As technology continues to evolve, demand increases for written content to adapt for delivery practically anywhere, on any device. Consumers want easy-to-access content that is clear and concise. We live in a culture in which many people prefer e-books and PDFs to traditional books. Topic-based content is replacing PDFs; this is not only the present trend but that of the foreseeable future.
Although many would argue that topic-based authoring has been around for 20 years, the reality is that many corporations have only started to adapt their product content from a book format to topic-based authoring.
Benefits
Most technical writers have some familiarity with topic-based authoring – a modular approach to developing content. Topics are discreet chunks of content for reuse in PDFs, websites, help systems, and other formats. Topic-based content has the following advantages:
- Topics are reusable, for new products, new releases, and different media
- Topics are easier to update
- Updates are more cost-effective than documents
- Updates are faster
- Access to specific information is faster
Transition
If topic-based authoring is so great, why haven’t all corporations implemented the change?
The obvious immediate disadvantage is the cost, time, and effort to implement the change. Planning is the key to a successful transition to topic-based authoring. There are many aspects to consider before you begin the transition. Here are a few important considerations:
- Investment costs to implement changes
- Implementation time and training
- Review process must change
- Existing content must be adapted to a topic-based model
- Quality writing standards must be revised
- Potential impact on new release content deadlines
- Audience
In the ever-changing world of technical writing, build a content strategy that makes sense for your business.
