You may have heard the phrase, ‘your website is your online shop window’. The new playground is technology and online writing has become the new norm. Here’s how to keep up.
BY VERONIQUE JOSEPH
According to Internet Live Stats, there are 1 706 981 573 websites in existence, and the number is climbing daily. No wonder that standing out as a writer online can be a challenge.
A study from the analytics service Chartbeat also found that 55 % of web visitors spend fewer than 15 seconds on a webpage. More than ever, writers need to be succinct and powerful.
Good web writing skills are the key to well-written content. They also increase your opportunity to be exposed to more article writing projects.
Below follow 7 golden tips to make sure your website content attracts attention:
1. Know your primary audience
Do research on your audience. Ensure that the topic you’re writing about is popular with your market. Also, do research on related niches. Ensure that your audience can find your site easily online.
2. Show your reader rather than telling them.
Be specific and use real-life examples. Allow your readers to experience the story through action, words, thoughts and senses and not just by giving them dry facts.
3. Optimise your content for search engines
Make the most out of your SEO, which means you need to insert the proper headings and keywords in your article so that the readers can find your article easily on the internet.
4. Use visuals
Research shows that people process visual information 60 000 times faster than text. Use multimedia. This make the online writing industry so much more fun.
5. Use fresh research
It’s important to keep your content fresh and interesting. Always keep a notebook close and update new research and information. Your research and information make you stand apart from your competitors. The more new, fresh and reliable research you have, the more likely your article will be accepted by the website.
6. Language is central to writing
Writers must write clearly and simply. Correct grammar, punctuation and spelling are of the utmost importance when writing online.
7. Keep track of everything you write for a website
Know which articles go to which editor. Write down the date you send the articles. Keep copies of your own articles. Also keep copies of your cover letters, so that you don’t accidentally approach the same editor twice. Keep your research organised in handy folders.
Writing for a website takes time and patience, and when you fail the first time, don’t give up. They say success always comes after failure. You’re not a bad writer if you get rejected from a website. It may be that your information is too general or your format may be disorganised. Keep improving your skills so that next time might lead to
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Veronique Joseph writes in Afrikaans and
