March Intercom focuses on technical writing for the World Wide Web. Two authors in the issue provide Getting Started Guides on small data sets like Web analytics. Jenn Carlos and team contributors Travis Kelly and Vivianne Costa have provided a case study from their work at PROS on using Google Analytics to suppot their documentation and help portal. In “Measuring Content Like a Marketer: Getting Started with Web Analytics,” they explain the importance of combining Web metrics (quantitative data) with qualitative data, such as descriptive feedback from surveys.
Chris Whitehead carries this idea forward by showing how to use small data in the tech comm workplace. In “Getting Started with Small Data: How Trends in Analytics Can Add Value to the Role of the Technical Communicator,” he explains that small data sets like Web analytics on Web-based documentation can be interpreted and shared with stakeholders to make a case for a better user experience. Both articles provide detailed instructions for collecting analytics and using the interface to spot trends and support a documentation methodology.
In an increasingly plugged-in world, Mindi McDowell has written an article that reminds us how to communicate cybersecurity information with diverse audiences. In “Overcoming Cybersecurity Communication Challenges,” she answers several important questions when communicating cybersecurity information: How to communicate with audiences who have a diverse range of technical proficiency? How to maintain consistency and ease of comprehension when the Web-based lexicon changes daily? What balance can be sought between timeliness, completeness, and accuracy?
In “Creating a Successful Information Experience for Users,” Sopia Moustakas-Marx explains what information experience is and the challenges information designers face when working on user experience projects. She defines user experience as “writing for interaction,” stating that information developers play a crucial role in the collaboration between design and development teams to provide users with an exceptional and intuitive user interface.
In “Globalization Trends Impact Technical Communication Solutions Worldwide,” the COO of SmartCAT, Jean-Luc Saillard, explains how globalization and continued development of global communications have caused creative destruction in the translations industry, creating a need for a free and accessible cloud-based translation solution to improve inter-language communications. He explains the past, present, and future of automation translation technologies and gives a step-by-step description to execute a standard translation project.
This issue of Intercom also includes three columns on usability, academia, and emerging technologies; a mid-term report from STC’s President Bernard Aschwanden; information about earning continuing education units for certification; and an article about the STC Summit closing keynote.
Consider contributing to an upcoming issue of Intercom on assorted topics as teaching professional and technical communication, a deep dive into tech comm work tools and work flows, and generational profiles for every career level!
