Digital Directions: Tear Down the Silo
Platform Strategy
3. Templates, Templates, Templates. Adhere to a template-based publishing approach. Create templates for manuscripts (in Microsoft Word or your application of choice), templates for output (e.g., InDesign), standardized cascading style sheet (CSS) for Web, and so on. And don't just think of templates as a starting point. Make sure that you conform to the structure of the template throughout the publishing process. Templates are the key to efficiency, automation, consistency, and—subsequently—quality. If manuscript editors work within a standard template—and do not go off and create ad hoc styles—then many downstream processes, such as composition or e-book conversion, can be automated. The savings can be enormous. An added bonus: product consistency.
- Companies:
- Microsoft Corp.
- People Magazine