A couple of months ago, I got many reponses from fellow frustrated iPod owners to my post about how bad metadata in iPods makes for a bad user experience. The same was true last week at the AIIM Expo, when during my taxonomy tutorial, the audience was quick to point out the problems they endured transfering bad metadata from CDs to their online jukebox. Interestingly, most of them had previously not made the connection with bad metadata in their content management systems. The more complex the technology, the more challenging it can be to pinpoint metadata and classification problems.

FYI, in early June, I'll be presenting the same in-depth tutorial on taxonomies at the Gilbane Conference on Content Management in Washington, DC; the tutorial will include case studies and interactive exercises to help you build a better (or first) taxonomy for your business. Later that week, I'll also be talking tagging with Thomas Vander Wal, the crafty IA guru who coined the term "folksonomy." Do join us, and e-mail me with your latest taxonomy and tagging challenges beforehand.