Blog and Blog Categories

The Blog feature in WebCommander allows you to create, manage, and publish blog posts on your website. With built-in category management, you can organise your content effectively and help visitors find what they need easily. In WebCommander, you have complete control over your blog posts, including when they're published, who can see them, and how they're organised.

Accessing Blog Management

To access the blog management area:

• Log in to your WebCommander admin panel
• Navigate to Website from the main menu
• Click on the Blog tab in the top navigation
• You'll see your blog dashboard with all existing posts

From here, you can view, edit, or create new blog posts.

Creating a New Blog Post

Follow these steps to create and publish a blog post:

1. Start Creating Your Blog
   • From the Blog dashboard, click the + Create Blog button (top-right corner)
   • The blog creation form will open
2. Add Blog Information
   • Title (Required): Enter a clear, descriptive title for your blog post
   • Category: Select one or more categories (create categories first if needed)
   • Date (Required): System sets today's date automatically (change to schedule or backdate)
   • Status:
     • Published: Live and visible to visitors
     • Unpublished: Saved but not visible
   • Visibility:
     • Open: Anyone can view
     • Restricted: Only specific user groups
     • Hidden: Hidden from public view
3. Add Blog Images
   • WebCommander provides two image options:
     • Image Tab: Appears on blog listing pages
     • Banner Image Tab: Appears on blog detail pages
   • Using the same image for both:
     • Click the Image tab
     • Upload your image
     • Check "Use this image as banner image as well"
     • Banner Image tab becomes disabled
   • Using separate images:
     • Upload an image in the Image tab (don't check the checkbox)
     • Switch to Banner Image tab
     • Upload a separate banner image
4.  Create Your Content
   • Use the rich text editor to write your blog post. Available formatting includes bold, italic, headings, lists, links, images, and text alignment.
   • Write clearly and break content into readable sections.
5. Save Your Blog Post
   • Review all information
   • Set Status to "Published" (live immediately) or "Unpublished" (save as draft)
   • Click Save

Managing Blog Categories

Categories help organize your blog posts into logical groups (e.g., "Company News", "Product Updates", "Industry Tips").

Accessing Blog Categories

• From the Blog dashboard, click Blog Category in the left sidebar
• View list of categories with names, dates, and post counts

Creating a New Category

1. Click + Create Blog Category
2. Fill in the category form:
   • Title (Required): Name of your category
   • URL Identifier: Auto-generated from title (customizable with lowercase and hyphens)
   • Category Image: Optional image to represent the category
   • Category Description: Brief description of category contents
   • Blogs: Assign existing posts by clicking Add Blogs
3. Click Save

Your new category is now available when creating blog posts.

Other Features

Searching and Filtering: Use the search box for quick keyword searches, or click the filter icon for advanced options (status, visibility, category, date ranges, created by).

Editing Blogs: Click the three dots menu (⋮) next to any blog post, select Edit Blog, make changes, and click Save.

Managing Visibility: Control access using Publishing Status (Published/Unpublished) and Visibility Options (Open/Restricted/Hidden).

Quick Tips

• Write clear, valuable content with short paragraphs
• Include at least one high-quality image per post
• Create logical, broad categories
• Use descriptive titles with relevant keywords
• Structure content with headings and publish regularly