These are signals you should look for when choosing a content type.
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Use this…
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if you see:
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Tips
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“Application”
“Form”
“Send”
“Email”
“Mail”
A button
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Content types on SF.gov fall into 3 page goals:
Service pages help the user get something done
Outreach pages inform the public about what SF (as a whole) is doing
Department support pages inform the public about what a department is doing
You’ll choose a content type for your SF.gov page based on the goal of the page.
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Service pages
Goal: Help the user get something done
Transaction
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“Definition”
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“About”
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“Learn”
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“Understanding”
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Use for: An entry-point into a service (often an application)
Transactions must be actionable. If content is not directly actionable, use an info page instead.
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If your content starts to veer off into “info about something,” you should make a separate info page and link it. Everything on a transaction page needs to move the user forward.
Choose this content type if you see: words like “Application”, “Form”, “Send”, “Email”, “Mail”
Info
Use for: Non-actionable information or reference
If there’s something the user
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must do with the City, use a transaction
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instead.
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Choose this content type if you see: a “wall of text,” or words like “Definition”, “About”, “Learn”, “Understanding”
Step by step
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Numbered steps
Multiple actions over time
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Use for: Processes that involve multiple steps (or transactions), especially over time
There’s a limit of 15 steps, to make it easier to scan and understand the overall process.
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Address
Hours
Directions
Step by steps are not details, they’re overviews. Put details in transactions or info pages.
Choose this content type if you see: Numbered steps, multiple buttons, multiple actions over time
Location
Use for: Showing people where to go to get a service
Should be reserved for places that are controlled by the City or City partners
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Date with no location
“Press release”
“Announcement”
“Department is…”
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Choose this content type if you see: Address, hours, directions
Outreach pages
Goal: Inform the public about what SF (as a whole) is doing
News
Use for: Press releases or announcements
Will be automatically added to the SF.gov homepage, dept landing pages, topic pages
News pages are very ephemeral! For ongoing info, try a campaign
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“Outreach”
“Initiative”
“Program is about…”
Cutesy name, slogan, or acronym
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Choose this content type if you see: Date with no location, or words like “Press release”, “Announcement”, “Department is…”
Events
Use for: Public events with the where, when, and what
Will be added to dept landing pages, topic pages
Events are not meetings! There’s a meeting content type.
Choose this content type if you see: Date and time, location, any kind of gathering, and it’s not attached to a public body
Campaigns
Use for: Awareness and ongoing outreach about a single message or initiative
For an announcement of a campaign, you might need to publish both a
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News item and a campaign
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Date and time
Location
Gathering
Not attached to a public body
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Events are not meetings! There’s a meeting content type.
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Details about divisions
Descriptions of what the department is doing
Choose this content type if you see: “Outreach”, “Initiative”, “Program is about…”, or a catchy name, slogan, or acronym
Department support pages
Goal: Inform the public about what a department is doing
About
Use: Once, when going in-depth with dept mission and values
You can use an info page to publish more detailed information, and link it here
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You must tag an agency page to an “About” page. You’ll see a "Learn more about us" button on your Agency page automatically.
Other Content types that are easier to select because of technical features:
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List of documents, resources, data stories
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Attached to public bodies
Has preformatted agendas
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Provide background, contact info, and transparency about the people who work in government
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For interactive data
PowerBI embed
Work with DataSF
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Annual reports and policies
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Has automatic table of contents
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Choose this content type if you see: Details about divisions, descriptions of what the dept is doing
Meeting
Use for: meeting records
Preformatted agendas
Choose this content type if: you’re posting about a meeting for a Commission, committe, task force, or board
Profile
Use for: biographical info about staff or public figures
Choose this content type if: you’re sharing a bio
Data story
Use for: pairing data dashboards with explanatory text
Choose this content type if: you have PowerBI embeds, you’re working with DataSF
Report
Use for: Annual reports, policies, other long documents
Has automatic table of contents
Choose this content type if you see: long text with a publication date
Resource collection
Use for: Lists of documents, resources, data stories
Choose this content type if you see: collections of PDFs, links, or both