10 Ways to Improve Your Web Writing

Writing for the web is not the same thing as writing an article or report that will appear in print. People who are getting information from web sites have notoriously short attention spans, and you need to be able to make your point quickly or they will move on. Here 10 ways to improve your web writing to make this medium a more effective one for you:

1.  Make sure your content is relevant to the reader.

Keep your audience in mind and provide them with content that they will find helpful and interesting. If you can help them solve a problem they are having by saving them time or money,they will come back to your web site for looking for more helpful tips.

2.  Get to the point quickly.

When you are writing for the web, you need to get the reader’s attention from the outset. You should tell them what the point of the article is at the beginning, and invite them to read on to learn more.

3.  Keep your paragraphs short.

Take one idea and make it the focus of your paragraph when writing for the web. Between three and five sentences per paragraph is ideal; anything over that, and you may lose your reader’s interest.

4.  Use lists when appropriate.

Keep your text easy to read by listing three or more items instead of using a lot of words to describe the same idea.

5.  Keep your lists short.

The person reading your web page will get lost if you list 20 items at a time. Keep your list short and don’t post any more than 10 items at a time.

6.  Sentences should be short, too.

One idea per sentence is the best way to go. If you are thinking of adding something in parentheses, do reconsider. That idea may not be adding helpful information to the piece, and you may want to skip it altogether.

7.  Use subheadings as appropriate.

When a web surfer lands on your page, they will likely scan it briefly before deciding whether to start reading. Using subheadings in your text allows them to decide whether you can provide them with the information they are looking for.

8.  Include links to other pages in your text.

Your goal is to get the reader to spend some time on your site and visit more than one page. Use internal links to make this process easy for them.

9.  Tell your readers what you want them to do.

If you want your reader to sign up for your newsletter to click on a link to got to the next page, tell them that. Use specific action words so that they know how to place an order or contact you for more information.

10. Proofread your copy before you post it.

Your web content is your calling card, and how you present yourself online tells the reader a lot about you and your business. Spelling mistakes or awkward sentences give your site visitors a negative impression about your company.