In this session with Pamela Kostur and Bryan Lynn we will learn about the benefits of content reuse, how your organization can formulate an effective content reuse strategy, and how to select the right technology to support your reuse strategy.

Note: we are looking for your comments and questions in advance so our speakers can prepare! See: Content Reuse Made Simple

Presentation Description
Are you tired of writing the same content over and over again, simply because you can’t locate the right version for your project? Have you suffered the pain of discovering that you’ve just spent two hours writing a product description that someone else wrote last week? If so, then content reuse is the answer.

Although content reuse can streamline your documentation processes, it isn’t always easy to implement. Successful content reuse requires much planning. You need to identify reuse opportunities, decide how to structure and write your content, and then create writing guidelines. In addition, you also need to design how your content will flow throughout your content lifecycle, from planning, to writing, to review, to translation, and to storage.

Once your content reuse strategy is in place, you need to select a technology to effectively support this strategy. Selecting the right technology isn't easy. There is no universal one-size-fits-all content reuse solution. There are countless vendor products, each differing in features, functionality, price, and complexity. With all these possibilities it's easy to get lost. However, by taking a well planned and disciplined approach to evaluating these technologies, you can be sure to find the right solution for your organization.

This presentation describes the benefits of writing for reuse and walks you through the process of planning, identifying, and authoring reusable content. We’ll also outline a practical approach to help identify and evaluate content reuse technologies to ensure you select the one that best supports your content reuse strategy.

About our Speakers
Pamela Kostur
Pamela Kostur is a partner in Parallax Communications, a consulting company in Toronto, Canada. Parallax specializes in content management strategies, corporate and marketing communications, technical communication, and content development.

Pamela has been writing professionally for over 20 years and has extensive experience working with clients around the world, helping them to align content with users’ needs and business requirements.
Pamela has authored several articles and taught workshops on topics such as content reuse and content management strategies, information architecture, structured writing, usability and miscommunication. She is also a co-author of Managing Enterprise Content: A Unified Content Strategy (New Riders, 2002).
www.parallax.ca

Bryan Lynn
Bryan Lynn is co-founder and lead technologist with ThirtySix Software, a software solutions provider that specializes in delivering content management solutions on the Microsoft platform. ThirtySix Software, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, helps organizations to more efficiently manage their content by maximizing their existing investment in Microsoft technologies.

Before founding ThirtySix Software, Bryan spent nearly 10 years working in corporate IT environments designing, developing, and implementing content management solutions. Bryan has extensive experience working with structured and unstructured authoring solutions, and has a deep understanding of the pros and cons associated with deploying and authoring in both XML and non-XML environments. Through his experience, Bryan was able to identify gaps in the content management market, leading to the formation of ThirtySix Software and the release of their flagship product, SmartDocs.
www.thirtysix.net

Note: RSVP deadline is October 28, 2010; we need to provide numbers in advance to Verity Club. To keep the administrative effort in organizing this group to a minimum, we ask for payment online in advance. Payment at the event will be $35 (please bring exact change; receipts will not be issued for in-person payment.) But again, we would very much encourage you to pay online in advance. Even if you are paying the higher fee at the door, we need to know you are coming by October 28, as we need to confirm catering numbers with Verity

Additional location note: Some light h'ors d'oeuvres and a cash bar will be available at this event.