Content Types
Articles
Articles are the main type of free content on InformIT, and the site's largest generator of page views. They are generally original content written specifically for the purpose of posting on InformIT.
In general, our articles are not all that different from what you'd read in a magazine or on another website. They typically are 1000 to 2000 words long (that's about 2-3 pages if you're writing in Microsoft Word). They can go longer, but if they get too far above 2000 we consider splitting the article into two parts. (We generally find that click rates go way down if articles get too long.) They can also be a few hundred words shorter than that, depending on the topic, but that makes it difficult to include much detail. Although we don't mandate a "type" of article, you'll find that there are typically two types on InformIT: tutorials and references.
Tutorials will of course walk people through a task or problem to solve. ("How to.") Reference articles (for lack of a better term) are more informational. You may not be able to solve any specific problems after reading them, but you'll know more about a technology or application.
InformIT will pay for original articles. Compensation varies depending on your experience, the article length and target user level, and other variables.
Book Exceprts
Excerpts fall in between traditional articles, which are original content written specifically for InformIT, and sample chapters, which are complete chapters taken from books and posted to help promote those books. Excerpts are often a C-head or group of C-heads pulled from within a chapter. They are then edited to fit better in the context of our website. For instance, references to other chapters or sections of the book are removed, and examples from previous chapters are either fully explained or removed to avoid confusion.
Contact your InformIT editor to discuss your options for creating book excerpts.
Sample Chapters
Sample chapters are complete chapters taken from books, converted to HTML, and posted online. There are generally very few modifications made to them during the posting process; if there are references to other parts of the book, they will remain. The InformIT editors, however, do add a brief description of the chapter to use for promotional purposes on InformIT and in InformIT newsletters, and we will rename the chapters to help provide context. For instance, and chapter entitled "Installation" makes no sense outside of the book's TOC, so we will rename it "Installing Ubuntu" so readers can make better sense of it.
Your book editors generally pick which chapters will be posted and distributed online (generally Amazon and other retailers will also receive the same chapter, only without the modifications that InformIT editors make). If you have a preference for which chapter is used as a sample, you can contact your book editor. Your InformIT editors may also be able to help.
Interviews
Many of you are industry experts, and our readers love to hear what you have to say. If you have a book publishing soon, or happen to work in an area that's getting a lot of attention, we would love to do an interview with you. An interview can be a simple Q&A done over email or the phone, or we can put you in touch with a peer to have a more detailed discussion. Interviews can be posted as articles or recorded as podcasts
Blogs
Blogs on InformIT aren't that different from what you'll find on other sites. They offer a way to speak your mind instantly and allow for immediate reader feedback and discussion. Blogs appear in a central location on InformIT and are organized by topic. Ask your InformIT editor how to become a blogger.
Podcasts
Podcasts are short audio or video files distributed by download or streaming media. You might think of them as audio or video blogs, but they are also an excellent format for tutorials, demonstrations, and news/industry updates. Our podcasts are divided into "channels" based on topic, and are syndicated via RSS feeds and also on iTunes. Not sure how to go about creating a podcast? We can set you up with an in-house digital media specialist to make the process as simple as possible.
Reference Guides
Reference Guides are comprehensive primers on key topics — currently we have 7 with a few more in the works: .NET, C++, Java, Microsoft Office, Security, SQL Server, and Windows Server. Whether you're just getting up to speed or really want to dig into the quirks of a particular language or application, Reference Guides are a great resource to keep around. They are organized by a structured table of contents instead of simply a chronological list of topics or archive like you'll find on blogs and other sites. They are hosted by experts who update them weekly to keep them current and topical. You can start reading them at the beginning, jump into specific sections for answers, or follow them each week to see where the hosts will take you. "Guest host" opportunities are often available. Ask your InformIT editor for details.