About DDO

Digital Directions Online is the brainchild of digital publisher Bill Oakes.

I began my career as a photojournalist, working my way up to Photo Chief, Digital Imaging Editor, and then the newspaper’s first Manager of Online Services. It wasn’t called content strategy then, but our goal was to produce quality content for our audience.

That goal is what drives me to this day. My favorite definition for content strategy (and there are many) is from the Content Strategy Alliance which combines Kevin Nichols’ definition with Kristina Halvorson’s:

“Getting the right content to the right user at the right time through strategic planning of content creation, delivery, and governance.”

In my career I have managed the websites and staffs of the American Marketing Association, and Chicago magazine. For the last five years I’ve been contracting as a content strategist with companies like Razorfish, SapientNITRO, Humana, and most recently with Zebra Technologies.

I continue to work with agencies and individual clients alike. Please reach out to me at bill@billoakes.com if you’d like to discuss your needs for content strategy.