I've just finished reading Kristina Halvorson's Content Strategy for the Web, and I highly recommend it to any web professional seeking to get a better picture of what is at the heart of a successful website. (That would be the content.)

I first saw Kristina Halvorson at SXSWi 2009, and her panel discussion piqued my interest in the growing field of content strategy. Since then, I've been introduced to a vibrant and growing community of content wranglers that have changed the way I view website content. Just a few months later, she published this book.

My focus of expertise is largely front-end web development, but as any web professional knows, the disciplines engaged in web design often overlap, and there are gray, fuzzy lines at the boundaries between them. It is always worthwhile to study the fundamentals and workflows of disciplines that connect to yours.

As such, content connects us all. It is the single most important component of a site, and a valuable asset to the site's stakeholders. Every role in web design should be working to support the delivery of clear, engaging, and usable content. This is why I recommend this book to anyone who comes near website content.

Content Strategy for the Web takes the reader through a thorough distillation of what content strategy is, why it is important, and how it is implemented. It is well-written and not over-bearing. At less than 200 pages, its a comfortable read.

While parts of this book are clearly written for the consulting content strategist, the considerations and workflow can be appreciated by any web professional. Even if you will never wear the content strategy hat, knowing all that goes into the process is invaluable information.

In the end, it simply makes sense. You have to wonder why so many website stakeholders don't value their content like they should. Whether you're crafting a small site or part of a team working on a large site, you will benefit from the wisdom in this book. Your content and your visitors will benefit, too.

Buy at Amazon