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Cookie-Cutter Alt Home Pages

Even with truly targeted content, the alt home pages will tend to have some common content such as logos and addresses. It may be only the main intro text that differentiates the pages.  These procedures allow the easy creation of such pages.

First, under the [ alt home pages ] page create a page called _Shared Content.
In here we will place all the content we want to be present unaltered on each of these cookie cutter pages.

  • Insert a container block, yellow style, compact style, title "Hidden Intro for Every Alt Home Page", permissions set to logged in and authorized.
  • Insert into the container block a Menu block in the Breadcrumb view
  • Insert into the container block a Menu block in the Directional Small view
  • Insert into the container block a general block with instructions of what to do with each page, perhaps even a checklist of what needs to be customized per page.  It is OK if you don't have the instructions yet, they will become clear as you develop the _prototype page

First, under the [ alt home pages ] page create a page called _Prototype. In the advanced properties set "becomes home if ever visited" and "not in sitemap".
In here we will construct the prototypical alt home page.  There is one big rule to remember:

When you clone a page, blocks that are independent clone as independent (and thus separately editable), blocks that are mirrors clone as shared mirrors.

 Examples of what you might insert:

  1. A mirrored copy of the "Hidden Intro for Every Alt Home Page"
     
  2. A independent general block, yellow and private, to describe what that particular page is supposed to do. Insert into it prototypical text such as "This page is for xxx yyy and should talk about zzz"
     
  3. An independent general block to be the leading text for the page. Perhaps "new session only" or SEO style. Or perhaps an articles block from "twinkling" introduction text. Be sure to use many Term1, term2, references.   If a general block, use the advanced tab to enable SEO expansions. Since you plan for this to be edited, add this step to the checklist in the instructions general block. (you can edit any of them, they are all mirrors.)
     
  4. Perhaps 1 or 2 title/logo independent general blocks.   Use multiple general blocks rather than shovelling it all into one just because you can. Keep it easy to edit.   Use Term references. For example, do not say
        Salt Lake City Air Conditioning, Heating And Ventilating Contractors
        serving all your HVAC needs
    instead say
        Salt Lake City Air Conditioning, Heating And Ventilating Contractors
         serving all your HVAC needs
     
    Since you plan for this to be edited, add this step to the checklist in the instructions general block. (you can edit any of them, they are all mirrors.)
     
  5. An independent 2 column container.
     
  6. Into the first column a mirror of a picture or picture album.
     
  7. Into the second column an independent general block where truly different text can appear. Fill it with prototypical text.   Since you plan for this to be edited, add this step to the checklist in the instructions general block. (you can edit any of them, they are all mirrors.)
     
  8. Perhaps 1 or 3 more independent general blocks.
     
  9. A mirrored address / contact block.
     
  10. A mirrored "brands" block.
     
  11. A mirrored SEO permutation generator block.
     
  12. An independent general block in the footer with prototypical text. Add to the checklist.

When first designing this page you might want to make all of the independent blocks be in the aqua style, it will make it clear what is and is not going to be editable. Just remember to unset before use.

Edit the page properties of the _prototyupe page and set "Becomes home page is ever visited". Unset "Show in sitemap".

Now make the cookie cutter page easy to copy
Back on the [ alt home pages ] page, add a block into the first column of that 2 column container we added earlier. Add a Copy Button Block with a title such as "Add New Alt Home Page" and set it to copy the _prototype page under the [ alt home pages ] page, prompting for a name upon copy.

Voila! Now you simply click the copy button, give a name, and get a new Alt Home Page.

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