I work at a small firm and we do not have the luxury of one dedicated person to retrieve and manage content. Being so small as a firm, my troubleshooting of our workflow is hindered and not addressed as frequently as I like. I’m glad you wrote this article because it’s a need I’ve seen at this firm for a long time. The usual process is we request information from a client with no guidelines and the content that is sent back is almost always less than desirable. One page will have one sentence of copy, another five paragraphs.
I plan on taking your advice and working on some “general” content templates and then customizing them appropriately for each specific project’s needs. I hope this will help our firm’s content gathering from clients and keep it organized but most importantly useful.
Just when you think no one “gets” what its like for the managing directors, etc…out there who actually care what kind of site they are putting out, as well as standing behind. Just when you think empathy to be a lost cause that suddenly turned into some kind of inside joke you have yet to be let in on. Just when you think you’re the only one who understands that the content is the single, most important factor, that determines whether the site is set up to be a failure or a smashing success that you feel is worthy enough to put your name on. Just when you think you’re alone, you read an article like this, and you feel…….heard. And amazingly enough, hope is renewed again.
This is a great idea. I have developed some templates that I use for posting to my blog. It saves time and makes the process easier. Not the same as what you are suggesting, but usefl nonetheless:
Small correction to the first sentence of the last paragraph in the ‘Content Templates to the Rescue’ section:
Currently reads, ”… if your project doesn’t have a dedicated content specialist, the templates can produced by information architect, project coordinator, or other person who is in charge of your content.“
Should read, ”… if your project doesn’t have a dedicated content specialist, the templates can be produced by an/the information architect, project coordinator, or other person who is in charge of your content.“
Now, with that out of the way, I can tell you that I love this article. As someone who frequently collects information from sales managers who’d rather eat thumb tacks than write more than one sentence at a time, I appreciate your straightforward approach to prying content from their little brains. (I say this with all due respect to said managers, of course.)
Also, I’m a sucker for any reference to the Turbo-Encabulator.
25 Reader Comments
Back to the ArticleJesse Brack
I work at a small firm and we do not have the luxury of one dedicated person to retrieve and manage content. Being so small as a firm, my troubleshooting of our workflow is hindered and not addressed as frequently as I like. I’m glad you wrote this article because it’s a need I’ve seen at this firm for a long time. The usual process is we request information from a client with no guidelines and the content that is sent back is almost always less than desirable. One page will have one sentence of copy, another five paragraphs.
I plan on taking your advice and working on some “general” content templates and then customizing them appropriately for each specific project’s needs. I hope this will help our firm’s content gathering from clients and keep it organized but most importantly useful.
NewMediaGenius
Just when you think no one “gets” what its like for the managing directors, etc…out there who actually care what kind of site they are putting out, as well as standing behind. Just when you think empathy to be a lost cause that suddenly turned into some kind of inside joke you have yet to be let in on. Just when you think you’re the only one who understands that the content is the single, most important factor, that determines whether the site is set up to be a failure or a smashing success that you feel is worthy enough to put your name on. Just when you think you’re alone, you read an article like this, and you feel…….heard. And amazingly enough, hope is renewed again.
Thank you for posting this content.
Cogentos
This is a great idea. I have developed some templates that I use for posting to my blog. It saves time and makes the process easier. Not the same as what you are suggesting, but usefl nonetheless:
cheers
Tony
Melanie
Thank you so much for this! It’s terribly practical. It’s one of those CS details that I was in dire need of. Kudos.
Hey Jessi Bee
Small correction to the first sentence of the last paragraph in the ‘Content Templates to the Rescue’ section:
Currently reads, ”… if your project doesn’t have a dedicated content specialist, the templates can produced by information architect, project coordinator, or other person who is in charge of your content.“
Should read, ”… if your project doesn’t have a dedicated content specialist, the templates can be produced by an/the information architect, project coordinator, or other person who is in charge of your content.“
Now, with that out of the way, I can tell you that I love this article. As someone who frequently collects information from sales managers who’d rather eat thumb tacks than write more than one sentence at a time, I appreciate your straightforward approach to prying content from their little brains. (I say this with all due respect to said managers, of course.)
Also, I’m a sucker for any reference to the Turbo-Encabulator.