Sep 08, 2001 01:16 PM
2067 Views
TIPS ON GOOD CONTENT WRITING
Know your audience; they should always be foremost in your mind.
Write well and edit like crazy. Be concise and to the point. People read 25 percent slower onscreen, so text needs to be about 50 percent shorter.
Include attention-grabbing, meaningful headlines, links and subheads.
Avoid using jargon and buzzwords.
Use proper grammar. Just because it's on the Web doesn't mean it's OK to be sloppy.
Keep ideas and thoughts in chunks. A paragraph should only contain one idea.
Avoid scrolling text. However, sometimes readers want to print out articles or information, so offer a printer-friendly version in addition to breaking up text.
Make sure links make sense contextually. In other words, don't link a phrase or a word to something that is completely irrelevant. You want to keep your audience's attention, not lead them down a dead end.
In addition, a few good ways to break up text so it's easier to read on the screen include using lists, bulleted items, short phrases, brief summaries, sidebars and links to additional pages.
Finally, spend time online so that you are comfortable with the medium. Think about it: You wouldn't write for a magazine without reading several issues first and getting to know the magazine's style, tone and audience, would you? The same is true online.
