New to mobile? Moving into a new section of mobile? This presentation accompanied my presentation on Monday, May 19, 2014, at the 2014 Society for Technical Communication Summit. The purpose of the talk was to introduce technical writers to the app ecosystems of Apple, Google Play, and Amazon Kindle. With an understanding of the different ecosystems, you'll be better equipped to manage the content that goes with them, and you can make yourself an integral part of your company's mobile strategy. We look at content such as app name, descriptions, keywords, what's new messages, interface text, and in-app purchases. We also talk about ways to manage these different types of mobile content and what complexities come with the addition of localizations. I shared much more content shared verbally, and there was a supplemental handout, which you can download as a PDF here: http://bit.ly/stc-handout

1. A Content Strategist’s Guide
to Mobile Platforms
#stc14
John Collins!
Senior UX Content Strategist
www.linkedin.com/in/johncollins"
@jrc_collins

2. 2
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
About me

3. Goals
• Show how to help users
• Show how to help yourself
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
3

4. 4
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
About you

5. 5
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
Help the user

6. What the user sees
6
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

7. The first interaction users have—"
or don’t have—with your content"
is when they search for your app "
in the App Store.
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
7

8. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
8
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

9. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
9
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

10. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
10
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

11. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
11
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

12. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
12
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

13. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
13
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

14. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
14
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

15. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
15
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

16. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
16
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

17. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
17
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

18. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
18
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

19. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
19
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

20. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
20
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

21. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
21
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

22. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
22
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

23. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
23
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

24. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
24
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

25. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
25
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

26. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
26
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

27. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
27
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

28. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
28
iPhone5s
Samsung Galaxy S4

29. A useful tool
29
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

30. 30
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

31. 31
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

32. 32
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

33. Write with the big"
picture in mind.
33
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

34. Write with the big picture in mind.
Your users will get a consistent,
cohesive experience as a result.
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
34

35. Write in a manner"
familiar to the user.
35
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

36. Each app ecosystem has"
a voice. Reuse content "
when you can, but adapt "
wisely to avoid jarring users.
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
36

37. Know & (mostly) follow"
the iOS HIG.
37
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

38. 38
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/userexperience/conceptual/mobilehig/Alerts.html

39. Know & (mostly) follow"
Android writing style.
39
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

40. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
40
http://developer.android.com/design/style/writing.html

41. 41
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
Help yourself

42. Know how the mobile
ecosystems differ.
42
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

43. TechComm career tip: Become "
your company’s expert on the "
iOS HIG or Android guidelines.
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
43

44. Know how the mobile
ecosystems differ.
44
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

45. Each app ecosystem has"
its quirks. If you can learn "
them now, you’ll prevent "
last-minute scrambles.
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
45

46. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
46

47. Know the rules.
47
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

48. 48
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
More about you

49. Understand where
content comes from.
49
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

50. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
50

51. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
51

52. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
52

53. 53
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

54. 54
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

55. Manage content wisely.
55
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

56. Build for the future"
and plan for scale.
56
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

57. 57
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

58. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
58

59. @jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
59

60. Know how to view app
while it’s being built
60
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

61. Resources?"
See handout or
www.intersectUX.com/blog
61
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms

62. 62
@jrc_collins | #stc14 | A Content Strategist’s Guide to Mobile Platforms
Questions? "
Your experiences?