Theresa Putkey

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So far Theresa Putkey has created 27 blog entries.

User Research to Improve Information Structures

User research allows us to improve our information structures in ways that are helpful to the people using the structure. When we work with clients who are new to user research, they need to know what the process of user research is like and what to expect as an outcome.

User Research to Improve Information Structures2023-09-07T10:36:09-07:00

Stakeholder Engagement to Uncover Business Goals

Many projects fail because they don’t engage the right stakeholders early enough in the process. When we want to learn about project goals, we engage managers and directors, or those accountable for the success of the project. There are two phases to this work: one-on-one interviews and workshops.

Stakeholder Engagement to Uncover Business Goals2023-09-06T16:57:44-07:00

Business Process Modeling: How does it work?

Often, we hear, “We want to make the process better, we just don’t know how.” The secret to business process improvement is to know what your process are now so that you can change them. Said another way, if you don’t know what your actual process is, then you won’t know if the changes you make to the process will be successful.

Business Process Modeling: How does it work?2024-02-28T09:50:06-08:00

What Are Metadata and Content Types?

Metadata are the workhorses of a content management system. Simply put, metadata tell your CMS platform what your content is about and let you do things with your content.

What Are Metadata and Content Types?2019-08-06T09:08:06-07:00

What is Structural Content Strategy?

Structural content strategy supports content goals through the appropriate use of structure to improve the user and authoring experience, and to support business goals.

What is Structural Content Strategy?2019-02-26T09:31:18-08:00

Support Dynamic Content Display with Structure and Taxonomy

One thing that's been around for a while but is rarely taken advantage of but can be liberating. When we explain the concept to clients, they typically respond with, "Yes, that's what we need. That's what we've been waiting for. Where have you been all my life? You had me at hello!!"

Support Dynamic Content Display with Structure and Taxonomy2019-05-14T16:17:41-07:00

What Is Information Architecture and Why Is It Helpful?

Information architecture may seem overwhelming. It may seem not significant enough to reassess. But a lot of common usability problems are associated with a poor IA. Improving this essential aspect of your information structure is helpful for both your users, your business, and for ensuring that your information structures support your key business goals.

What Is Information Architecture and Why Is It Helpful?2023-09-08T15:26:48-07:00

How To Improve Website Search

When looking to improve the searchability on your website or intranet or in your CMS or DAM, there are a few areas where you can look to solve searchability problems. This second part in a two-part series focuses on solving searchability problems.

How To Improve Website Search2023-02-17T14:35:04-08:00

Combining Multiple Taxonomies

Combining multiple taxonomies can be a contentious issue: each taxonomy belongs to a team who has put a lot of thought into their taxonomy and may not easily let go of certain terms or features. However, sometimes taxonomies do need to be combined, and here are some tips on how to go through the process.

Combining Multiple Taxonomies2023-02-17T14:35:16-08:00

Selling a Website Taxonomy to Your Organization

While you recognize that your company needs a website taxonomy or intranet taxonomy, you may not be sure how to convince management to provide resources to create, implement, and maintain a taxonomy. Here are some tips.

Selling a Website Taxonomy to Your Organization2023-02-17T14:35:21-08:00

Actionable Steps to Improve Your Taxonomy

If you’re working on a taxonomy that doesn’t have the resources (right now) to do a lot of research and engagement with subject matter experts, there are still some actionable steps you can take to improve your taxonomy.

Actionable Steps to Improve Your Taxonomy2023-02-17T14:35:27-08:00

Guiding Others Through Building a Website Taxonomy

After going through numerous taxonomy projects, I've learned a few things about how to work with stakeholders and subject matter experts to build a website taxonomy. Here is a presentation with a few tips for making the taxonomy development process smoother.

Guiding Others Through Building a Website Taxonomy2023-02-17T14:35:40-08:00

Examples of Content Taxonomy: How Classification Helps on the Web

One of the easiest ways to explain how taxonomy works is to show examples of taxonomy. Here are a few examples of how website taxonomy can be used to improve search results, browse by category, and automatically build pages on a website.

Examples of Content Taxonomy: How Classification Helps on the Web2023-02-17T14:35:51-08:00

How to Plan for Usability Testing for Your Website

When I take clients through the process of usability testing, they have some typical questions at the beginning of the process. How does usability testing work? How do we make sure everything is set up properly? How do we recruit users? Here’s an overview of what to expect as you go through the process of preparing for usability testing.

How to Plan for Usability Testing for Your Website2018-09-19T19:49:55-07:00

Website Navigation by Audience: 3 Reasons Not to Use It

On the surface, audience based navigation seems to make sense. After a few attempts at audience based navigation, here are our lessons learned. and quickly learned a few things (after an immense amount of frustration).

Website Navigation by Audience: 3 Reasons Not to Use It2019-05-14T16:25:46-07:00

Using Card Sorting to Increase Content Findability

When improving a website or intranet (or any content product), you can focus on findability with an IA review and assessment and with card sorting and task testing. This article focuses on how to improve findability through card sorting.

Using Card Sorting to Increase Content Findability2023-09-08T15:40:38-07:00

The Basics of Taxonomy Use and Maintenance

Keeping a taxonomy up-to-date will be very useful in re-purposing content on the site, tagging content properly so you can find it again, and allowing visitors to filter the content. Learn about why and how to use a taxonomy.

The Basics of Taxonomy Use and Maintenance2023-02-17T14:36:15-08:00

When to Use A Hierarchical or A Faceted Taxonomy

Hierarchical taxonomies are best suited to things where the relationship is well known. You can use a faceted taxonomy when multiple, similar values can be applied to dissimilar items.

When to Use A Hierarchical or A Faceted Taxonomy2023-02-17T14:36:21-08:00

Information Architecture Deliverable Examples

In information architecture, there are a few deliverables meant to communicate the information design to all the stakeholders. Here's a brief overview of what can be delivered on an IA project and why these things are important.

Information Architecture Deliverable Examples2019-01-23T09:43:07-08:00
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