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Assist your end-users first: technical writing, copywriting, HTML Help, usability, and multimedia - by Epic Trends
Connect with your customers-and fuel your sales-through user assistance: technical writing, multimedia, web content, copywriting, usability, user interfaces, demos, tutorials, html help, and online Help.
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Quick steps to usability testing
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Who has time for usability testing when you are developing, marketing, updating your web site, and . . . ? Usability testing sounds rather time-consuming, scientific, involved, and expensive. However, none of these are true. Usability testing is actually straightforward and easy to conduct.
Complete article
Free Web and Help tool for translators
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
I just plain like Cat's Cradle, a free, nifty tool for professional translators or folks who work with translators. And not just because the tool is free and sports a cool name.
Cat's Cradle allows you to isolate only the words that need translating in a web site. The tool then automatically places the text back into the web site. HTML code remains intact. Real-time views even allow you to preview the page as you work on the text. In addition to HTML, the software supports index and table of contents files for HTML Help (.chm), PHP, and XML files. Cool, huh?
I downloaded Cat's Cradle and gave it a whirl. The interface gave me an easy, satisfying experience. The complete Help displayed just the right amount of information for my questions. This tool is free, but the folks at StormDance have invested a lot of care and concern in this product and the interface. As Yoda might applaud: "Impressed I am."
Cat's Cradle by StormDance
Think globally about your software
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Find out how different cultures might perceive colors and other elements in your product or web site.
Think globally about your software and documentation
Monday, April 25, 2005
As a parent of three teens, I have assumed that kids under the age of 18 are genetically pre-programmed to use the Internet. However, my assumption goes out the door with a Wall Street Journal article on how teenagers use web sites. The article might surprise you.
For a summary of the report, click the following link:
If you sell to teens . . .
For the full report, which requires a subscription, click the following link:
Wall Street Journal Technology Report: Teens Don't Know Everything
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Do you sometimes wonder which Help authoring tool to use? Many web sites for professional technical writers offer informative, objective reviews of Help authoring tools.
Read considerations for choosing a help authoring tool (HAT)
http://www.helpstuff.com/downloads/choosing-hat.pdf
Read a comparison of tools
http://www.helpstuff.com/downloads/tools.pdf
Read descriptions of tools or sign up for a low-cost seminar
http://www.cherryleaf.com/which_hat_(help_authoring_tool)_should_I_buy.htm
Read reviews of commonly-used tools
http://www.mshelpwiki.com/index.php?page=SoftwareReviews
See what professional technical writers are using
http://www.cherryleaf.com/toolssurvey.htm
The market leader is RoboHelp. However, after buying eHelp, the makers of RoboHelp, MacroMedia is retiring this product.
My favorite tools are at the following web sites. And, I do not get money for recommending them. :)
For smaller projects, I like HelpandManual. This tool works especially well for projects in which the software developer plans to write and edit their own Help topics.
http://www.helpandmanual.com
For larger or more complex projects, I am a big fan of AuthorIT. I love their database approach, seamless single-sourcing, and efficient, fast templates.
http://www.authorit.com
For projects that do not require single-sourcing for Help and print, I enjoy writing help topics with Dreamweaver and a Java plug-in called DevaTools. DevaTools provides the table of contents, full-text search, and index, all through client-side scripting.
http://www.devahelp.com
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
If you use RoboHelp, Joe Welinske, president of WritersUA, gives the latest and greatest about the retirement of a popular Help authoring tool.
Complete article from WritersUA.com
Your intent behind your web copy
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
The voice of an online company can come across as insincere and hollow. Your job as a software marketer is to find a unique voice for your company that connects with the needs and language that your potential customers express. Your connection must be honest and exude an eagerness to serve.
As you write copy for your landing pages, index page, or product descriptions, keep in the mind the following quotes from a couple of master copywriters:
To me, all advertising that is truly great reeks of honest humanity. Between every word you can smell the hot breath of the writer. Whether a result of wit, intelligence, insight or artfulness, great advertising invariably transmits itself to the receiver on a fragile human frequency.
Source: Ed McCabe, The Copywriter's bible, AD & AD Mastercraft Series
That way I can write copy the way I believe all copy should be written: as a conversation between two human beings rather than an announcement from manufacturer to consumer.
Source: Chris O'Shea, The Copywriter's Bible, AD & AD Mastercraft Series
Add subscription buttons to your business blog
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Allow visitors to subscribe to RSS feeds directly from your page. You can easily add buttons to your blog page for some of the more popular news aggregators by visiting the following links:
My Yahoo!
Bloglines
News Gator
MSN
How to write for a business blog
Blogs, also known as RSS or news feeds, are some of the best ways to create buzz about your professional knowledge or products that you sell. Many blogs are chatty, personal, and opinionated. Some blogs are downright self-absorbed. What is the right kind of tone and writing for a business blog?
Complete article
Email copywriting can drive your sales
Better beta testing for the small business
Explore better beta tests even if you have limited resources.
Complete article
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