)
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Tables
Use tables only to provide structured information like a ranking list. Your table should look like this one (well if you need a table with 6 columns and 6 rows, otherwise it might be different) :
| Title | |||||
| Head | Head | Head | Head | Head | Head |
| cell | cell | cell | cell | cell | cell |
| cell | cell | cell | cell | cell | cell |
| cell | cell | cell | cell | cell | cell |
| cell | cell | cell | cell | cell | cell |
| cell | cell | cell | cell | cell | cell |
| cell | cell | cell | cell | cell | cell |
A very convenient way to generate tables is to use the script you can find on this page (enter the number of columns and rows, then copy/paste the resulting table) :
http://de.pokerstrategy.com/home/1305
Lists
There is only one type of lists used: a normal unordered list (HTML element ul). Don’t use ordered list. Don’t use a list element for anything else than a list. Here is how such a list looks like :
- Item 1
- Item 2
- Item 3
Links
First, here is a general rule : A link to any PokerStrategy.com page opens in the same window/tab. A link to an external webpage always opens in a new window/tab. There are three different types of links :
- Point of resolution
- Call to action
- Community link
A point of resolution is a linked word or phrase leading to a website where you can find more information regarding the word or phrase. By example, you might want to redirect the user to this specific board. Watch out ! Points of resolution have to be used rarely. Don't link complete sentences (only one or two words). Last but not least, if you have a call to action try to avoid PoR links in front of your call to action.
A call to action is asking the user to take a specific action like watching a video. It always stands in a separate line and it’s introduced by an arrow image. This arrow is only used for that purpose ! The text can be bold (but doesn't have to).
Watch this video (
Gold)
A community link is some kind of point of resolution. It’s the linked name of a PokerStrategy.com member and leads to his community profile. You can actually decide to link to michael's profile or even decide to have the level icon before the name of your member (let's say its caber). But please don't link every occurance of a member's name ! Keep the text readable and nice.
Predefined HTML objects
You can also use some predefined html objects. Include these objects in your Clipping Manager, so that you can easily include them in your news. These objects are always located at the right side of the news. You can find the different objects in the following news :
Templates for promo boxes you can copy/paste
What predefined objects do you have ?
- Profile box
- Call to action box
- Bonus box
The profile box contains the name, specialty and picture of the author/coach/... If you don’t have a picture don’t use the box. In a news template you can simply delete it. Exception: In an interview a picture is not necessary.
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suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem
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consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero .
A call to action box is a box with a button – a stronger version of the call to action link. It provides some brief information regarding the “product” and a button leading to the “product”. Best practice is to only have one of those yellow buttons in your news. If the “products” are absolutely equal you can use more.
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suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem
vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie
consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero .
A bonus box solicites a pokerroom + bonus. A complete list you can find in the news template (see above). Use it in news with some kind of focus on a pokerroom, as low as news about a tournament on e.g. Full Tilt Poker.
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suscipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis autem
vel eum iriure dolor in hendrerit in vulputate velit esse molestie
consequat, vel illum dolore eu feugiat nulla facilisis at vero .
