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Writing for the web 2 26-13
The document discusses tips for effective writing for the web. It begins with an introduction of the author and their background in web content strategy. It then contrasts print vs. web writing, noting that web writing should use shorter paragraphs and place structure in the writer's hands rather than space. The document outlines six tips for web writing: keep content concise, use headings, help readers scan quickly, use lists and formatting, use visuals strategically, and use PDFs sparingly. It emphasizes getting to the point quickly and using keywords and formatting to aid scanning.
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Writing for the web 2 26-13
- 1. Writing for the Web LauraChristenson February 26, 2013
- 2. Writing for theWeb Agenda Introduction Print vs. Web Writing Tips Writing Workshop
- 3. Writing for theWeb Introduction Web Presence Coordinator at the University of Iowa 10 years working in Web Focus on information architecture, content strategy, and user experience
- 4. Writing for theWeb Print vs. Web Writing Print Web Long paragraphs Short paragraphs OK best Space dictates Writer dictates structure structure Faster to read 25% longer to read Passive Active Word-for-word Quick scan
- 5. Writing for theWeb Why bother? Fewer Customer Service Calls Better Reputation Higher Rankings in Search Engines Higher Profits Other reasons?
- 6. Writing for theWeb Tips 6 tips for writing great web content
- 7. Writing for theWeb Keep Content Concise Get to the point as quickly as possible. Cut out unnecessary information. Use easy-to-understand, shorter, common words and phrases. Avoid long paragraphs and sentences. Test your writing style using readability formulas. (read-able.com)
- 8. Writing for theWeb Use Headings to Break Up Long Articles Consider organizing your thoughts in logical chunks with an outline first Use simple and concise headings Use keyword-rich headings to aid skimming Example: Good Use of Headings
- 9. Writing for theWeb Help Readers Scan Your Webpages Quickly Inverted pyramid writing style Keywords in page titles, headings and links one idea per paragraph half the word count of print (or less)
- 10. Writing for theWeb Lists, Formatting, and Links Break paragraphs into bulleted points Example: SWAP Grants Aid Recycling Programs Highlight important information in bold Use links to highlight keywords and information Example: IRS.gov Help & Resources
- 11. Writing for theWeb Use Visuals Strategically Make sure images you use support textual content. Avoid stock photos Example: Drought’s Footprint
- 12. Writing for theWeb Use PDF Documents Sparingly Disadvantages User forced to leave your website Content may not be accessible User may not have the correct software Can take a long time to open Won’t rank as high in Google results
- 13. Writing for theWeb The 6 Tips Concise content Use headings Most important content at the top Make information easy-to-scan Use photos, charts, and graphs that illustrate content Use PDFs sparingly, or not at all
- 14. Writing for theWeb Workshop Lemme Elementary School Profile
- 15. Writing for theWeb Thanks for Participating! linkedin.com/in/lauramchristenson/ @mcmahonorama
Editor's Notes
- #4 Pretty informal, please ask questions
- #5 Studies of content usability typically find that removing half of a website's words will double the amount of information that users actually get. Jakob Nielsen
- #9 F-shaped reading pattern
- #10 because users tend to read the first few words of headings, titles and links when they're scanning a webpage.Yahoo Finance follows all 13 design guidelines for tab controls, but usability suffers due to AJAX overkill and difficult customization.13 design guidelines for tab controls are all followed by Yahoo Finance, but usability suffers due to AJAX overkill and difficult customization.Place important information at the top of your articles.
- #11 Shows how a list has the most focus on this page.
- #12 Photos, charts and graphs can enhance readability when they replace or reinforce long blocks of textual content.
- #13 Usability issues of PDFs – user leaves your website and has no navigation