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Introduction to Document Design: Visual Organization
--(c)2002 by Linda Alexander
Good document design helps readers find and understand
information more quickly. It can help organizations and
company save time and money. Therefore, before you begin
writing, and again before writing your final draft,
consider these tips for making your document's design aid
in the clarity of your communication.
1. Before even processing the text, readers should get a
sense of the document's structure through visual
clues such as white space, headings, subheads, bold
face, different size fonts, numbered lists, charts,
etc.
2. Give them a sense of the organization quickly, and
make sure the text supports that organization and
comprehension will be helped before your audience
even begins to read your document.
3. Rather than trying to fit everything in by reducing
font size, good editing eliminates unnecessary words
and sentences. Is your message consistent? Is it
unique and appropriate for your audience? Does your
writing make it easy for readers to understand your
meaning?
4. Use templates (empty documents with preformatted
margins, colors, font faces and sizes) to increase
your efficiency and productivity.
5. Use selective emphasis: Headings, subheads, italics,
pull quotes, and different font sizes are all good
ways to organize sections, break up text and
emphasize important points. Be sure not to overdo it,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login,
however,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, or your document will be *more* difficult to
read.
6. Keep paragraphs short - they should only contain one
main idea. If you are starting a new idea, begin a
new paragraph.
7. Use numbered, lettered, or bulleted lists to help
your reader follow your thinking.
8. Use spaces between paragraphs, rather than indenting.
It simply looks neater. Use single spacing for your
text and double spacing between paragraphs.
9. Number your pages. Even in early drafts, this will
keep you and your co-authors organized. When the
document is finalized, your readers will appreciate
being able to turn to a certain page number to find
what they are looking for.
Linda Elizabeth Alexander writes marketing copy for
nonprofits and other businesses. Contact her today to
discuss your next project and get your FREE quote!
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The last few months have witnessed a bloodbath in tech stocks coupled with a frantic re-definition of the web and of every player in it (as far as content is concerned).
This effort is three pronged:
Some companies are gambling on content distribution and the possession of the attendant digital infrastructure. MightyWords,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, for example, stealthily transformed itself from a "free-for-all-everyone-welcome" e-publisher to a distribution channel of choice works (mainly by midlist authors). It now aims to feed its content to content-starved web sites. In the process, it shed thousands of unfortunate authors who did not meet its (never stated) sales criteria.
Others bet the farm on content creation and packaging. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login invaded the digital publishing and POD (Print on Demand) businesses in a series of lightning purchases. It is now the largest e-book store by a wide margin.
But Amazon seemed to have got it right once more. The web's own virtual mall and the former darling of Wall Street has diversified into micropayments.
The Internet started as a free medium for free spirits. E-commerce was once considered a dirty word. Web surfers became used to free content. Hence the (very low) glass ceiling on the price of content made available through the web - and the need to charge customers less than 1 US dollars to a few dollars per transaction ("micro-payments"). Various service providers (such as Pay-Pal) emerged, none became sufficiently dominant and all-pervasive to constitute a standard. Web merchants' ability to accept micropayments is crucial. E-commerce (let alone m-commerce) will never take off without it.
Enter Amazon. Its "Honour System" is licenced to third party web sites (such as You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login and SatireWire). It allows people to donate money or effect micro-payments, apparently through its patented one-click system. As far as the web sites are concerned, there are two major drawbacks: all donations and payments are refundable within 30 days and Amazon charges them 15 cents per transaction plus 15(!) percent. By far the worst deal in town.
So, why the fuss?
Because of Amazon's customer list. This development emphasizes the growing realization that one's list of customers - properly data mined - is the greatest asset, greater even than original content and more important than distribution channels and digital right management or asset management applications. Merchants are willing to pay for access to this ever expanding virtual neighbourhood (even if they are not made privy to the customer information collected by Amazon).
The Honour System looks suspiciously similar to the payment system designed by Amazon for Stephen King's serialized e-novel, "The Plant". Interesting to note how the needs of authors and publishers are now in the driver's seat, helping to spur along innovations in business methods.
About the Author
Sam Vaknin is the author of Malignant Self Love - Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain - How the West Lost the East. He is a columnist for Central Europe Review, United Press International (UPI) and eBookWeb and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory, Suite101 and You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login.
Visit Sam's Web site at You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login