Ready to crush the web content game? We got you! Introducing our brand new bi-monthly e-newsletter, The Content Compass! Whether you’re perfecting your copy, boosting your workflow, or hunting down the best tools to level up your pages, we’ve got your back. Expect the freshest updates on what the UTC web team is up to, insider tips on website tools and components, content and layout hacks, plus a special spotlight on a UTC web editor. Let’s navigate this wild web world together! Go, Mocs!
Heads Up, Team! Big Updates Ahead
Maintenance Alert: We’re rolling out some exciting updates (hello, new features and extra security!) on Friday, March 28. Just a quick reminder: Anything you’ve created on the test site will be overwritten by the live site when we deploy. So, be sure to save your work—either on the live site (but unpublished) or elsewhere. One cool update you’ll love: Silktide is coming to Drupal, replacing the current Editoria!!y tool. Check out the article below for the full scoop!
New Hosting Service Coming: Big news on the hosting front! In May, we’re switching up our hosting service. Currently, our sites like www.utc.edu, blog.utc.edu, and go.utc.edu are hosted on different servers—but soon, we’ll beconsolidating everything in the cloud! This move will save the university money and give us the flexibility, performance, and killer website solutions we need for the future.
New Web Design Coming Soon: Get ready for a fresh new look later this year! We’re diving into a major redesign for our site to bring more vibrancy, better page-building tools, and streamlined accessibility. Plus, we’ll be implementing new web branding guidelines to make sure we’re all on the same page. Stay tuned for updates and instructions!
Drupal 11 is On the Horizon: Exciting times ahead—Drupal 11 is coming! While our current Drupal 10 platform has a 2026 expiration date, we’re already prepping for the next big thing. Get ready for a smoother, faster www.utc.edu experience.
UTC Brand Guidelines Incoming: The Division of Communications and Marketing is about to drop the official brand guidelines! This will include everything you need to make sure we’re all on the same page with UTC’s look and feel. Since the website is our top communication tool, these guidelines will shape the way we roll out our web branding, too.
Stay pumped, stay tuned, and get ready for some awesome upgrades coming your way!
Editorial Features and Tools: Silktide
We’re excited to introduce Silktide as our new website quality assurance tool, replacing Acquia Optimize (formerly Monsido). Silktide offers a more comprehensive and user-friendly approach to improving our website’s accessibility, SEO, content quality, and overall performance. (Get a preview here in this short video.)
Why the Change?
Silktide provides enhanced insights and automation to help us maintain a high-quality website with less manual effort. It offers better reporting, improved accessibility checks, and a more intuitive interface for our university section editors.
SEO and Readability Analysis – Helps optimize content for search engines and user engagement.
Broken Links and Spelling Checks – Quickly identifies errors to maintain a professional website.
Mobile and Performance Testing – Assesses how well our site performs across different devices in real time with an interface that mimics the real thing.
Easy-to-Use Dashboard – Offers clear reports and actionable insights.
Drupal Implementation – We are implementing a new Silktide tool inside of the www.utc.edu to help you as you build or edit content.
WordPressImplementation – Future plans include adding our blog.utc.edu site and integrated tools as well!
Over the next few weeks, we’ll be setting up your new account so you may be receiving some login information. Once that is complete, we’ll provide instructions on training and support to help you get familiar with Silktide. Stay tuned for details on upcoming sessions!
Content Tips
Did you know? Hover cards on desktop turn into sleek tile cards on mobile! (Everyone knows you can’t hover with a finger!) To keep things smooth for users across all devices, make sure every section is fully packed with info and that your call-to-action buttons are crystal clear. Those buttons are front and center in mobile view, so make them count in driving engagement!
Desktop version of hover image
Mobile version of hover image
Having trouble picking the right photos? Need access to Photoshelter (UTC’s online photo library)? Stuck on how to word something? Not sure if your grammar’s on point or if you’re following the university’s style? Don’t stress! The Division of Communications and Marketing crew has your back. Hit them up through their ticketing system or find all the answers you need online here. And for a quick refresher, check out the UTC editorial style guidelines. Let’s make sure everything is on point!
Layout Tips
In 2024, UTC’s website received approximately 15.5 million views, with nearly 5.5 million (about one-third) coming from mobile devices. When designing page layouts and structuring content, it’s crucial to consider all potential devices—mobile, desktop, and tablets. Last year, we even had some traffic coming from Smart TVs.
Content Editor Spotlight: Ethan Arnold
Meet Ethan Arnold, our Web Content Editor on the Web Team! A UTC senior majoring in Computer Science, you might have crossed paths with him on campus or through our ticketing system. Ethan works closely with faculty and staff to keep the university’s website fresh, functional, and user-friendly. He’s teamed up with several departments, including the Center for Women and Gender Equity, Chemistry and Physics, and the College of Engineering and Computer Science. These experiences have given him valuable insights into effective website management—everything from organizing pages and coordinating with departments to ensuring top-notch quality.
We’re excited to embark on this journey with you. Whether you’re a seasoned editor or just getting started, The Content Compass is your trusted guide for making every webpage the best it can be.
Feel free to reach out to us if you have any feedback! We look forward to hearing from you. In the meantime, happy editing!
