Usable Content Manifesto

What Usable Content Is * Usable content is clear and easy to understand. * Usable content can bridge gaps—things like language barriers, disability and cultural differences. * Usable content is meaningful. * Usable content makes the reader feel smart. * Usable content is goal and audience appropriate. * It’s thought-out, planned and constantly maintained. * It’s fresh, light and lively. * It’s content that is organized in a way that people understand and can get their mind around. * It’s designed to be accessible. * It’s reusable and shareable, readily available and easy to locate. * It’s straightforward, open and honest and to the point. * It encourages feedback and is engineered for conversation. * It’s hard work, but worthy of the job. What Usable Content Is Not * Usable content is not clever, obtuse or misleading. * It’s not marketing drivel, or bland branding messages. * It’s not longwinded. * It’s not written at the highest possible reading level. * It’s doesn’t use “big words” unless they are needed. * It’s not legalese. * It’s not double talk. * It’s not an afterthought. * It’s not a mission statement. * It’s not an org chart. * It’s not self-centered.

Part of the Web and Early Blog archive collection. See also: The Web3 Manifesto: Challenging Tech Titans with Trust, Ownership, Privacy and Inclusion.