The Elements of Content Strategy

The Elements of Content Strategy, by Erin Kissane. From A Book Apart

If you think your site’s content doesn’t matter, then you are sorely mistaken.

Granted, the argument for content strategy has always mystified me. Not because I think we can do without content strategy, we can’t, but I’m amazed that we still have to make the argument.

Folks care very much about appearances; what their websites look like means the world to them. But why don’t they care just as much about what their sites are saying? So many websites feel like dumping grounds for every last scrap of possible content, with little regard that we’re actually proposing someone should read what’s being said, let alone care about it. Like a gentleman in a finely crafted suit who wants to burp you the alphabet, even if your website looks nice, no one will stick around to hear what you have to say if you don’t craft something compelling.

We still have to make the argument for content strategy, now more than ever. Erin Kissane is not just the perfect person to tell us how, she’s still in the trenches doing it everyday, but now she’s written a treatise on just how it gets done, The Elements of Content Strategy. And I imagine Erin’s book will sit faithfully in service on my desk for a long time to come, heavily thumbed, dog-eared, and loved.

Erin has long been one of my favorite writers, I love her voice, humor, and her style; all at once snarky and supportive. I often find myself laughing while reading, only to realize when I’m done that she’s made me rethink what I thought I knew so well, and whoa I just learned something to boot.

Plain and simple, this book gives you the ammo to make the argument, and you’ll be smarter for it by the end, regardless what discipline you identify with. This may be one of the most potent brief books you’ll read. And it may also make you better looking, but hell, I think you look great just the way you are.

On Deck

As our library grows, so does our family. Each book adds to the collective resource we’re building. And each book will strive to bring new ideas and insight to what we do everyday.

That stack above is, well, actually a stack now and not just a couple books, but will be growing a bit more this year. Some upcoming books for 2011 include, Responsive Web Design by Ethan Marcotte, Designing for Emotion by Aarron Walter, Mobile First by Luke Wroblewski, and even a book on web typography by yours truly that’s slowly starting to take shape. For now, do yourself a favor and grab The Elements of Content Strategy.


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