Tag: Content reuse

Turn Your Keynotes into Content Gold: Writing Tips for Speakers

Turn Your Keynotes into Content Gold: Writing Tips for Speakers

Debra W Kahn (@debrawk.bsky.social)

I recently collaborated on an article with a colleague whose ability to speak extemporaneously impressed me. Not a skill I have ever had. Her delivery was confident, and her knowledge of the subject matter was deep.

But she was intimidated by a blank page.

Even when I drew up an outline for our collaborative article, she seemed to stumble through sentences and lose her way. Who knew?

Professional speakers know how to engage a live audience—but translating that spark into writing? That’s a different craft. The good news? By implementing a few golden strategies, your writing can carry the same power and authority as your voice on stage.

The key is to know what to keep from your speaking style and what to change.

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Step One in Component Content: Common Modules

Step One in Component Content: Common Modules

Debra W Kahn (@debrawk.bsky.social)

No one likes to reinvent the wheel. And in the era of AI, none of us like to create content when we can leverage something that’s already out there. (Copyrights respected, of course.)

Actually, irrespective of AI, an aversion to unnecessary writing effort has always been a thing, especially among those of us who develop product-related content. Why rewrite a product-line description or a disclaimer when you can leverage what others (or you) have already written?

When I had my Eureka moment about this, near the turn of the millennium, I tried to create a content reuse process within an existing product documentation system. Seemed like common sense at the time. So, I set out to convince my colleagues to join me on that plain.

Today, of course, we have many options to componentize content, from WordPress to sophisticated CCMS tools. But where do you start if you’re not ready to make a giant leap to an expensive tool?

I believe the basics of my original process still apply. So, I will share it with you here.

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Adapting Content for a New Audience – My Journey in 4 Steps

Adapting Content for a New Audience – My Journey in 4 Steps

Debra W Kahn (@debrawk.bsky.social)

Recasting existing content for use by a different audience or in a different context empowers you as a writer – as a marketer – and/or as a consultant. And it is a great way to reuse evergreen content.

I discovered this myself when I rewrote four existing blog posts – aimed at fellow bloggers – as a single blog post aimed at project managers.

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