Among the countless content problems found on websites, one of the most egregious and commonly cited is duplicate content. Content strategists — not to mention search engine optimization (SEO) professionals — love to hate on duplicate content. As soon as we spot it during a content audit, we quickly bring out our metaphorical red pens. Begone, duplicate content! But why? For … [Read more...] about Why Duplicate Content Is Bad for the Web
Introducing Your Content: Page Titles and Headings
Last week, Georgy talked about the importance of headlines for introducing stories and enticing readers. But how do these lessons learned for headlines in news and featured content translate to other forms of content — such as admissions and academic webpages? Page titles and headings also play an important role for all content on our websites. Readers rely on page titles and … [Read more...] about Introducing Your Content: Page Titles and Headings
Clarity and Readability Checklist for Content Creators
Last week, Georgy talked about respecting our audiences with readable content, including options for testing readability. Wikipedia describes readability as "the ease in which text can be read and understood." In other words, do people get what you're saying? The definition of readability is straightforward enough, but how do you plan for clarity and readability? In … [Read more...] about Clarity and Readability Checklist for Content Creators
Portal Websites: The Great Content Divide
In the Star Trek universe, a "portal" is a doorway to another dimension, connecting two points in space-time. In higher ed, a portal is just as fantastic — an internal website intended to better target users, remove content clutter and improve content governance. Voila! Well, maybe. Portal websites aim to meet these goals by dividing content directed at external … [Read more...] about Portal Websites: The Great Content Divide
Higher Ed Takeaways From Confab Minneapolis 2013
Last week, I attended Confab Minneapolis 2013. And it rocked. I was joined by an international community of content professionals to challenge our thinking and help advance the evolving discipline of content strategy. We also enjoyed a lot of cake. As in past years, the higher ed community was well represented. If you missed the event, don’t fret. Confab Higher Ed has yet to … [Read more...] about Higher Ed Takeaways From Confab Minneapolis 2013