Archive for the ‘Resources’ Category

  1. acquiring talent from social media tools

    July 15, 2011. 2 comments.

    Few questions before we talk about our topic in detail. Are you keeping up with Social media for your recruitments? Are you already engaged with clients and followers using the social media? Are you an HR executive or human resources professional and wondering just what is social media and how can social media support your business agenda ?

    People are central to social media and its success. Social connections and interactions make an obvious difference in promoting any business and capturing the market more easily on a large scale. Many successful HR consultants are pretty evangelistic about using this tool as it offers looking beyond the organization to find new talent.

    “Social media can give you a great and efficient way to engage with your community – candidates, clients, customers, partners, prospects, etc. – on a very level playing field with the companies you are competing with for talent (or business).” says Chris Havrilla national recruiting manager Hitachi Consulting, a global leader in delivering business and IT strategies.

    An HR can be efficient enough to make its organization stand out in hiring people that are diligent. Social media increases the visibility among jobseekers that enables the HR personnel to communicate about their company culture and the many benefits that are offered to the employees.

    It invites a pool of talented and potential jobseekers which we may not find the other way. Business and organizations that recruit successfully through Social media use this space to interact with users on a personal level. Hiring through social media also gives potential employers unique insight into the candidate’s true character that is not likely to be revealed during the conventional interview process.

    According to the latest research by the ACHIEVE Group, 10% of respondents surveyed in the Recruitment through Social Media Report 2011 have used social networking sites to hire staff. The results of this report have indeed showcased a novel and fascinating trend emerging, as more and more companies begin using social media as a recruitment tool.

    Recruiting through social media is gaining momentum and it will emerge as most hyped trend. So are you geared up for Social Media Recruiting?

    By Fatima Ahmed.

     

  2. Collect Feedback, Improve Content

    December 1, 2010. No comments.

    Collecting feedback and updating content is an important part of Document Development Life Cycle. However, it is a difficult bit too, especially when the content is distributed across multiple channels (online, print etc.). I will discuss various techniques for getting feedback and synchronizing documents later. Today, I am introducing Opineo, a free and open source tool for feedback collection. Publishers and writers can use Opineo to gauge quality of online content (such as articles, online help topics, tutorials, wiki pages etc.).

    Opnieo is available as a freeware and can be integrated with any website, blog, forum etc. It allows you to create and customize your feedback collection widget in a few minutes, and without having to sign up for an account or hire an expert. This DIY tool automatically generates code that you can download and paste in your page.

    Here is an example of feedback collection widget that I have created for myself.

    opineo for free feedback collection

     

  3. Writing Without Distraction

    November 16, 2010. No comments.

    As a writer, one of the major challenges I have to face, especially at workplace, is staying focused. It is really hard to concentrate myself on tasks when there is a lot of distracting things around – cell phones, banging doors, desktop clutter, email notifications and the temptation to see what people have to say and share at twitter and facebook.  I wished so much to have an attic room to go to and write without distractions. Fortunately, I can do that now without leaving my desk. I use WriteMonkey, a distraction free environment where I can write without distractions and stay away from pop-ups, notifications, and confusing toolbars.

    I have set up a 27” external display where I open WriteMonkey in full-screen mode and jot down my ideas, notes and draft documents. WriteMonkey is free and lightweight. It has a lot of awesome feature to offer, including:

    • Full-screen editing – hides all distractions from your computer
    • Portable – no installation required; just copy it on your computer or a portable device. It is just 1.5 MB is size.
    • Customization – fully customizable interface, layout, fonts, colors etc.
    • Keyboard support – all commands can be deployed with simple keyboard shortcuts.
    • Markup – Facility to markup text for formatting (*bold*, _italic_ etc.) and exporting to MS Word.
    • CSS-based Template – Use  your own templates to format documents for print
    • Timer – Facility to set timer to limit your writing to a certain time

    … and a lot more awesome features.

    free tool for writing without distraction

    Also check out these free tools for distraction-free writing:

    For tips on staying focused on your writing tasks, see Dustin Wax article on distraction free writing.

     

  4. Forbes Wields the Power of Crowd Sourcing

    November 3, 2010. No comments.

    In an earlier post, I discussed how organizations are getting benefits of the voice of the ‘crowd’ to shape their brand and business strategy. I also discussed how GAP decided to revert to its classic logo because fans did not like the new one. It seems that advertisers and brand managers are now adopting crowd sourcing techniques to boost their advertising and brand building activities. In fact, crowd sourcing is gaining popularity and acceptance from market researchers.

    Recently Forbes, the famous business and financial news magazine, has decided to ‘crowd source’ some of their editorial works. The idea is to engage readers in selecting what goes in the next issue of Forbes magazine. Currently, they are accepting names that are expected to burst onto center stage – names like upcoming McLaren MP 4-12C, the NBA player Kevin Durant or Khan Academy for e-learning.

    A bunch of writers from Forbes would suggest names and ask the readers (the crowd) to agree, disagree or select the names they want to appear in Forbes magazine.

    In the past, we have seen magazines giving limelight to personalities, products and brands. Forbes is reversing the process. This time names are going to steal the limelight and reserve their space in Forbes magazine.

    Interesting? Let’s see it in action.

     

  5. Working in the Cloud

    October 29, 2010. 3 comments.

    These days, I spend most of my time working in a cloud where I store most of my data and collaborate with my co-workers. More precisely, I work in a data cloud not ‘the cloud’, which is, accumulated mass of evaporated water :)

    If you are not familiar with data cloud, it is a space where all of your required software and services are running. You just need a personal computer and Internet connection to use these services – no additional hardware, software or IT infrastructure required. By using cloud-based services, you can do various tasks such as: creating and sharing office documents with your co-workers, use whiteboards, mind maps and many other tools to collaborate on different projects with your colleagues etc.

    cloud computing architecture

    Cloud computing has a lot to offer to writers and researchers who work in collaboration. There are a number of tools that writers and researchers can use to:

    • Create a virtual workspace where people from diverse locations can collaborate on a single project
    • Create, access and share documents from their virtual workspace in the cloud
    • Use almost all features for creating, formatting, editing and designing documents in multiple formats that most desktop applications offer

    Here is a quick round-up of some popular and useful tool for working on collaboration:

    Google Docs

    My foremost choice! Google Docs is simple, fast and free. Google Docs offer comprehensive set of features that you need to create, share and manage documents, spreadsheets, presentations, surveys, forms etc. You can also collaborate in real-time and track history of documents.

    Adobe Buzzword

    Robust and powerful tool for writing documents, reports, proposals etc. Buzzword also allows you to manage multiple versions of a document, collaborate with as many people as you want, edit images and view real-time updates from contributors.

    Advance users can use Adobe Buzzword with:

    adobe buzzword

    Microsoft Office Web Apps

    Free web-based version of Microsoft’s popular office applications. The suite includes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint and Microsoft OneNote. These services are available via Docs.com and SkyDrive.

    Writeboard

    Free collaboration tool by 37signals. Writeboard is complete free and can be used to create documents, track version history, and compare and rollback changes. Writeboard can be used in collaboration with Basecamp for an effective project management and collaboration experience.

    37 signals writeboard

    Gobby

    Free collaborative writing tool with many impressive features including:

    • Realtime Collaboration
    • Tracked Changes
    • Chat
    • Password protected sessions
    • Drag-and-drop environment for importing documents
    • Syntax highlighting for most programming languages

    Google Wave

    Since it is from Google, it is simple, free and fast. Google Wave can be used to organize web meetings and project collaboration. People are using Wave in creative ways in journalism, creative arts, education and many other industries.

    Zoho Writer

    Another free tool for online word processing. Zoho Writer comes with built-in templates, collaboration options, offline support and facility to import or export documents.

    ThinkFree

    Online services that provides free web-based office applications with 1 GB of online storage capacity. Documents created with ThinkFree can be accessed in smart phone built on Android, iPhone, and Windows Mobile.

    thinkfree online

     

  6. The Terminology Cloud

    October 18, 2010. No comments.

    Technical Writers often have to use, explain or refer to terms in technical documents. Most technical documents contain glossary or a list of terms used in the document. Usually, tech writers in a company compile and share a list of commonly used terms related to their domain or business. This is a good idea! It ensures that all definitions are consistent across various documents, white papers, website content, and other communications by the company. Based on the same concept, TermWiki has compiled a huge list of terms that writers can consult in order to verify or find meanings of almost any term.

    termwiki

    The ever-growing list of terms at TermWiki is fed by a large number of contributors that provide definitions and translation of terms belonging to almost every industry including software, banking, sports, healthcare etc. Translations are available in English, Japanese, Russian, Korean and many other languages.

     

  7. Free and Open Source Content Management and Publishing Tool, Anthologize

    October 18, 2010. No comments.

    If you are a writer, researcher, digital artist or a publisher – you must have yearned for a simple and easy-to-use tool to compile and publish your work/research free and fast way. Now you can do it with Anthologize.

    Anthologize is a free and open source WordPress plug-in that you can use to gather content from multiple sources such as news feed, websites, your own blog, your published work etc. Anthologize also allows you to organize and format data and then publish it as a single volume in multiple formats such as PDF, eBook etc. All you need is a WordPress blog.

    free open source content publishing tool, Anthologize

    Anthologize can be used in many creative ways. For instance, you can use it to:

    • Create online portfolio
    • Manage galleries of your digital work
    • Manage collaborative work
    • Collect and display your online publications
    • Gather and organize your favorite articles, stories, poems etc.

    For details, visit Anthologize website at http://anthologize.org

     

  8. Breaking into Technical Writing

    October 18, 2010. No comments.

    Are you an aspiring technical writer wondering how to break into technical writing, what tools to master to become a successful technical writer or what are the career paths for technical writers? Tom Johnson has recently delivered a comprehensive presentation at BYU Pre-Professional Writer’s Conference to answer all of these questions. Tom breaks many mis-perceptions about technical writing and explains that technical writing is not just writing routine instructions (click this, select that etc.), it is much more than that. Most experienced technical writers evolve as content managers, marketing communication specialist, usability experts, information designers, business analysts etc.

    technical writing - illustration by Tom Johnson

    He further describes a typical day of a technical writer at work to prove that besides writing and publishing content, technical writers contribute to a lot of other activities as well. Typically, a technical writer attends meetings, reviews prototypes and submits feedback, tests instructions and logs issues, analyzes technical specifications and updates information.

    Tom also advises that there are a number of entry paths to this profession. Technical Writers usually have diverse professional and academic backgrounds such as IT, software engineering, research & development, language and linguistics, media etc.

    Follow this link for full story.

     

  9. Secret of Successful Brands

    October 12, 2010. 2 comments.

    gap logo

    While I am writing this post, GAP is reverting back to its decades-old logo right one week after it put up a new logo on its website. Earlier, the casual wear chain decided to introduce a new logo to update its image and reflect the modern designs of jeans, pants and other clothing. However, the new logo irritated GAP fans, urging them to complaint about it on facebook fan page, twitter, blogs and websites. They simply loved the classic logo with navy blue background. They reacted quickly and asked to bring back the old logo.

    GAP listened to the fans and ditched its new logo – that is the power of social media. But what made the customers react? The answer is simple – emotional experience. They just loved the old logo as it was.

    Logos are a key to the success of brands, and so is the case with UI design and website layouts (remember your immediate reaction to new layout of facebook). They, not only convey meanings, but also establish an emotional connection with consumers. People usually resist change especially when it impacts their emotional attachments. This is one basic principle that all successful brand managers, information designers, UI developers and product designers follow. A successful brand is always based on a strong emotional experience that satisfied and pleases its consumers.

    GAP just learned it.

     

  10. Writing Technically

    October 11, 2010. No comments.

    Technical Writing is usually related to the IT profession. Strange! What if a person is writing Getting Started Guides for BMW Mini, a person writing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for cargo handlers, or a person writing instructions for website visitors?

    Exploring the dashboard of your car would reveal a handy manual that is usually not given much attention. God knows the reasons and we (authors) intentionally don’t :). Automobile manufacturers have good intentions too to include a nice manual in your car’s accessories. Same goes for your washing machine, cellular phone, folded beds and a lot more things around you. All of these things come with brief or comprehensive guides. These are written by technical writers.

    Technical Writers work for various different industries ranging from pharmaceuticals to defense and software development to manufacturing. With the diversity in industry, the scope of technical writers’ work has expanded beyond just user manuals and online help. They create and manage wikis, blogs, video tutorials, illustrations, demos, training materials and a lot of other stuff.

    While industry and deliverables of technical writers are diverse, the basic principle of technical writing remains the same - analyzing audience and writing plain language to explain technical information to non-technical audience. However, the tools and techniques do vary. Technical Writers, today, use a number of techniques such as localization, single source authoring, collaborative writing etc. Imagine a French owner of an Audi reading online content written in French and tailored to the specific model and a German owner reading customized content in German and written specifically to the model that he owns. This asks for a lot of content development, customization and optimization – all done by technical writers and content managers.

    Convinced? The next time you struggle with your new vacuum cleaner, just pick up the manual that came with your machine and see how easily you can take out the dust bag, clean it, and then fix it back.

     

  11. How to conduct a 5-seconds usability test?

    October 6, 2010. No comments.

    Are you an information designer or a technical writer experimenting with a new information portal, website design, technical illustration, product interface or a new layout of online help document? If yes, I suggest that you put yourself in the shoes of a novice user and test your design for its usability. Imagine how an average user would try to understand your new design.

    An easy way to analyze your design is to conduct a usability and memory test. Grab a screenshot of your new design/layout, show it to your friend (an average user) for a few seconds and then ask him what items he can recall. If your friend can understand the purpose of your design and recall core components, your design is successful.

    If you want to conduct a usability/memory test at large scale, try Clue. It creates online memory tests that you can share with your friends via facebook, twitter and email.

    It also lets you analyze test results to:

    • Understand how users interact with your online contents, data, or website design
    • Test how many people can find the ‘Buy Now’, ‘FAQs’, ‘Help’, or ‘Products’ links
    • Make sure that your product or website explains it purpose to average users
    • Get ideas for design improvements
    Creating a usability/memory test with Clue is simple and fast. Try it today!