What is Multi-Channel Publishing?[a][b] Let's start with the basic definition.
Multi-channel publishing means putting a single deliverable, into multiple, unique outputs
without any manual adjustment to the content.
In other words, if I push my magic-multi-channel-button, these words[c][d] are published into multiple
formats without manually adjusting the formatting... at all.
I know what you're thinking, "that sounds great, but our content is too complex for
a magic-multi-channel-button to work."
Here's the thing though, multi-channel publishing does work at scale, If we plan and create
about content correctly.
It's easy to think of our content as a deliverable.
A booklet.
A website.
A download.
But that's not quite right.
Content is the idea that fills that deliverable.[e][f][g][h] Content isn't bound to a single output format.
Content is separate from the medium in which we create and deliver[i].
Now, let's be real.
Ideas are great, but at some point those ideas should manifest so that others can actually
read these great ideas.
But the tools that we use to manifest these ideas determine if the ideas remain fluid
or if they become limited to a specific output format.
Let's consider content as water.
If you’re parched, you have options on how to get a drink.
You might use a drinking fountain.
Perhaps tap water in a glass.
Or maybe bottled water.
The fountain, the glass, and the bottle are just different delivery mechanisms for the
same thing... water.
Water is malleable.
Water conforms to the delivery method.
This is how content should work.
And it can work this way.
If you want your content to be malleable and multi-channel ready, just like water, your
content needs to be structured.
We've talked a lot about structured content in previous videos, but the important thing
to know is that Structured content is content that fits into a predetermined framework or
a standard.
This framework or standard means that there are established rules of how the content is
arranged.
The beauty and value of a standard is that the rules are explicitly defined and commonly
understood.
These rules mean that humans and machines alike can participate in the creation and
delivery of content.
You can think of the standard like the rulebook for a sport.
Say you join a baseball league.
The league only exists when there are defined rules that everyone follows.
The techcomm league consists of writers, systems, and applications.
These systems and applications can interact with content that abides by a standard.
This is the crux of multi-channel publishing.
Content that conforms to a standard but is not bound to a medium.
It’s malleable, flexible.
But WHY Does This Matter?
Let's consider the typical method for publishing technical content
Teams use a Desktop Publishing System.
But Desktop Publishing Systems approach this backwards.
The formatting is done manually, and there's no unifying structure surrounding the content.
Additionally, DTP systems are expensive to buy, time consuming to learn, time consuming
to use, and even after you’ve published, it continues to cost you every time you need
to update.
These variable costs hit you every time you update, edit, translate, or republish.
There is, however, a better way to publish When you divorce the content from the medium
used for output, and you create structured content through the use of a standard, you
have all the ingredients for multi-channel publishing.
Remember that Magic-multi-channel-publishing-button?
You push it and a single deliverable is published to multiple outputs without any manual adjustment
to the formatting.
This "magic" is actually automation.
Remember, just like rules allows teams to play in a baseball league, a standard allows
systems and applications to interact with your content.
The formatting that used to be done manually is automatically applied to all your content
when you need.
That's the magic of multi-channel publishing.
DITA is a uniquely designed open standard specifically for getting the most power from
your publish.
We've talked about DITA in a previous video, but with DITA as your open standard, you can
fully automate your publishing scenarios so that multi-channel publishing really is as
simple as the push of a button.
No matter how many unique audiences, dynamic delivery systems, portals, PDFs, localized
content, or anything else.
DITA is optimized for you to deliver the best content as fast as possible.
Now you have a plan of attack With multi-channel publishing, you eliminate
the massive, variable costs of desktop publishing.
The more you publish, the more you save.
* Eliminate time spent formatting * Save money spent on new DTP systems
* Spare writers from their least favorite task of formatting documents
* Preserve energy spent updating your published content
* Avoid frustration over inconsistent brand guideline adherence
The rapidly changing landscape becomes YOUR advantage, not your fear.
With DITA and Multi-channel Publishing, your structured content is ready to deploy.
[a]No one knows.
We don't have the technology to find out.
[b]+john.baker@jorsek.com Review done [c]Which words?
[d]Video magic [e]I expect you to cite me here! +john.baker@jorsek.com
_Assigned to John Baker_ [f]IT WAS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
[g]CREDIT ME! [h]- Partially thought of by Jarron Stickler
[i]I love this.