Content is King

Exciting News for Content Developers

2008-11-23T21:03:00.002+08:00

Hi,

Abu Dhabi has created an exciting Content Creation Zone called twofour54, lead by CEO Tony Orsten. Tony is a veteran of 30 years in the Media & Content Development Industry.

I found twofour54 while watching a BBC News interview of lovely Ms Noura Al-Kaabi. She leads the One-Stop-Shop to facilitate a smooth relocation for individuals and creative content companies.

Here's an excerpt from their web site :

" Welcome to twofour54, an integrated, state-of-the-art environment that supports and inspires media content creators to flourish in the Middle East and North Africa.

Based in Abu Dhabi, we provide a cohesive infrastructure for content creation companies and individuals in the film, broadcast, digital, gaming, publishing and music industries.

At twofour54 we offer world-class production and post-production facilities, a vocational learning centre, creative labs and a new business incubator

twofour54 is here to provide a collaborative and supportive campus environment, stimulating creative and professional partnerships. With some of the world's major media content creation companies already onboard, we're now open for business! ". ( www.twofour54.com )

I'm digging their site further to understand more about their services and opportunities. I'll share it with you soon.

But don't wait for me if you wish to grab the opportunity in that region. Just go right ahead and contact them. They have a serious team there including Wayne Bord, Andy Young and Greg Sweeting, among other very experienced people. I'm confident that they will assist you in your ventures there.

Content Development

2008-11-17T15:32:00.007+08:00

In content development, I came across several believes (beliefs) and philosophies regarding it. Some are rigid or regimented. Some are simply too fluid. I personally like the ones which are organic and evolving.

Before we go deeper, lets make a simple set of terms of reference.

What is content? Let me give some examples of content.

Google’s endless list of links after a search. Not the server.

The hot coffee and not the cup.

The TV show and not the TV set.

The songs and not the CD.

Goods in a shop but not the shop.

The soup and not the can.

Articles in newpapers and NOT the paper.

Of course, content needs the packaging to hold and deliver it but the package isn’t the reason we buy things. We buy a can of soup for the soup and not for the can.

The difference between content and packaging is very clear now. So lets see the most important factor related to content.

Contents are for whom? Our audience.

Our Clients
Our Fans
Our Staff
Our Bosses
Our Subordinates
Our Partners
Our Vendors
Our Contractors
Our Marketeers
Our Trainees
Our Viewers
Our Listeners

Yup. These people can give us the break we need or break us into pieces. So, they are very important to us. No exception. In business or at work, content is always about satisfying our audience. So, we must factor them when developing content.

Lets recap.

1. Know the difference between content and the packaging.

2. Our audience is the most important factor in content development.

Soon, I’ll give examples of projects in various environments such as TV stations, Publishing Houses, Web site development units, Business Presentations, Exhibitions, Conferences and many more.

I welcome all constructive comments. So, be sure that your email works because I have some interesting ebooks to give away.

I’ll be glad to link back to other blogs or websites (as long as they are clean from adult content, profanities and hate-mongering). Just email me.

Adieu.

What Readers Want

2007-10-26T03:57:00.007+08:00

Hi,

Before you write and publish something, you need to ask yourself 2 important questions:
1) Who is it for? (target audience )
2) What is it for? (your message or objectives )

You have to answer your own questions well.

The reason is, before anyone buys a book or reads an article, he or she would normally ask 2 questions:
1) Is it for me?
2) Do I benefit from it?

If the content you're offering matches readers' need, then we're your potential buyers.

So, spend some time answering the 2 questions yourself. If you're able to answer yours, then they might answer ours, as well.

The ultimate question -> Will they buy it?

Buying decisions ( stickiness ) will finally depend on the quality of the content presentation. This refers to the editorial style, language, flow, structure, layout, format and supporting elements. Most readers prefer the KISS or reader-friendly.

P.S.
Attractive book cover is just an added flavour which may influence buying decisions a bit. But it is the least important factor.

So what's the KISS like?

2007-07-08T23:53:00.002+08:00

KISS is short for Keep It Simple & Stupid. May also mean, Keep It Simple & Short or Keep It Short & Sharp.

KISS refers to:

Text
FLOW
Supporting Elements
Layout

TEXT WITH THE KISS

Ideas, concepts and messages are delivered in many formats such as in books, magazine, proposals, brochures, web sites, emails, presentations, video, audio and etc.

Unfortunately, some articles are written like I'm entering a jungle. This is hard work. I usually trash these away immediately because they're choking, tiring and exhausting.

I prefer to enter a garden of words and a nice landscape of sentences. I will feel relaxed, comfortable and felt welcomed to be in such gardens.

Here's the sort of text GARDENS for me and for readers like me:

1. Short sentences. ( exactly as it means )

2. Short paragraphs ( the most 5 lines ). Use a combination of 3-liners, 4-liners and 5-liners. That way, your write-ups won't look dull or boring. When a paragraph has more than 5 lines, it looks like a thick bush. When it has more than 10 lines, its a jungle. It goes to the trash before any snake creeps out from it.

3. After a short while, highlight main ideas in BOLD between paragraphs. Its a sort of signboard keeping me on the right track of mind. It could be in 1 or 2 lines.

4. Some ideas are listed in bullets. Its like highlighting some roses growing among other attractive plants around it.

5. Use Arial or Verdana FONTS. Both are the clearest ever. Arial might give you a slight issue because the slash '/' is the same as a capital i 'I' when it becomes an italic i 'I'. Here's an italic 'i' in Verdana : 'I'. Your choice.

6. SIMPLE WORDS. Many of us are not in your field. IF YOU HAVE THE SUDDEN URGE TO SEND MESSAGES to us, use WORDS WE UNDERSTAND. Jargons will cause indigestions. Prevention is better than cure, so articles like this will go to the trash.

7. You Are What You Write. If you're sincere, we can feel it. Whatever you write, projects your innerself. Your writings flow your spiritual-self towards us. If it's insidious, we can feel it too and thus another article goes to the trash.

When you have the above style as your text, you gave the KING (content) the KISS.

I'll talk more about FLOW, SUPPORTING ELEMENTS and LAYOUT in the next few articles.

SO...you want to KISS

2007-07-08T03:10:00.002+08:00

Hi,

I'm Azmanar. Just call me Mann, if it is easier to pronounce and recall.

Lets talk about KISS.

KISS ??? Yes, KISS.

Keep It Simple and Stupid.
Keep It Simple and Short.
Keep It Short and Sharp.

Yes, those are all the kisses that I like.

I only read books, journals, web sites, emails, proposals, reports which have the KISS in it.
I only watch TV Shows, Videos and Events with the KISS.
I only listen to Radio Shows, Commercials, Lectures and Presentations that give me the KISS.
I buy kool electronic products that have the KISS character.

More about me at : www.azman.info

CONTENT is KING

2007-07-08T02:50:00.001+08:00

Everyday, we are being inundated with information coming from newspapers, newsletters, emails, spams, mails, junkmails, journals, books, magazines, web sites, TV Shows, video shows, radio shows, events, billboards, directories, software, presentations, reports and etc.

It's a very huge track of alphanumeric jungle with steep mountains of text. When the sentence-rain pours down, we're being deluged with mud flows of words. Its catastrophic for people looking for useful info.

Writers tried very hard to get their message across to readers. Many are successful because they are responsible writers. But many more failed miserably to get their message across.

I'm no writer, but as a reader, I do know what I want. I want useful stuffs to read - EASY TO READ, RECALL and UNDERSTAND.

So give the KING (content) a KISS.

More about me at : http://www.azman.info/