Metadata and Classification
The economics of classificationJune 11, 2007: Everything that is added to a classification subtracts from what is already there, prompting the question: Has more been added than subtracted? More
It's time to get serious about metadata
June 28, 2004: When it comes to the Web, there is nothing more misunderstood than metadata. Technical people search vainly for a way to automate its creation. Many editors and writers want nothing to do with it. And yet without quality metadata a website cannot properly achieve its objectives. It’s time to get serious about metadata. More
Quality metadata makes for successful web content
June 21, 2004: Metadata is a web writing skill. It helps your readers quickly find what they need. Metadata is an essential part of successful web sales and marketing efforts. It helps influence people to buy. In every sense, metadata can drive action. It can help you achieve your objectives. More
Metadata: seven tips for writing better keywords
March 01, 2004: The shift in how search engines treat keywords is significant. They tend to ignore the keyword metatag and rather look for keywords in the actual page content. This means that you need to figure out your keywords before you write any content. Then, you include them throughout your content, particularly in headings and summaries. More
Metadata is essential web writing skill: Part 2
June 09, 2003:Creating great metadata for your content begins with understanding who your reader is. What is the metadata they look for when they read a page of your content? What are the type of words they use when they search for your content? When scanning your classification, what are the "trigger words" that will make them want to go deeper into your website? More
Metadata is essential web writing skill
June 02, 2003: Metadata is one of the most misunderstood aspects of content management and website design. Editors and writers tend to look at it as a technical issue. Technical people look for a software solution. Both are wrong. Metadata is a fundamental skill that web writers and editors must acquire. More
Information architecture: using card sorting for web classification design
September 23, 2002 : Card sorting is an excellent approach to help you choose your classifications. It can help shortcut long, tedious and often fruitless debate. It delivers classifications that people would actually choose, not what they say they would choose. Because it's fast and easy to do, you can get a wide range of feedback into your classification design. More
Information architecture: a workshop approach to classification design
September 16, 2002: After having completed your classification situation analysis, you will have a long list of potential classifications. Now, you need to choose what the top-level of your classification will be. This is an iterative process that will require substantial feedback and interaction. It should not be rushed. More
Information architecture: carrying out a classification situation analysis
September 09, 2002 : Before you create a classification for your content, it's essential to carry out a comprehensive classification situation analysis. Classification design should follow the 'geniuses steal, beggars borrow' rule. Your job is not to come up with some innovative way to classify your content. It is to find a classification that works. More
Information architecture: learning how to classify
September 02, 2002: If you are a knowledge worker, a key skill you require is how to classify content. Classification skills are needed in order to better organize content on your computer, for your emails, and for how you compose documents. If you have responsibility for a website, classification is an essential skill. More
Web classification is essential
November 26, 2001: Classification (taxonomy, categorization) is to content as mapping is to geography. It is an essential tool that allows the person visiting a website to navigate it quickly and efficiently. Without professional classification a website becomes a jumble yard of content that is confusing and time wasting. More
Why metadata is important
October 1, 2001 : There is an ongoing reluctance among people who create content for the Web to add appropriate metadata to that content. This reluctance is leading to a situation where much of the Web is sinking in a morass of information overload. Instead of being a giant library, as hoped, increasing sections of the Web are looking like a giant dump. More
Why XML is important
November 06, 2000: What has made the Internet useful to hundreds of millions of people is that it used standards for the presentation of content. No matter what you sort of content you had, once you presented it using HTML (Hyper Text Mark-up Language), people all over the world could read it using a web browser. Having a standard such as HTML caused a genuine revolution. More
The secrets of Yahoo
February 28, 2000: “Yahoo, it’s more like a huge library or archive. That’s the reason we crafted human categories rather than fully automate the search process, and that is something that is consistent throughout Yahoo,” Jerry Yang told Fortune magazine recently. More
