What's inside this article:
- Basic information
- How it works
- Common strategies
- Size, organization, and layout
- Widget selection
- The YMAL header
- YMAL vs. Related content
Basic information
You Might Also Like (YMAL) is a collection of widgets that appears below the main content on articles and other content pages. An engaging YMAL can increase the time spent on your site by encouraging readers to open other pages.
This article contains guidance for web editors on how to create YMALs, including tips on how to increase engagement.
How it works
YMAL offers a semi-automated approach for sharing links on content pages:
- What's manual: Web editors create YMALs from the dedicated YMAL list page in Pangea CMS. You choose the content in each YMAL and assign the YMAL to one or more Categories.
- What's automated: Each content page automatically displays the YMAL that is assigned to its Primary Category. All pages with the same Primary Category display the same YMAL.
NOTE: Displaying YMAL is optional. If the Primary Category for a content page does not have an assigned YMAL, the page does not display a YMAL.
For detailed instructions on how to manage YMALs in Pangea CMS, see the following article:
Common strategies
Choose from multiple strategies for YMAL content:
- Category-based: Show more stories from the same Category. This approach requires one YMAL per Category.
- Top stories: Show stories from your homepage. This approach requires fewer YMALs, with each YMAL assigned to multiple Categories.
Choose a strategy
Consider how your audience typically navigates your site:
- Category-based YMALs work best for visitors who browse your homepage and select content that interests them.
- Top-story YMALs work best for visitors who arrive directly on content pages from search engines or social media.
Size, organization, and layout
Consider these guidelines when creating YMALs:
Limit the size
Keep the list of content short and focused. Consider that for readers scrolling on mobile, the content is displayed in one list with every item occupying one row. An overly long list can overwhelm your readers, reducing the chance of engagement.
Organize your content
Organize your content thematically by giving each widget a clear focus. Use a short but descriptive title for each widget to clarify its theme (especially important for larger YMALs with multiple widgets). This helps readers to quickly identify content that interests them and increases engagement.
Ensure visual consistency
If your site has multiple YMALs, try to use a similar layout for each. Visual consistency reduces cognitive load, helping readers to instantly recognize what they are looking at and how to use it.
Widget selection
A YMAL can include one or multiple widgets. YMALs commonly include the following widgets:
Content widget
A Content widget shows links to more content pages. This is a highly flexible widget type that offers a wide range of layout options.
TIP: You can configure a Content widget to only show content from a particular Category. This strategy is helpful for Category-based YMALs.
For more information, see the following article:
Media slider widget
On a Media slider widget, visitors can scroll through content links on a horizontal slider reel. This is ideal for mobile devices where screen space is limited. Share more links without forcing visitors to scroll endlessly down the page.
Tips
- If you use multiple widgets, place the slider at the bottom, as engagement with any widgets below a horizontal slider can be reduced.
- For a more cohesive design, give the slider a white background. This makes it clear that the slider is part of the YMAL and not a separate element.
- You can use a Media slider widget to share any type of content (not just media items). For example, the slider might contain a collection of articles.
For more information, see the following article:
Trends widget
A Trends widget lists "trending" content pages. This means content from your site that has received a high number of views within a specified time period.
TIP: You can configure a Trends widget to only show content from a particular Category. This strategy is helpful for Category-based YMALs.
For more information, see the following article:
The YMAL header
The YMAL header introduces the links inside the YMAL. Every YMAL on your site has the same header.
NOTE: If your site has multiple YMALs, you cannot customize the header for each YMAL individually. You need to use the same header for all YMALs.
Site admins can update the text for the YMAL header from the Site localization page in Pangea CMS. This text is managed through the following key:
| Key name | Global value |
|---|---|
| Responsive.Section.YouMayLike.Header | Continue reading |
Ensure that your localized text accurately reflects your site's YMAL strategy. Simply translating the global value might not be optimal in all cases. For example, "Continue reading" is an appropriate choice for YMALs with links to text content. If your YMALs also link multimedia and interactive content, you might use different text. Some examples include:
- More to explore
- Don't miss
- See also
- Top stories
YMAL vs. Related content
Related content is a collection of links that appears directly below the main content on articles and other content pages. Editors crafting content pages can manually add Related content for each item individually on the item's edit page. If a content page has both Related content and YMAL, YMAL appears below the Related content.
NOTE: Related content placement on articles and other text content pages will change in Pangea 8.45 (January, 2026). Currently, Related content appears at the side of the page on desktop and below the main content on mobile and tablet. In 8.45, it will appear below the main content on all devices.
When adding Related content:
- Ensure relevance. Link to content that relates to a theme or topic discussed in the article.
- Keep the list short and focused. An overly long list can overwhelm your readers and reduce the chance of engagement.
YMAL serves a different purpose than Related content. While Related content links are closely tied to the topics and themes in the particular article, YMAL promotes a broader collection of content that readers might find interesting.
