Organizing Help Content: The Problem of Findability

If you have ever tried to find information in a help file or on a website, you can empathize with users who might experience the same frustration using your company’s help or website. Fortunately, as a technical writer, you can make this experience a more positive and productive one by using some of the techniques described in this web seminar.

Topic

Organizing help content so that users can both find and learn information often requires technical writers to break out of the traditional topic-based folders and move toward faceted navigation, search engine optimization, interface text, level-based help, and other methods for organizing content.

In this webinar, we'll talk about some techniques for making your content more findable, as well as limitations with each of the techniques. Although there's no magic trick for making your content instantly findable for every type of user and scenario, there are some things you can do -- if you have time -- to better connect users to the information they need.

Speaker

Tom Johnson is a senior technical writer for a non-profit organization in Salt Lake City, Utah. He writes a technical communication blog at www.idratherbewriting.com, where he explores the latest trends, issues, and concepts in the field. He records podcasts of his interviews with technical writing luminaries from around the world. He is also a WordPress™ blog consultant. Tom has an undergraduate degree in English from the Brigham Young University in Utah and a Masters Degree of Fine Arts in literary nonfiction from the Columbia University School of the Arts. He has previously taught composition at The American University in Cairo (Egypt) and worked as a copywriter.

When:

January 26, 2012 - 12:00 – 1:00 PM EST.

Where:

In the comfort of your own home or office.

NOTE: We will be using GoToWebinar, which does not provide a toll-free number, but you can use VoIP (a headset is recommended) or Skype to call in for free. The long-distance number is an American area code (312), and a Canadian number might also be available (area code 514), but that has yet to be confirmed.

Cost:

STC Members and students: $10
Non-Members: $20

Registration and Payment Method:

Please use EventBrite to register and make your payment by January 23. You will receive login information by Wednesday, January 25.

Questions:

If you have any questions, contact Kathryn Bender, Program Manager, STC Southwestern Ontario Chapter.