We all love spaghetti — it’s fun to twirl on a fork and spool into your mouth. But do you know the expression “spaghetti code”? It’s a disparaging phrase programmers give to poor source code, that is twisted and tangled like a bowl of pasta. Corporate web content can easily become like spaghetti too, and that’s typically when web writers are called in to fix it.

This blog offers content designers and web writers a roll-your-sleeves-up method for untangling twisted content. It is particularly beneficial for digital content projects where timeframes, budgets and subject matter experts are under pressure.

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Last week I went to a marketing seminar. The session was led by really enthusiastic sales and marketing experts with high impact careers. But rather than feel really boosted by the hyped-up energy in the room, I came away thinking...

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If you've worked on a fairly large web project, the story in this blog post will be all too familiar. It's the terrible tale of why web teams struggle time and time again to get content ready.

Look at your governance structure and you'll find some clues. One person in your company can make a big difference to the web team's content crusade. The answer is surprising to many: the CEO. I'll explain why. And I suggest four simple things your CEO can do to help your web team achieve its goal of going live with great digital content. 

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People who know how to write well for digital media — websites, intranets, social media, blogs, e-newsletters — have amazing career opportunities.

Today when you write for work, you need to understand 'digital'. Digital technology is a game-changer for writers and communicators.

People who write for work must know how to:

1. attract online readers
2. improve search rankings
3. use metadata and keywords
4. follow web standards
5. use a content management system properly
6. write for mobile devices
7. write plain English
8. write for Google Translate
9. publish on multiple channels.

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When I grew up I had four besties. Together we were just like Blyton’s Famous Five. Sure, we didn’t roam the countryside solving mysteries and capturing villains. Golly gosh no! But we did freely roam our cul-de-sac for hours enjoying jolly adventures — at least until dinner time.

After university, we all dispersed into very different jobs — one into journalism, one into strategic planning, one into advertising, one into corporate comms, and I moved from solicitor to information designer.

But in the last five years or so, something funny has happened: all our job descriptions are starting to look the same. Disciplines are merging. My friends and I are doing similar tasks and use the same skillsets.

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