Tips for Writing Effective Website Content

When writing for the web it is important to remember that you are not writing for a newspaper. Keep in mind the following and you will sure to grasp the attention of your readers.

• Use shorter sentences, words and paragraphs.
• Keep to one topic per paragraph.
• Reduce the word count than when writing for print.
• Use objective language over exaggerated claims or overly promotional words like “great”, “tremendous” etc.
• Use bullet points (like this list).
• highlighted text (bold or color) for fast and easy scannability for your readers.
 • meaningful headlines and subheads, avoiding cute or clever lines that may go over the head of most people.

Understand how people search the web

Reading on the web is more work for the reader.

Reading from a computer screen tires the eyes. People read half as much of article online as a pose to article that is printed.

Readers on the Web scan text 

According to a study by usability expert Jacob Nielson, 79% of readers on the Web tend to skim web pages rather than read word for word.

Highlighted text (bold or color, also hyperlinked text) and bulleted lists aid scannability.

Web surfers do not have the patience 

With millions of new websites added dailing, web readers on the Web are in a hurry to get the information they want, and they want it fast or they move on. They don’t have the time for long and complex text. They don’t enjoy scrolling through masses of text either.

Since there are millions of alternative websites in cyberspace, they will quickly move to another site if they don’t enjoy the information gathering experience on your site.

Attracting attention and retaining reader interest is a challenge, specially as you have just… 

• 8 seconds to grab attention with your web site content
• 45 seconds to develop an understanding of your company or product

To combat reader fatigue, make it easy for your Web users to get relevant information. Put the most important information to the top of each page and make it very readable. 
Credibility is a major factor in retaining interest and ensuring your visitors trust your website.

With objective language, write meaningful headlines (with <h3> or <h4>) and sub-headlines and avoid exaggerated claims to build credibility. Cute or clever lines could mean that the reader takes longer to get to the main point. 

Links to the sources of your post or to related information also add to credibility.

Readers avoid information overload

Everyday in a modern day society, people suffer from information overload. They usually have an abundance of emails in their inbox to contend with, along with several documents to read and general non-stop bombardment of advertisements. Whether subtle or otherwise they require some degree of attention.
They don’t want to spend time and effort reading content that they may not find of any use to them.

Offer your readers resources in easy to digest chunks of information that are easy to read. Use short sentences, short paragraphs, one idea per paragraph.

Use relevant headlines and sub-headlines which help them reach the information they want, quickly and easily. For information on the content writing services for your blog or website, please visit this page.