Step One in Component Content: Common Modules

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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Sprint but Iterate: How Product Content Pros Can Adopt/Adapt Agility (Part 1)

As product teams have adopted Agile development methodologies, product content professionals often find themselves stuck between agility and review cycles.

How can quality product content be developed in two-week sprints? Where do content strategy, content operations, and content standards fit into the constant evolution of software products? Where do the various disciplines within the content continuum fit in? (For example, UI, Help, API, and Services content?)  How can everyone work together to deliver product content that is consistent, useful, accessible – and agile?

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Tips for Developing a “Real” User Profile for a Content Strategy

User personas, my corona! Who needs a collective when a real representative will do? No, I am not dissing the research and analysis that ultimately yields a relatable on-paper user. Nor am I endorsing a beer brand.

What I want to share is what worked for me when I had to characterize some brand new audiences to my in-house team of technical information developers.

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