Content Development
A common pitfall of people who are new to web development is to underestimate the time and care required in preparing, or developing, content for a web site. So What is content development? It's a bigger job than most people realise. One major task is to work out what sort of content you will need to have on your site, or Scoping the content. Once you've worked that out, an even more important step is to decide how this content is supposed to be linked together. This is known as developing an Information architecture.
Only then, after deciding on the type of content you need and the structure that it should exist in online, can you start with the issues of Developing the content.
What is content development? • Scoping the content • Information architecture • Developing the content
What is content development?
"Content development is therefore a collaborative, iterative process that overlaps with creative and technical development."
Web content is the information you read on a web site. It can include text, images and interactive elements. Content development is the process of gathering together, writing, editing, optimising and otherwise adapting content materials specifically for publication on the web.
Why is it important?
Most web users are interested in the content of a web site, regardless of whether they're doing research, shopping or 'surfing'. Web users scan pages quickly for information and they expect the site's structure, design and content to make this easy. Good content development makes this process easier for users, and ensures that content is engaging, relevant and works well in the web medium.
IML's approach
IML's approach to content development is to build a site that:
- is well structured and easy to navigate and read
- meets the user's information and learning needs
- exemplifies good use of the web medium
A collaborative process
"Content development is therefore a collaborative, iterative process that overlaps with creative and technical development."
Content development doesn't happen in isolation. Information, visual and interaction design all have an impact on the text and other content materials. Content development is therefore a collaborative, iterative process that overlaps with creative and technical development. The content developer as well as the information architect, visual designer and programmer are responsible for making sure the content and the site's design and functionality are compatible and integrated.
Scoping the content
Web content should include only what the user needs or wants to read - nothing more. This scope may change as you start to get a clearer picture of what the web site will do and look like. In the project planning stage you need to determine the scope of the content through user research and discussion with the content expert(s). These questions will help you gather the information you need:
- What content is required for the site?
- Is each piece of content relevant to users (not just to the content expert)?
- Do the users really want or need this information?
- Are there existing resources that can be used?
- Do you have to pay for copyright?
- Has the content been developed for web delivery?
- What development does the content need?
- What content must be written or created especially for the site?
- Does the content require specific instructional, interactive or graphic design?
- Who is going to provide the content?
- Who will review and evaluate the content?
- Who will authorise changes to the content and content scope during development?
- Who will maintain the content after launch?
Information architecture
Information architecture is the process where we help our client determine the structure of their site. This includes deciding how to organise the content so that it makes most sense to the users; how to link the pages together; and how to navigate through the pages. In the project planning stage you need to develop a flow chart or architectural plan to map out the content and define these relationships between different content areas.
Developing the content
Once scoping and information architecture are complete, the actual web site content can be developed. This process involves assessing and analysing content needs and adapting content materials to suit the ways that people use computers and the specific structure, design and functionality of your web site.
This process depends on what kind of content is required, and may include:- assessing and analysing content needs and designing content layout solutions
- testing content development concepts on users
- researching content
- developing and writing new content or rewriting/editing existing content into a form that is appropriate for interactive media and adds value to the content materials
- html coding and validating the web copy, and inserting copy into templates or content management systems
- processing and optimising images
- ensuring that content meets best practice web development and usability standards
- maintaining live web site content