Article
Talking to the Wisconsin Engineer
Last week, I spoke to the staff of Wisconsin Engineer magazine. As a former web manager of that publication, it was a pleasure to be back in 2317 Engineering Hall talking about the web. Big, big thanks goes to Susan Hellstrom, the magazine advisor, who thought of me two years after I left the group and asked me to come in and talk. Meg, the editor-in-chief, wrote a nice thank-you on her weblog, erroneously calling me an expert! *blushes*
I talked with the staff about how a publication can maximize the value of its web site. A lot of organizations are so focused on getting the print version together that they do little more than copy and paste the articles online. With a few shifted priorities, some re-arranged workflows, and the right tools, publications can use their web site as a unique and essential part of their product. Plan for both the print and online components to stand alone if necessary, but tie them together with good strategy and content that works cross-channel.
I created two supplementary pieces that where distributed before the talk. These may not be terribly useful as stand-alone items, but I wanted to offer them anyway:
- Major goals for web publications (PDF) covers a few things that every publication should try to do with their web site.
- Evolution of web publishing (PDF) gives a brief and simplistic history of how publications have used (or not used) the web.
This was my first real speaking engagement, but hopefully not the last! Thanks again to Susan, Meg, Karen and the rest of the Wisconsin Engineer crew for having me.