Writing Web Content That Works

is being presented by Janice Redish, President, of Redish & Associates, Inc and airs on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012. For more details or to register, please visit our site at www.fxconferences.com

People come to websites for the content. They come to fulfill a need, to do a task, to get the answer to a question. Clear navigation, good design, and search engines that work are all critical, of course, but they are all there to support the content. Are you paying enough attention to the content on your website – both to what your messages are and to how you are presenting those messages? In this audio conference presentation, reknowned speaker and author Ginny Redish teaches attendees to think about web content and web writing in new ways. Starting from the premise that every visit to your website is a conversation started by the site visitor, the presentation demonstrates for attendees why people skim and scan, provides a better understanding of when people do read online and when they don't, and reviews a few basic best practices on how to write for the busy people who come to your website.

Best Practices for Writing Safety Narratives

is being presented by Dr. Susan Sisk, Principal, with SFP Consulting, LLC and airs on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011. For more details or to register, please visit our site at www.fxconferences.com

As the scrutiny of safety data in marketing applications increases, so too does the importance and number of individual patient narratives. In addition to the customary description of cases for patients who died, those who had serious adverse events, and those who discontinued the trial as a result of an adverse event, narratives for other significant adverse events are also being requested, either at the pre-NDA meeting, or after the application is received (i.e., while the clock is ticking).

Thus, having templates that can accommodate these various events and an efficient process for preparation and review of patient narratives is more important than ever before. In this audio conference presentation, our speaker shares insight and best practices on developing templates and writing and reviewing patient safety narratives.

Writing for a Global Audience

is being presented by Sonja Jacobsen, Manager of Project Services, with ForeignExchange Translations and airs on Thursday, September 8th, 2011. For more details or to register, please visit our site at www.fxconferences.com

Ideally, developing content for a global audience takes into account translation considerations during the English authoring phase. However, translation and localization issues in the source material often only come to light during translation. This generally means a longer and most likely a costlier translation phase than most companies had anticipated, and can sometimes necessitate changes to the source content after it has already been released.

This audio conference presentation is designed to provide attendees with insight and guidance on how to author and structure English content which is targeting a global audience. Rather than simply providing an exhaustive list of do’s and don’ts in writing, the speaker seeks to explain and provide possible solutions to some of the translation challenges posed by US/English-centric content.

21 Steps to Easier Globalization through Better Writing

Going global? Many of the problems encountered during the localization process can be traced back to the earliest stages of developing product documentation. The good news is most of these problems can be avoided by following a few basic rules.

John Smart has spent over two decades helping companies market to 218 countries. In this presentation, he will describe the 21 most common problems encountered in writing for a global audience, identifying each type of error, describing the problem and showing how to make corrections. The presentation uses real-life examples to highlight potential cultural problems, including inappropriate number and color references, and the confusing use of dates and numbers. Attendees will be able to put the conference material to immediate use in improving their technical literature.

21 Steps to Easier Globalization through Better Writing is previously recorded and is available to download at www.fxconferences.com

Preparing to Translate: Tips for Faster, Easier, Cheaper Localization

We live in the era of globalization, when people are accustomed to dealing with colleagues and companies all over the world. and yet language barriers are still creating obstacles and challenges. In the life sciences and other industries where accuracy of information is paramount, getting your content to cross language boundaries flawlessly is still a difficult and often costly endeavor. Language will always have a human dimension, and communicating from one country or culture to the next requires planning, preparation and forethought. However, a little preparation can go a long way towards helping your company achieve substantial cost savings in the global market.

In this conference our speaker, veteran translation industry expert Sandra La Brasca, gives advice on how to prepare your materials for translation. She also illustrates how writing for translation ultimately results in cheaper, faster, more accurate global products.

Preparing to Translate: Tips for Faster, Easier, Cheaper Localization is being presented by Sandra La Brasca, Solutions Development Director, with ForeignExchange Translations, Inc. and airs on Tuesday, November 24, 2009. For more details or to register, please visit our site at www.fxconferences.com

Avoiding the Top 20 Global Documentation Errors

The biggest single hurdle to a smooth globalization effort is written documentation. However, with careful planning, companies can remove communications obstacles before they arise. The technique described in this presentation is called "PokaYoke," a Japanese term for any device or software that can prevent process errors. Learn how you can build quality into your documentation and translation. The presentation covers the top 20 errors that a linguistic "PokaYoke" can find, monitor and correct.

John Smart has spent over two decades helping companies write technical documentation for readers in 218 countries. This presentation uses real-life examples to highlight terms, words and phrases guaranteed to fail any quality control. Attendees will be encouraged to adopt a "PokaYoke" approach to their localization and technical documentation.

Avoiding the Top 20 Global Documentation Errors was presented by John Smart, President, of SMART Communications, and is previously recorded. For more details or to download this event, please visit our site at www.fxconferences.com

How to Write for a Global Audience

In today's world, technical documentation must be designed for multiple audiences - both the users who read the text in translation, and those for whom English is a second language. By using Controlled English and authoring with an eye to translation, companies can make the entire process of product globalization faster, cheaper and less prone to errors.

This audio conference provides some basic guidelines on how to write for a global audience, enabling attendees to reduce the cost and improve the quality of translations, improve training and customer support, and protect their companies from litigation under the "failure to warn" principle.

How to Write for a Global Audience was presented by John Smart, President, with SMART Communications. For more details, or to purchase a download of this event, please visit our site at www.fxconferences.com

21 Steps to Easier Globalization through Better Writing

Going global? Many of the problems encountered during the globalization process can be traced back to the earliest stages of developing product documentation. The good news is most of these problems can be avoided by following a few basic rules.

John Smart has spent over two decades helping companies market to 218 countries. In this presentation, he will describe the 21 most common problems encountered in writing for a global audience, identifying each type of error, describing the problem and showing how to make corrections. The presentation will use real-life examples to highlight potential cultural problems, including inappropriate number and color references, and the confusing use of dates and numbers. Attendees will be able to put the conference material to immediate use in improving their technical literature.

21 Steps to Easier Globalization through Better Writing is previously recorded, and available for download at www.fxconferences.com

Improving the Readability of Your Patient Information

Life sciences companies go to great lengths to provide patients and users with all the information they need to use products safely and effectively. But how do you ensure those patients understand what you are telling them? According to the Institute of Medicine, nearly half of the adult population in the United States may lack the skills needed to function within the healthcare system. The FDA says patient materials should be written at a 6th to 8th grade reading level, while recently revised European Commission guidelines call for "well designed and clearly worded" package inserts.

In this presentation, the speaker provides attendees with the tools to overcome some of the challenges encountered when communicating written health care information. The presentation includes a brief overview of health literacy in the U.S., and discusses how plain language, organization and format can all be used to create PPIs, medication guides, marketing collateral and patient education materials that conform to current regulatory guidelines.

Improving the Readability of Your Patient Information is being presented by Jennifer Hicks, President, with WordsWork Consulting, Inc. and airs on Thursday, March 26th, 2009. For more details, please visit our site at www.fxconferences.com

Writing & Designing for an International Audience

Are you responsible for generating content for global markets? Are you worried that the meaning in your message might be lost or altered because of cultural differences? Culture, translation, writing, and design interweave in curious ways when preparing content for an international audience. These elements require important skills for creating global content, especially given the increasing pressure to standardize and comply with various international and internal standards.

This presentation highlights some key contradictions inherent in writing and designing for a multicultural and multilingual audience and discuss proven strategies for their resolution.

Writing & Designing for an International Audience was recorded on 2007-12-11 and it running again Oct 29th, 2008 by popular demand. For more details or to register, please visit our site www.fxconferences.com

Writing for Translation: The 1% Solution

Why should you learn how to use Controlled English? Increasingly, documentation must be designed for two distinct but related types of audiences—-those reading the text in translation, and those for whom English is a second language.

While many businesses still have their documentation translated, English is quickly becoming the standard of our global village. But English is a complex language to read, write, and understand. Using Controlled English makes documents easier for non-native English speakers to understand, and the more consistent, less ambiguous language also makes for less expensive translations. It is critical that technical documentation and training manuals clearly convey meaning in fields with complex products and liability issues.

This audio conference explains how 1% of the English language is sufficient to communicate with customers in 181 countries. It will also cover the steps to implement Controlled English and its pitfalls and benefits for the translation of technical documentation.

Writing for Translation: The 1% Solution was presented by John Smart, SMART Communications, on 2005-06-21 and is now available for download. For more details or to purchase a recording, please visit our site www.fxconferences.com

An Introduction to Regulatory Writing: Creating an Effective Message

Did you ever wonder what reviewers look for in your regulatory submissions? This audio conference combines the results of two in-depth interviews regarding effective writing in regulatory submissions and with known effective writing techniques and practices. The interviews were with a previous FDA reviewer and a current reviewer for a large Notified Body. Both interviewees shared their reactions to the quality and effectiveness of the writing in the hundreds of submissions they have each reviewed.

Topics include: analyzing the audience, identifying topics, organizing the topics in a logical way, applying document design principles, establishing document management conventions, writing, and assessing the effectiveness of your writing.

An Introduction to Regulatory Writing: Creating an Effective Message is being re-broadcast on Tuesday, October 21st, and is presented by Nancy Hoft, of Nancy Hoft Consulting. For more details or to register, please visit our site at www.fxconferences.com

How to Write for a Global Audience

In today's world, technical documentation must be designed for multiple audiences - both the users who read the text in translation, and those for whom English is a second language. By using Controlled English and authoring with an eye to translation, companies can make the entire process of product globalization faster, cheaper and less prone to errors.

This audio conference provides some basic guidelines on how to write for a global audience, enabling attendees to reduce the cost and improve the quality of translations, improve training and customer support, and protect their companies from litigation under the "failure to warn" principle.

How to Write for a Global Audience was presented by John Smart, President, SMART Communications on 2006-05-18 and is now available for download at www.fxconferences.com

21 Steps to Easier Globalization through Better Writing

Going global? Many of the problems encountered during the globalization process can be traced back to the earliest stages of developing product documentation. The good news is most of these problems can be avoided by following a few basic rules.

John Smart has spent over two decades helping companies market to 218 countries. In this presentation, he will describe the 21 most common problems encountered in writing for a global audience, identifying each type of error, describing the problem and showing how to make corrections. The presentation uses real-life examples to highlight potential cultural problems, including inappropriate number and color references, and the confusing use of dates and numbers. Listeners will be able to put the conference material to immediate use in improving their technical literature.

21 Steps to Easier Globalization through Better Writing was recorded on 2005-09-27 and is now available for download at www.fxconferences.com

Writing & Designing for an International Audience

Are you responsible for generating content for global markets? Are you worried that the meaning in your message might be lost or altered because of cultural differences? Culture, translation, writing, and design interweave in curious ways when preparing content for an international audience. These elements require important skills for creating global content, especially given the increasing pressure to standardize and comply with various international and internal standards.

This presentation will highlight some key contradictions inherent in writing and designing for a multicultural and multilingual audience and discuss proven strategies for their resolution.

This event is presented by Nancy Hoft of Nancy Hoft Consulting. To learn more, please visit www.fxconferences.com.

An Introduction to Regulatory Writing: Creating an Effective Message

Did you ever wonder what reviewers look for in your regulatory submissions? This audio conference combines the results of two in-depth interviews regarding effective writing in regulatory submissions and with known effective writing techniques and practices. The interviews were with a previous FDA reviewer and a current reviewer for a large Notified Body. Both interviewees shared their reactions to the quality and effectiveness of the writing in the hundreds of submissions they have each reviewed.

Topics include: analyzing the audience, identifying topics, organizing the topics in a logical way, applying document design principles, establishing document management conventions, writing, and assessing the effectiveness of your writing.

This conference is presented by Nancy Hoft of Nancy Hoft Consulting. For more details please visit our site www.fxconferences.com