All about Content: From Building the Case to Optimizing for Reuse 

A Partner Presentation Meeting: Optimizing Content Reuse in Unstructured and Structured Authoring Environments and How to Build a Business Case: Selling Your Ideas to Your Company

Whether you are working in an unstructured Word environment, directly in XML or anything in between, there are measures you can take during content development that will allow your company to maximize content (and translation) reuse.

The two-part session will be presented by Lisa Pietrangeli, Director of Client Solutions and Bryan Lynn, Director of Technology at ThirtySix Software.This session will begin with two individual case-studies. One will address content management strategies in a structured authoring environment, the other in an unstructured authoring environment. The combined stories of the two speakers will demonstrate content reuse strategies and how different technologies support them.

We'll answer the questions: Why is content reuse important to my company? How does technology affect content reuse optimization? How do different authoring methods impact technology options? What technical options are available for writing teams working in these two unique environments? What's the best way to maximize reuse? How do I help make sure that my company's brand and message are consistent worldwide? How do I determine ROI and present the idea to my company?

In the second part of our presentation, we’ll focus on how to build a business case and sell your ideas to your company. As a technical communicator, you are up-to-date on all of the new writing methods and innovative tools of the trade. You know how important content reuse is, how critical good templates are, and how best to work on a team. However, when you identify a better method, a better tool, or recognize opportunities for process improvements, it can be a challenge to get others to explore your solution and to get a budget approved. Lisa will talk about how to build and present a case for improvements for your company. 

The cost is $20 for STC members, $30 for non-members, and $15 for students (registration fee includes heavy appetizers and soft drinks).