Clear Concise Content Samantha (Sam) Bovat 4Web, Inc. CMS Expo, Denver, CO December 2008

Agenda Introduce Sam Content Overview What is it? Why do you need it? How to face writing it without getting overwhelmed. Q & A

Introduce Sam

Content Overview

What is it?

Why do you need it?

How to face writing it without getting overwhelmed.

Q & A

Samantha Bovat Content and copywriter since 2000 Creator of Key4Women’s networking group in Brattleboro, VT Masters Degree in Education & Self-Esteem Motivational Speaker Participant, New England Adobe User Group and Joomla! User Group New England

Content and copywriter since 2000

Creator of Key4Women’s networking group in Brattleboro, VT

Masters Degree in Education & Self-Esteem

Motivational Speaker

Participant, New England Adobe User Group and Joomla! User Group New England

What is content? Content can mean a variety of things depending on who you are talking to, but in this case-we are talking about the words. Content includes the words you use to create a marketing message. From your tagline to your contact information. Content can be broken down into two categories: Main Content and Supporting Content.

Content can mean a variety of things depending on who you are talking to, but in this case-we are talking about the words.

Content includes the words you use to create a marketing message. From your tagline to your contact information.

Content can be broken down into two categories: Main Content and Supporting Content.

Main Content Who are you? and What product or service do you offer? Visitors want to know if they are in the right place

Who are you? and What product or service do you offer?

Visitors want to know if they are in the right place

Supporting Content Supporting content adds validity and credibility. It helps to enhance your overall image. Testimonials, Quotes, Portfolios, References, Images, etc.

Supporting content adds validity and credibility. It helps to enhance your overall image.

Testimonials, Quotes, Portfolios, References, Images, etc.

Be Clear When in doubt- spell it out! Do not leave anything up to the visitor’s imagination. You have about 5 seconds to get and keep your visitor’s attention, so now is not the time to be vague about what you do.

When in doubt- spell it out!

Do not leave anything up to the visitor’s imagination.

You have about 5 seconds to get and keep your visitor’s attention, so now is not the time to be vague about what you do.

Be Concise Get to the point! Short and sweet gets the job done on most websites. Visitors are skimming They are looking for key words

Get to the point!

Short and sweet gets the job done on most websites.

Visitors are skimming

They are looking for key words

Relevant Content Every word counts and should be crafted to support your brand and overall marketing message.

Every word counts and should be crafted to support your brand and overall marketing message.

Where do I start? If you don’t have a marketing message already, this will be the place to start. Take the time to write down the answers to these questions: Why did you want to start a business in the first place? What makes your business special? Who is your target audience? (Be as specific as possible.) What is your business style? What experience do you have?

If you don’t have a marketing message already, this will be the place to start.

Take the time to write down the answers to these questions:

Why did you want to start a business in the first place?

What makes your business special?

Who is your target audience? (Be as specific as possible.)

What is your business style?

What experience do you have?

One Page at a Time Filling in the content on your site can be overwhelming to say the least. So, please take it one step at a time. Pick a page Review your marketing message to determine what info is relevant Write a draft Repeat

Filling in the content on your site can be overwhelming to say the least. So, please take it one step at a time.

Pick a page

Review your marketing message to determine what info is relevant

Write a draft

Repeat

The Most Important Thing…. … is to just get writing! Content is the hardest part of the whole website, unless you like to write. So, if you don’t either ask for help or just start jotting things down.

… is to just get writing!

Content is the hardest part of the whole website, unless you like to write. So, if you don’t either ask for help or just start jotting things down.

In Conclusion Content is important for: Your Visitors The Search Engines Your overall Marketing Goals The only way to get it done is to start one page at a time. Don’t let content hold up the launch of your site. Ask for help if necessary.

Content is important for:

Your Visitors

The Search Engines

Your overall Marketing Goals

The only way to get it done is to start one page at a time.

Don’t let content hold up the launch of your site. Ask for help if necessary.

The Good , the Bad & The Ugly It doesn’t get any more concise than this. So I will call this one good. http://www.4webinc.com

It doesn’t get any more concise than this. So I will call this one good.

http://www.4webinc.com

The Good, the Bad & The Ugly There are several things wrong with this one. So I fine this one to be pretty bad. http://www.canoeclub.us

There are several things wrong with this one. So I fine this one to be pretty bad.

http://www.canoeclub.us

The Good, the Bad & The Ugly Need I say more? http://www.havenworks.com

Need I say more?

http://www.havenworks.com

Thank You! Samantha (Sam) Bovat 4Web, Inc. All Slides can be found on www.joomla4web/expo www.4webinc.com www.joomla4web.com [email_address]

Samantha (Sam) Bovat

4Web, Inc.

All Slides can be found on www.joomla4web/expo

www.4webinc.com

www.joomla4web.com

[email_address]