Is Internet content a thing or an action?

Gerry McGovern written a useful mediation on the nature of content and content management. His point is that most organizations think of Web content as a static thing and not something dynamic and interactive.

Words and numbers are not the act; they are rather a record of the act. An invoice is a record of the sale. It is not the sale. It comes after the sale. That’s where the Web is different. If commerce is selling with people, then ecommerce is selling with content.

I’ve been struggling with defining the online content market myself and he has given me something to think about.

I certainly believe that most current definitions of content are too inclusive, and that a lot of current interactive content is ill-advised. But when we create content for online distribution, it’s important to ask ourselves whether we’re using the medium to full advantage or imposing a model from the print media.

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