Easily Create Eye-Catching Calls-to-Actions in SharePoint

Unlocking Engaging Promotional Links with the Editorial Card Webpart

Creating compelling call to actions has always been a crucial aspect of effective communication. Attention spans are short and competition for engagement is high.

For communicators using SharePoint we’ve been treated to a host of investments and improvements of late, and there’s more to come! SharePoint is a natural tool for many organisations as it’s included in their Microsoft 365 licences. If you’re interested to find out more download our free eBook: Ultimate Guide to Microsoft 365.

Just dropped is the new Editorial card webpart, it’s a dream, offering a seamless way to craft engaging, interactive content cards without the need for customisation (Or doing really hacky things with images!).

This blog explores the key features and use cases of this innovative webpart, comparing it to the call to action webpart and the image webpart that have supported this space before, highlighting the challenges it addresses, and the inclusive accessibility benefits it offers compared to traditional flat images.

Above: Editorial card demonstrating an image with text and button overlay

What the Editorial Card Webpart brings to the party

Interactive Design

The Editorial card webpart allows communicators to create visually appealing, interactive cards that capture attention and encourage user engagement. These cards can include a combination of text, images, and links, making them perfect for highlighting key messages.

 In comparison, the call to action webpart typically focuses on a single action with less emphasis on visual storytelling, while the image webpart primarily displays images without the interactive elements.

Customisable Templates

While the webpart eliminates the need for extensive customisation, it still offers a range of customisable templates that users can easily adapt to fit their branding and communication needs.

 The call to action webpart provides limited customisation mainly around text and button styles, and the image webpart offers minimal customisation options beyond basic image editing (which it does very well).

Responsive Layout

The Editorial card webpart is its responsive design, automatically adjusting to fit various screen sizes and devices. This is particularly important in a mobile world, where users access content on a variety of devices.

It’s difficult to achieve this using an image webpart, and you wouldn’t gain the comprehensive integration of interactive elements and content variety that the Editorial card webpart provides.

Actionable Elements

The webpart allows for the inclusion of actionable elements such as buttons and links, enabling communicators to guide users towards specific actions. Whether it’s signing up for a newsletter, downloading a resource, or visiting a particular page, these elements are crucial for driving engagement and achieving communication goals.

Although the call to action webpart is designed specifically for this purpose, it does not offer the same level of visual and contextual richness. The image webpart generally lacks actionable elements, focusing solely on visual content.

Above: wide range of editing and customisations 

Use Cases for the Editorial Card Webpart

• Promoting Events: Create engaging event promotions with integrated images, details, and registration links to drive participation.
• Highlighting Announcements: Showcase important announcements effectively using a combination of text and visuals.
• Showcasing Products or Services: Highlight products or services with dynamic, interactive cards featuring images, descriptions, and call to action buttons.
• Sharing Resources: Share valuable resources like whitepapers and reports through accessible, interactive cards linking to downloadable content.

Above: creating standard repeatable cards to build theme on an intranet

Accessibility Achieved with Editorial Card Webpart

Improved Visual Accessibility

Unlike flat images, which can be challenging for users with visual impairments, the Editorial card webpart supports alternative text for images and descriptive text for links. This ensures that all users, regardless of their visual abilities, can access and understand the content.

Keyboard Navigation

The webpart is designed to be fully navigable using a keyboard, making it accessible to users who rely on keyboard shortcuts rather than a mouse. While the call to action webparts also support keyboard navigation, the Editorial card webpart integrates this with a richer interactive experience.

Consistent User Experience

The responsive design of the webpart ensures that it provides a consistent user experience across different devices and screen sizes, important for users who may rely on specific devices or settings to access content comfortably. While other webparts also do this they do not combine this with the same level of interactive and visual engagement as the Editorial card webpart.

Conclusion

I’m sold! I’m really happy with the first edition of this webpart, no doubt further enhancements will come.

The new Editorial card webpart in SharePoint represents a significant advancement for communicators looking to create engaging call to actions without compromising on accessibility.

As organisations continue to seek ways to enhance their intranets, the Editorial card webpart stands out as a valuable asset in the communicators’ tool bag!

Matthew

Matthew Burrell is a Consultant with Your 365 Coach

P.S. If you like Editorial cards, check out the new carousel option in the existing Hero webpart... it’s good!