DataSentry Blog Content Guide

This directory contains all blog post content for the DataSentry website. Blog posts are written in Markdown format with YAML frontmatter for metadata.

Quick Start

Creating a New Blog Post

1. Create a new .md file in this directory (content/blog/)
2. Use the filename as the URL slug (e.g., my-article.md → /blog/my-article)
3. Add frontmatter metadata at the top
4. Write your content in Markdown below the frontmatter
5. Save the file and rebuild the site

File Naming Convention

• Use lowercase letters
• Separate words with hyphens (-)
• Use descriptive names that reflect the content
• Avoid special characters and spaces

Good examples:

• getting-started-with-data-security.md
• understanding-notifiable-data-breaches.md
• cloud-security-best-practices.md

Bad examples:

• blog post 1.md (spaces)
• MyBlogPost.md (uppercase)
• post_123.md (underscores, not descriptive)

Frontmatter Structure

Every blog post must start with YAML frontmatter enclosed in ---:

---
title: "Your Article Title Here"
date: "2025-01-15"
author: "Author Name"
excerpt: "A brief 1-2 sentence summary that appears in listings and SEO"
tags: ["tag1", "tag2", "tag3"]
image: "/images/blog/your-image.jpg"
featured: true
---

Frontmatter Fields

Example Frontmatter

---
title: "5 Essential Data Security Practices for Small Businesses"
date: "2025-01-20"
author: "Sarah Mitchell"
excerpt: "Learn the fundamental data security practices every small business should implement to protect customer information and maintain compliance."
tags: ["small business", "data security", "compliance", "best practices"]
image: "/images/blog/small-business-security.jpg"
featured: true
---

Writing Content

After the frontmatter, write your content in standard Markdown format.

Supported Markdown Features

Headings

# H1 Heading (Page Title - Use Once)
## H2 Heading (Major Sections)
### H3 Heading (Subsections)
#### H4 Heading (Minor Subsections)

Text Formatting

**Bold text**
*Italic text*
***Bold and italic***
~~Strikethrough~~
`Inline code`

Lists

# Unordered list
- Item 1
- Item 2
  - Nested item
  - Another nested item

# Ordered list
1. First item
2. Second item
3. Third item

Links

[Link text](https://example.com)
[Link with title](https://example.com "Link title")

Images

![Alt text](/images/blog/image.jpg)
![Alt text with title](/images/blog/image.jpg "Image title")

Blockquotes

> This is a blockquote
> It can span multiple lines

Code Blocks

```javascript
function example() {
  console.log("Hello, world!");
}
```

```python
def example():
    print("Hello, world!")
```

Tables

| Header 1 | Header 2 | Header 3 |
|----------|----------|----------|
| Cell 1   | Cell 2   | Cell 3   |
| Cell 4   | Cell 5   | Cell 6   |

Horizontal Rules

---

Content Best Practices

Writing Style

1. Clear and Concise: Use simple, direct language
2. Action-Oriented: Start with verbs and provide actionable advice
3. Structured: Use headings to organize content logically
4. Scannable: Use bullet points, short paragraphs, and whitespace

SEO Optimization

1. Title: Include primary keyword, keep under 60 characters
2. Excerpt: Compelling summary with keywords, 150-200 characters
3. Headings: Use H2-H3 hierarchically with relevant keywords
4. Content Length: Aim for 1000-2000 words for in-depth articles
5. Internal Links: Link to other blog posts and site pages
6. External Links: Link to authoritative sources

Accessibility

1. Alt Text: Provide descriptive alt text for all images
2. Link Text: Use descriptive link text (not "click here")
3. Headings: Maintain proper heading hierarchy (don't skip levels)
4. Lists: Use lists for sequential or related items

Blog Post Template

Copy this template to start a new blog post:

---
title: "Your Article Title"
date: "YYYY-MM-DD"
author: "Your Name"
excerpt: "A compelling summary of your article that makes readers want to click and read more."
tags: ["tag1", "tag2", "tag3"]
image: "/images/blog/your-image.jpg"
featured: false
---

# Your Article Title

Opening paragraph that hooks the reader and introduces the topic. Explain why this matters and what they'll learn.

## Main Section 1

Content for your first major section. Use clear, concise language.

### Subsection 1.1

More detailed information about a specific aspect.

### Subsection 1.2

Additional details or examples.

## Main Section 2

Your second major topic or point.

### Key Points

- Point 1
- Point 2
- Point 3

## Main Section 3

Continue with additional sections as needed.

## Conclusion

Summarize the key takeaways and provide a clear call-to-action.

---

*Optional footer note or disclaimer*

Publishing Workflow

Development

1. Create/Edit your markdown file in content/blog/
2. Save the file
3. Test locally: Run npm run dev and navigate to /blog
4. Review your article at http://localhost:3000/blog/your-slug

Production

1. Commit your changes: git add content/blog/your-post.md
2. Push to main branch: git push origin main
3. Automatic Deploy: Vercel automatically rebuilds and deploys
4. Verify at https://datasentry.com.au/blog/your-slug

Tags Reference

Use consistent tags across posts for better organization:

Common Tags

Topics:

• data security
• compliance
• privacy
• cybersecurity
• risk management

Regulations:

• Privacy Act
• NDB
• GDPR
• APRA CPS 234
• Australian Privacy Principles

Technologies:

• cloud security
• encryption
• AWS
• Azure
• authentication

Business:

• small business
• enterprise
• healthcare
• financial services

Content Types:

• guide
• tutorial
• case study
• best practices
• news

Troubleshooting

Post Not Appearing

1. Check filename: Ensure it ends with .md
2. Check frontmatter: Verify YAML syntax (proper quotes, colons, spacing)
3. Rebuild: Run npm run build to regenerate static pages
4. Check console: Look for build errors in terminal

Formatting Issues

1. Preview locally: Always test with npm run dev before publishing
2. Check Markdown: Ensure proper syntax (spacing, list formatting)
3. Validate YAML: Use a YAML validator for frontmatter
4. Clear cache: Try clearing browser cache if changes don't appear

Image Not Loading

1. Check path: Ensure image path is correct (starts with /)
2. File location: Place images in public/images/blog/
3. File format: Use web-optimized formats (JPG, PNG, WebP)
4. File size: Keep images under 500KB for performance

Examples

See the existing blog posts in this directory for working examples:

• getting-started-with-data-security.md - Comprehensive guide format
• understanding-notifiable-data-breaches.md - Detailed technical article
• cloud-security-best-practices.md - Best practices with code examples

Need Help?

If you encounter any issues or have questions:

1. Review existing blog posts for examples
2. Check the Next.js documentation
3. Consult the Markdown guide
4. Contact the development team

---

Happy blogging! 🚀