The weather is getting colder, the days are getting shorter, and it’s once again time to give thanks for all things, large and small, that enhance our lives. As a content strategist and copywriter, I am always thinking about how to make content more useful and engaging. That’s why I’m thankful for the following 5 sites that provide guidance, tips, and tools as well as thought leadership I find myself referencing again and again.
- UX Magazine explores every facet of user experience. Articles about the psychological impact of transactions and human interaction live comfortably next to technical documentation tips and a review of social engagement flaws. You may not read every article, but if you’re working in UX you’re sure to find something interesting and informative here.
- Readability Score is a fantastic resource for testing content to ensure you’re providing a level of reading clarity, ease of comprehension, and depth that aligns with your readers. Different audiences have different readability needs. This site helps you quickly assess content by both difficulty and grade level according to the Flesch-Kincaid scale and other measurements.
- Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty, the founder and managing director of “Quick and Dirty Tips,” is my go-to source for plain language clarification when I have a question on word use or grammar. She clearly believes that learning should be fun and provides her tips and education in short, easy-to-follow posts chock full of humorous anecdotes, real examples, and clever memory tips.
- The Moz Blog is a collection of optimization focused blogs and tools to help writers ensure their content is findable, an important consideration for any type of content that lives in the digital universe. Practical tools, like the Title Tag Preview tool, help authors and content managers improve the effectiveness of on- and off-page content.
- A List Apart is one of my frequently referenced bookmarks because of the depth and breadth of information on design for a multi-device world. Looking to understand the most important considerations for Responsive Web Design? Check out the latest blog from Ethan Marcotte. Want to get inspired for your next Content Workshop? Make sure you read Karen McGrane’s post on “Rolling Out Responsive.”
If you like this list, check out my coworker Olivia Saldano’s favorite design resources.
What websites and resources are you most thankful for in your work? Please share them in the comments below; I’m always interested in finding new favorites and useful resources.
Happy Thanksgiving!
