Innovative documentation projects, including documentation for Kindle, tablets, and smartphones, screencasts, blogs, Twitter, user comments and ratings, web analytics, process improvements for aaccessibility, and translation time and cost savings. Based on a webinar by Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell for the Society for Technical Communication in 2011.

1. <Insert Picture Here>
Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the
Next Level
@martarauch
Marta Rauch, Gail Chappell
STC Webinar, 2/24/2011 +Marta Rauch

2. Your Presenters Today
Marta Rauch Gail Chappell
Principal Information Developer Senior Principal Technical Writer
Planning ID Team Lead JavaFX Team Lead
EPM Documentation Portal Page JavaFX Technical Documentation
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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3. Agenda
 Kindle, Tablets, Smart Phones
 Screencasts
 Translation
 Blogs, Twitter
 Web Analytics
 Fresh Content
 Accessibility
 User Comments, Ratings
 Question and Answer Session
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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4. Kindle, Tablets, Smart Phones: The New PC
Good
Market 2010 2011 2012
 Online library
Growth
Tablets 17 million 44 million 70 million
 Usability testing eReaders 10 million 14 million 16 million
 Doc portal
Making it Better
 Kindle-compatible format
 Versatile
 iPad, iPhone, Droid, tablets
 Market leader
 Free eReaders
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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5. Screencasts: A Supplement to Written Docs
Good
 Written docs +
screencasts
Making it Better
 Know your audience
 Know your content
http://download.oracle.com/javafx/1.3/tutorials/image_slideshow/video.html
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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6. Translation: Word Reduction is a Good Thing
Good
 Training
 Style guidelines
Making it Better
 Word reduction
 One glossary
% Words Savings Savings for All
Reduced per Guide Languages
 XML 10% $2,880 $74,880
20% $5,760 $149,760
 Content Management System
30% $8,640 $219,960
 Automation 40% $11,520 $299,520
50% $14,400 $374,400
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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7. Blogs and Twitter: A Quick Dose of Information
Good
 Promotions
 Tidbits
 A day in the life
Making it Better
 Credibility
 Group accounts
 Accountability
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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8. Web Analytics: A Way to Measure Your Success
Good
 Usability tests
 Productivity metrics
 Customer feedback
Making it Better
 Track usage data
 Downloads
 Click-maps
 Entry and exit pages
 Automated reports
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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9. Fresh Content: A Hook to Keep Users Interested
Good
 Live website with
changing content
Making it Better
 Cohesive organization
 Showcase design
 End-of-life process
http://download.oracle.com/javafx/
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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10. Accessibility: Reaching All of Your Customers
Good
 Accessibility guidelines
 Alternative text
Making it Better
 Built in to template
 Reports
 Usability tests
 Screen readers
 Keyboard equivalents
 Accessibility checker
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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11. Comments and Ratings: Conversations With Users
Good
 Kudos, questions,
improvements, and bugs
Making it Better
 Guidelines
 Moderators
 Close-out policy
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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12. Key Takeaways
• Kindle, Tablets, Smart Phones: The new PC
• Screencasts: A supplement to written docs
• Translation: Word reduction is a good thing
• Blogs, Twitter: A quick dose of information
• Web Analytics: A way to measure your success
• Fresh Content: A hook to keep users interested
• Accessibility: Reaching all your customers
• Comments, Ratings: Conversations with users
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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13. Q U E S T I O N S & A N S W E R S
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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14. Final Thought
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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15. Thank You!
For more information, contact us:
@martarauch
+Marta Rauch
Attend our presentations at these 2011 conferences:
 Content Management Strategies/DITA 2011,
April 2-4 in Baltimore, MD
 STC Summit 2011
May 15-18 in Sacramento, CA
 Lavacon 2011
November 13-16 in Austin, TX
Marta Rauch and Gail Chappell, “Making It Better! Taking Your Innovative Documentation to the Next Level” STC Webinar, 2/24/2011. Copyright 2011.
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