How to author an Article in Continu — the native content type that's fastest to create, easiest to update, and best for in-platform search.
Articles are Continu's native content format. Unlike Files or external links, Articles live inside Continu — so they're indexed for search, render natively on every device, and can be edited in place without re-uploading. For most knowledge content, an Article is the right default. Reach for Files when you specifically need to deliver a polished PDF or PowerPoint, and external embeds when the source of truth genuinely lives outside Continu.
For the strategic frame on which content type fits which use case, see Content Strategy: Designing Learning Assets That Scale. For the full content-authoring journey end-to-end, see Content Authoring: From Blank Page to Published Asset.
Save often. Continu logs you out automatically after 4 hours of idle time, and text editing doesn't reset the idle timer. On long articles, save explicitly — especially before you step away.
How to Add an Article
1. Open the Content area. From the left-hand navigation, click Create > Content.
2. Click Add Content and choose Article. Hover over the icons to see each content type's name if you're not sure which is which.
3. Add the title and author. Fill in the article's title (what learners see on Explore and on the Article itself) and author (who's credited). Then write the article body in the Article Content field below.
4. Edit with the editor toolbar. The icons above the content field cover the common authoring needs — bold, italic, headings, lists, links, images, embedded video, tables, code blocks, and more. Articles can include embedded images and videos, links, tables, and other rich content.
For keyboard shortcuts that speed up authoring significantly, see Article Editor Shortcuts. For advanced editor capabilities, see Continu Articles: Using the Advanced Editor Tools.
5. Watch for paste-from-Word issues. When possible, write directly in Continu's editor for the cleanest formatting. Copying from external editors (Word, Google Docs) works but often brings hidden formatting that displays inconsistently. Common symptom: text appears fine but doesn't respond to formatting changes because it carries embedded styles from the source document. Strip formatting (paste as plain text, then re-format) when this happens.
6. Click Next and configure settings. Set segmentation, banner/cover image, instructor, tags, "What you will learn" items, and other content-level settings. See Editing Content Settings for the full reference.
7. Click Next for the final review, then Publish. Step through the Article preview one more time to catch any formatting issues. When ready, click Publish.
You can preview the Article at any time during creation by clicking the Preview button near the top middle of the page.
Considerations
Lead with what the learner will be able to do. The first sentence should state the outcome, not the topic. "Reset a learner's assessment attempts" beats "About Reset Attempts."
Chunk with headings. Articles longer than a screen or two benefit from H2/H3 headings. They give learners visual anchors and improve in-platform search relevance for sub-topics.
Use anchors for navigation in long articles. If learners need to jump to a specific section, add anchor links. See Add Anchors to Articles.
Pair text with visuals where it adds value. Screenshots, embedded videos, and diagrams help learners understand processes. Avoid decorative images that don't communicate anything.
Add a banner image when the Article lives on Explore. The Article's cover image is the first thing learners see in the Explore grid. A relevant image lifts click-through; a missing one lowers it. See Banner and Cover Images: Photo Editor and Best Practices.
Configuration Pitfalls
Hitting the 4-Hour Timeout Mid-Authoring. Idle timeout is real and editing doesn't reset it. On long Articles, save explicitly every few paragraphs — losing a 2-hour writing session to an unexpected timeout is preventable.
Pasting From Word Without Stripping Formatting. Word and Google Docs paste in styled HTML that conflicts with Continu's article styles. Common symptoms: fonts that don't match the rest of the article, hidden whitespace, paragraphs that won't respond to format changes. Paste as plain text and re-format in Continu instead.
Forgetting to Configure Segmentation. An Article published without segmentation is visible to every user who has access to the broader content set. If the Article is meant for a specific audience (Sales only, Managers only, a specific region), set segmentation before publishing. See Segmentation For Content.
Publishing Without a Banner or Author. Both default to placeholder behavior if left blank — the Article still publishes but looks unfinished on Explore. Add both before clicking Publish.
Building in an External Editor Instead of in Continu. Drafting in Word or Google Docs feels familiar, but the final paste back into Continu often introduces formatting issues. For anything that will be more than a paragraph or two, write directly in Continu — the editor is meant for it.
Where This Fits
You're here because you're creating an Article. The settings that govern how the Article behaves once published live in Editing Content Settings. Once published, the Article can be assigned directly, included in a Learning Track, or pulled into an Automation as content.
See Also
- Content Strategy: Designing Learning Assets That Scale — the strategic anchor.
- Content Authoring: From Blank Page to Published Asset — the end-to-end content-authoring journey.
- Article Editor Shortcuts — keyboard shortcuts that speed up authoring.
- Continu Articles: Using the Advanced Editor Tools — beyond the basic toolbar.
- Add Anchors to Articles — navigation inside long Articles.
- Embedding Google Forms in Articles — for collecting input within an Article.
- Banner and Cover Images: Photo Editor and Best Practices — Article cover images.
- Segmentation For Content — controlling Article visibility.
Title, body, settings, preview, publish. Save often (the 4-hour idle timeout doesn't care that you're typing). Strip formatting when pasting from Word.