Writing For The Web, How to Write Better User-Friendly Web Content
Great Writing Tips For Newbies, Session 10
This is the tenth part of an ongoing session of writing tips that I post regularly to this blog. For those of you who are keeping up with these postings, thanks. In session nine we went over some suggestions for good web content writing and great research methods, blended them together and produced a short synopsis of an article we found online.
The article we used also connected our writing subject matter with a topic about technology and the Internet. This will continue to be the theme of our Great Writing For Newbies Sessions. After all, technology and writing have so much in common these days. You can’t view technology without the words that make it all happen. Let’s get started!
Session 10
In this session, we are going to start looking at ways to write for the web. We will go over writing usable content, writing user-friendly content, and how to test our writing for user readability.
How to Write Better User-Friendly Web Content
When you write for the web, you are writing to catch the attention of someone scanning page after page for something that catches their eye. To pull them in and keep them on your page you have to rely on a few things. First, your page must be designed dynamically with outstanding graphics and media that draw the viewer to it (we will go over this in session 11). Second, your page must have written content that is user-friendly, easily readable, and achieves maximum SEO visibility.
Writing web content that is user-friendly
When you write web content is must be user-friendly. Web surfers want to read content that catches their attention. The best way to do this is to write content that is readable. You can accomplish this in several ways.
- One way to catch the readers attention is to use bullet points to make your content easier to read than a sentence.
- Write copy that uses keywords and is easy to understand, never overpower your reader with words they cannot grasp.
- Start with the most significant material, this is called front-loading important information.
- Use active voice instead of passive voice.
- Use numbered lists to keep the reader's attention.
- Use whitespace to separate information making it easier to view.
- Employ images and multimedia to visually reinforce your writing.
- Write short sentences and paragraphs, and break them into chunks that are more manageable to the reader.
- Write headlines and subheaders that are clear about what follows.
- Don’t use jargon and irrelevant acronyms that confuse the reader.
- When using links connect them to a descriptive word or phrase in the sentence.
- To achieve maximum SEO visibility for your page use keywords that are useful, concise, and what your audience will be searching for. One thing to remember with keywords, never overdo it, too many and you’re spamming.
And last but certainly least, your written web content should always meet readability requirements. To check for this you can use some free readability checkers found online like The Writer, Readability Formulas, and the Hemingway App.
Thanks for taking time out of your day to review the information presented here in session 10.
If you missed session 9 feel free to review it at your own leisure. I hope this article was of some help to those seeking to become better writers. Session 11 will be posted soon.
As always- find what works best for you in everything that you do, including writing. Always write what you feel and never let others sway your opinions or ideas.
Write something GREAT today!
