Issue 1

Structure

Quick thoughts about how content lives in systems

I’m from a writing background, but even I struggle with naming things, from my offspring to this newsletter.

When you’re building a content model in your content management system, don’t overlook naming when you create content types and fields within them.

There will often be two names for content types and fields:

• A display name
• An API name, derived from the display name and used on the backend (for something called an API).

Content authors will see the display name, and developers will need to know the API name when they are building experiences based on the content.
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For example, if the content type has a display name of “Author name,” the API name will often be “authorName.”
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Your content team will need to understand the content type names and field names to properly enter content. While you’ll likely be able to update these display names (depends on your vendor) to make them more useful to the content team, the API name is referenced so widely in code that it’s often too costly to change.
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If the display name and the API name diverge, confusion can grow. It’s great to be able to update the display name, but I’ve seen some real clunkers persist in API names. Avoid clunkers by naming content types and fields based on their actual meaning and purpose, something defined up front during content modeling exercises.

Strategy

Quick thoughts about the importance of thinking strategically about content

I see so many individuals and teams excited about strategy, but rarely can any of them explain what the strategy is in support of.

Since I’m in the content world, I’m mostly thinking of content strategy here.

If you’re working on strategy, make sure it supports some sort of (non-theological) doctrine, as Jeff Eaton talks about (Youtube video) or a content vision as Colleen Jones describes (book).

Does this spark any realizations for you? I’d love to hear about it. (Reply to this email.)

Soft skills

A look at the less-tangible characteristics and skills that can expand your influence

There’s a therapy technique in which a helper asks a person needing help if they want comfort or solutions and then the helper tailors the help based on that answer. Sometimes I use a variation of this at work, asking “Do you want to vent or are you looking for solutions?” Not only can it help me help my colleagues, but it also adds a check for me to avoid mansplaining.

Have you heard of this technique before? Do you use it at work? I'd love to hear about it.

Top of mind

Things that are bouncing around in my head as I synthesize a range of ideas

Usually, this section will contain topics with more professional importance. Today, though, I want to share links to some post-Hurricane Helene videos that I’ve been inspired by. The civil aviation community (in addition to government/military aviation) mounted an amazing humanitarian response to rescue and deliver aid to the Carolinas, Tennessee, and Virginia.

• ​NASCAR driver, Tommy “Cleetus” McFarland flies his new-to-him personal helicopter into some pretty tight landing zones. (Link goes to timestamp where interesting footage begins.)
• ​Jungle Aviation and Relay Service (JAARS) is a NC-based aviation mission that used familiarity with the region and experience with undeveloped areas to deliver aid.
• ​A guy from Virginia helped organize 60 planes flying out of Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport to VA, TN, NC, and SC.
• A guy with a background in the U.S. Air Force and firefighting owns a DC-3 that he loaded with pallets of supplies and flew them in. The trip in and out of Elk River Airport in Banner Elk, NC is pretty amazing with a tight approach and small runway for a big plane (wingspan wider than the runway). Note the USCG (?) helicopters departing behind the DC-3. (Link goes to specific timestamp.)

John Collins

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