Don't be a communication nun

30 June 2010

I still meet people in communications jobs who are trying to keep themselves pure. After all, they are writers, and the rules for clear writing have never changed since Aristotle’s day. They don’t like technology, and want to leave all that nasty stuff to the geeks… or their manager… or the ICT team… or anybody. [...]

Read the full article →

Web content or web copy: what's the difference?

29 June 2010

Ten years ago, the difference between copy and content mystified me. Why did we need this new word, content, I wondered? It seemed a pretentious way of elevating words to a higher plane when they happened to be published on a web site. It seemed like a gymnastic effort to avoid the word writing. Now [...]

Read the full article →

Web writing tip: Ask someone to read your draft

23 June 2010

When you’re writing web content, don’t try to be self-sufficient. Your web content has to make sense to other people, not yourself. (You already know what you mean!) Visitors to the web site need to understand instantly what your content is about, what it’s for, and how to use it. Many chunks of web content [...]

Read the full article →

Contented office art

22 June 2010

The Contented team works from three home offices, and they all contain art. Not art that’s of great value on the open market, but art with a personal meaning for a bunch of people fixated on web content. Our idiosyncratic art helps to keep us contented. I dare say it’s the same with you. We [...]

Read the full article →

Adaptable content. WCAG 2.0 for content authors

20 June 2010

Guideline 1.3: Adaptable content Create content that can be presented in different ways (for example simpler layout) without losing information or structure. 1.3.1 Info and Relationships: Information, structure, and relationships conveyed through presentation can be programmatically determined or are available in text. (Level A) 1.3.2 Meaningful Sequence: When the sequence in which content is presented [...]

Read the full article →

Paul Reynolds: internet giant and gentleman

27 May 2010

Paul Reynolds, an internet pioneer in New Zealand, died suddenly on May 23 in Auckland. He was a huge figure right from the early days of web development here. In that irresistible Scottish voice he lured a luddite nation into the electronic age. Ever a generous gentleman, he was dazzlingly clever and also huge fun. [...]

Read the full article →

Time-based media: WCAG 2.0 for content writers

12 May 2010

Guidelines for time-based media, in other words audio and video content, are the only new bunch of guidelines in WCAG 2.0. Others existed before in a different form. Other content doesn’t change or move as you watch or hear it. Instead, your eyes move across print and images as you absorb information. But audio and [...]

Read the full article →

Tip: Use the en-dash correctly

12 May 2010

Hi Rachel, I’ve got a question about how we should enter dates on a) the website and b) print documents. I have always put dates like this: 6:30pm – 7:00pm I notice some people put dates like this: 6.30pm-7pm And others like this: 6.30pm — 7.00pm It’s pretty confusing! Do you have a preference on [...]

Read the full article →

Bonus training for a young web designer

23 April 2010

Hi Rachel Thanks for that. I’ve had a torrid week. Thinking about your web course for my daughter Tracey who wants to get into web design. I forwarded your last newsletter to her. What more information does she need in order to decide – anyone she might chat to? Andrew – – – – – [...]

Read the full article →

Real work beats busy work

16 April 2010

Ever felt like this? Overwhelmed with so many urgent small jobs that the big ones never get started? I only realised this was my life after the cloud lifted. Time management was part of the problem, I suppose, although heaven knows, I do achieve plenty. But isn’t that the way with you too? Other people [...]

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →