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Using Block Editor Patterns to Promote AI Search

uConnect includes a set of pre-built Block Editor patterns designed to help you promote AI Search to your students. These patterns are ready to use right out of the box — no configuration required — and can be fully customized to match your institution's branding.

This article walks you through how to add AI Search patterns to a page, customize their appearance, and understand how the AI Search launcher works.

Video Walkthrough

 

Before You Begin

Make sure you have:

  • Admin access access to your uConnect portal
  • AI Search enabled on your account (contact your Customer Success Manager if you're unsure)

Step 1: Access the Block Editor Patterns

  1. Navigate to the page where you want to promote AI Search and open the Block Editor.
  2. Open the List View sidebar for easier navigation.
  3. Click the Block Inserter (the + icon).
  4. Select the Patterns tab.
  5. Look for the AI Search category — you'll find four sample patterns available, also accessible under their corresponding Style tabs.

Tip: If you've previously used uConnect's sponsorship templates, the patterns interface will feel familiar.

Step 2: Insert the Patterns

  1. Select the AI Search patterns you want to use and insert them onto your page.
  2. Close the sidebar to get a clearer view of your content area.

Each pattern is ready to publish as-is — your heading fonts are already applied, and the layout is pre-configured.

Step 4: Understand the AI Search Launcher

Each pattern includes a launcher link that opens AI Search on the front end. This is built using:

# launch-ai-search

This hash link is what triggers AI Search to open when a student clicks. You'll find it applied to:

  • Buttons within patterns
  • Images in split media/text layouts (so students can click either the image or the button)

Note: No additional setup is needed for the launcher to work — it's already configured in each pattern.

Step 5: Customize Your Pattern

 

All patterns are fully editable standard blocks — think of them as a head start, not a finished product. Here's what you can customize:

Text and Copy

Click directly into any text block to edit headlines, body copy, or calls to action.

Colors and Headings

  • Most heading colors pull from your institution's brand settings automatically.
  • Some patterns use hard-coded colors (such as black). To change these:
    1. Select the text block.
    2. Open the right-hand sidebar.
    3. Update the text color to your preferred option — and always check for sufficient color contrast for accessibility.

Images

To swap out a placeholder image:

  1. Click on the image block.
  2. Open your Media Library and select or upload a replacement image.

Cover Block Overlays and Gradients

Some patterns use Cover blocks with gradient overlays to improve text readability. To adjust:

  1. Click the Cover block and go to the Style tab.
  2. Use the overlay opacity slider to lighten or darken the background.
  3. Adjust gradient colors using the preset options or custom color pickers.

Step 6: Work with Nested Blocks

One of the patterns uses nested blocks to create an offset/shadow effect. If you're editing this pattern, it's highly recommended to:

  1. Open the List View sidebar.
  2. Review the block structure — you'll see familiar elements like Media & Text blocks, Headings, and Cover blocks.
  3. Make edits from within the List View to avoid accidentally selecting the wrong block.

Pro Tip: Using List View when working with nested blocks will save you time and help you make targeted edits with confidence.

Step 6: FAQs

Q: Do I need to configure the AI Search launcher after inserting a pattern?
No. The #launch-ai-search link is already built into each pattern. Students can click the button or image to open AI Search immediately.

Q: Can I build my own AI Search promotional blocks from scratch?
Absolutely! These patterns are meant to be a starting point and source of inspiration. You can duplicate, modify, or build entirely new blocks that work best for your students and institutional brand.

Q: Why does one of my heading colors look different from the others?
Some patterns use hard-coded colors rather than pulling from your brand settings. See Step 4 → Colors and Headings above for instructions on how to update these.