#Microsoft365 #Office365 #SharePoint – So we’ve been looking at the new Communication Sites in SharePoint Online. We’ve covered the Topic and Showcase Design Template. Let’s look at the Blank design today, and the different web parts that can be added.

For previous posts in my #Microsoft365Challenge go to the index page.

DISCLAIMER:  I WRITE ARTICLES ABOUT OFFICE / MICROSOFT 365. CONTENT IS ACCURATE AT TIME OF PUBLICATION, HOWEVER UPDATES AND NEW ADDITIONS HAPPEN DAILY WHICH COULD CHANGE THE ACCURACY OR RELEVANCE. PLEASE KEEP THIS IN MIND WHEN USING MY BLOGS AS GUIDELINES.

Related Posts:

SharePoint Communication Sites:

The Communication sites got launched for First Release Customers towards end of June 2017. A reminder, if you don’t see communication sites yet as a template, your release preference might have to be updated, see this blog.

The Communication Sites have 3 designs available. Topic, Showcase and Blank:

  • Topic to share information such as news, events, and other content.
  • Showcase to use photos or images to showcase a product, team, or event.
  • Blank to create your own design.

In this blog I’ve created a Blank template and the focus will be on the web parts available for use.

Create your site:

From the Office 365 page, navigate to SharePoint. Click on Create Site and choose the Communication Site template:

Give your site a name and description:

And yes, you’re right – it’s a blank page. 🙂

This is where the magic starts. Put the page in Edit Mode. Here you’ll see a “+” in the middle of the page allowing you to add web parts. Below you’ll see all the web parts available:Thanks to Microsoft for this blog on Using web parts on SharePoint Online pages which saved me a lot of time as I didnt have to retype or come up with the descriptions

Text – Use the Text web part to add paragraphs to your page. Standard formatting options like styles, bullets, indentations, highlighting, and links are available. Add text to your page with the Text web part.

Image – Use this to insert an image on the page, either from your site or your hard drive. Use the Image web part on a page.

Document – Use this to insert an Excel, Word, PowerPoint, or Visio document on the page. Users will see the starting page of the document in a frame, and can scroll through the pages or even download the document. Use the Document web part on a page.

Link – Use the Link web part to add a link to an internal or external page, video, image, or document. Use the Link web part on a page.

Embed – You can display content on your page from other sites like YouTube videos. Depending on the site, you can either use the site’s address or embed code that the site provides. Use the Embed web part on a page.

Highlighted content – Use this web part to dynamically display content based on content type, filtering, or a search string. You can also set the scope of the search to a site or site collection, and sort the results. Use the Highlighted content web part on a page.

Bing maps – Use the Bing maps web part to add a map to your page. Simply enter an address or a well known name and your map will appear. You can choose a different map type, such as road or aerial. You can also change the zoom level or give your map pin a friendly name. Use the Bing Maps web part on a page.

Document library – The Document Library web part allows you to display a document library and customize it with your own title, view, and even size. Users with appropriate permissions can view or edit files directly from the web part, or can go the full document library by clicking See all. Use the Document Library web part on a page.

Events – The Events web part allows you to add and display upcoming events on your page. You can even include a map with location, online meeting information, and more. Use the Events web part.

Hero – The Hero web part is a great way to bring focus and visual interest to your page. You can display up to five items in the Hero web part and use compelling images, text, and links to draw attention to each. The Hero web part is included by default on Communication sites, but you can also add the Hero web part to other pages. Use the Hero web part.

Image gallery – Use the Image gallery web part to share collections of pictures on a page. Simply select your images with the file picker or drag them onto the web part. Once you’ve created your collection, you can drag and drop the images to reorder them as needed. Use the Image Gallery web part on a page.

List – The List web part allows you to display a list and customize it with your own title, view, and even size. Users can view the list, or go the full list by clicking See all. Use the List web part on a page.

News – You can keep your team in the loop as well as engage them with important or interesting stories by using the News feature on your page or site. You can quickly create eye-catching posts like announcements, people news, status updates, and more that can include graphics and rich formatting. Use the News web part on a page.

Office 365 video – Use this to display a video right on the page from your organization’s Office 365 Video portal. Learn how to use the Office 365 Video web part on a page.

People – The People web part allows you to display a selected group of people and their profiles on your page. It can be used for contact information, team information, presenters, and more. Use the People web part.

Power BI report – The Power BI report web part allows you to easily embed an interactive Power BI report on your page. The embedded reports are fully secure so you can easily create secure internal portals. Use the Power BI web part on a page.

Quick chart – Use the Quick chart web part to add simple charts to your page. Enter your data points, add labels, pick your chart type — column or pie — and publish. Use the Quick Chart web part on a page.

Quick links – Using this web part, you can “pin” items to your page for easy access. Use the Quick Links web part on a page.

Site activity – This web part automatically shows recent activity on your site, such as files uploaded, edits made, lists and libraries created, and so on. Just add the web part, and the latest activity is pulled in automatically. Use the Site Activity web part on a page.

Stream – This web part allows you to display a video right on your page from your organization’s Microsoft Stream video portal. Use the Stream web part.

Yammer feed – If your organization has an active Yammer network (for example: http://www.yammer.com/contoso.com), you can enhance collaboration by embedding a Yammer feed on your page. Use the Yammer Feed web part on a page.

Purpose of this blog challenge:  I will write 365 blogs in 365 days around Microsoft 365. I did a similar challenge with Office 365, blogs can be found here. I won’t just be talking about the new Microsoft 365 subscription model. I will be sharing any news, tips and tricks around Office / Office 365 / Windows / Mobility and Security. And let’s not forget all the great new Apps & services available.  A lot of what I’ll share on Office and SharePoint will also be applicable to none “Office 365” versions.