Intercom isn’t the only magazine with a new look. Technical Communication has a completely new design and a new website as well. You can click the “Technical Communication Online” button directly from www.stc.org to view the site, or go directly to http://techcomm.stc.org.
The May issue of Technical Communication includes the following articles.
Editorial: Technical Communication Online … Behind the Scenes
Menno D.T. de Jong, Editor
This issue’s editorial describes the design of the new Technical Communication website, in particular the guiding principles used for the design: simplicity, usability, possibilities to further expand the website’s functionality, and a professional and inviting look and feel.
Promoting the Business Websites of Technical Communication Companies, Consultants, and Independent Contractors
John B. Killoran
Business websites are important means for technical communication professionals and businesses to recruit new clientele. Using a combination of a survey (240 technical communicators) and interviews, this article investigates the effectiveness of various strategies to direct prospects to a business website. Results show that online strategies (e-mail and search engines) are more effective than offline strategies (networking and referrals).
Writing for Robots: Search Engine Optimization of Technical Communication Business Websites
John B. Killoran
This article focuses on the role of search engine optimization techniques to attract visitors to technical communication business websites. Using a survey, interviews, and an analysis of business websites, the prevalence and effectiveness of various techniques are explored. Longer home page titles and more inbound links are features of effective business websites.
The Contribution of Technical Communicators to the User-Centered Design Process of Personalized Systems
Lex van Velsen, Thea van der Geest, and Michaël Steehouder
Personalization is increasingly important in computer-mediated communication. This article analyzes the concept and process of personalization, and compares it to a traditional rhetoric approach. It then proposes a user-centered design approach for personalized systems and discusses the ways technical communicators may contribute to personalized systems.
QuikScan: Formatting Documents for Better Comprehension and Navigation
Quan Zhou and David K. Farkas
This article describes a new format for online and print documents, called QuikScan. It employs within-document summaries formatted as numbered list items. QuikScan improves readers’ comprehension, and helps them navigate more effectively through a document. The article describes the format extensively, but also discusses its usefulness, drawbacks, and requirements.
Book reviews
Avon J. Murphy, Editor
Each issue of Technical Communication includes a Book Reviews section covering the most relevant new books in the field. In this issue, 23 new books are reviewed.
Recent and Relevant
Sherry Southard, Editor
Each issue of Technical Communication includes a Recent & Relevant section highlighting and summarizing articles in related journals that may be relevant for technical communication professionals and scholars.
