When looking for a place to live, there are a lot of things you take into consideration to find the home that is just right for you. Let’s face it…choosing a home is a big commitment, and one that you may be living with for a long time.
Choosing a component content management system (CCMS) model requires the same thoughtful consideration as choosing a residence. This is also a decision that you will have to live with for a long time. Here are a few things to think about if CMS implementation is a possibility for your company.

Strategies for Identifying Potential Content Reuse

Content reuse is the heart of a content management strategy. Content reuse can provide many of the benefits of using a CMS, including translation cost savings and savings in content creation time. Whether your content is in XML or still in unstructured Word documents, you can begin to identify where content is identical or very similar. Here are some tips to help you find your reuse potential:

Tips for Creating a Publishing Backbone

Do you have the elements you need for a solid publishing process? You need a strong backbone to support your publishing initiatives. This is more important than ever, since there are so many formats and devices in which to publish content.

What Does a CCMS Do That Other Systems Don't

We often hear questions like, “Can I still use DITA if I don’t have a component content management system (CCMS)?“ . The answer is “Yes“ …but… Like any method of publishing, you can perform various functions to a certain point without a CCMS. However, there are things a CCMS does that other tools don’t do that can make you more effective in your publishing process:

Tips for Content Conversion

CMS content conversion can involve the transformation from a print to digital content format, or from one digital format to another. Whether you are considering content conversion to digital formats for the first time or assessing your process for ongoing needs, a clear strategy will give you the greatest chance of a smooth experience and a successful end result. Here are some key points to keep in mind when readying your content for conversion:

Each year, CFOs review the costs expended by their companies to verify that the money being spent is worthwhile. If they find that spending cannot be justified with positive results, budgets may be cut for those departments. In that case, you may need to say good-bye to the tools, the support, and the services that you might rely on to do your job if you can’t prove its worth.

Do you have a content strategy to guide your content lifecycle? As your content base grows, it is more critical than ever to have a solid content strategy in place. A good content strategy maintains integrity across your content base and keeps the processes through which your content flows consistent. Here are some tips for creating a strong content strategy:

It’s been a great year of tips for selecting, implementing, and using a component content management system(CCMS). After all, CCMS technology is truly transformative for any business, helping organizations ring in the New Year with cost savings, additional operational efficiencies, and increased customer satisfaction.

XML Tips for a Better Understanding

In our newsletter, we give lots of tips for working with structured content. In this article, we take a step back to the beginning. If you are working with content in word processing or spreadsheet programs, you may be wondering what all the XML fuss is about? Why should you convert your content to XML? What does XML do for you that you can’t do now? The following tips should give you a general idea of what XML is all about:

In a new content management environment, some writers refuse to give up ownership of “their books“. They work alone in the safety of their self-built silos. They desperately try to protect their work from others, keeping their arms wrapped firmly around their computers so their files won’t be shared with anyone. After all, their work might get “messed up“ if anyone else touches it! (We all know at least one of these writers, right? Or maybe we are one of these writers!?)