Many beginner web writers have no idea how different writing articles for the web is compared to print articles. Here’s what makes web writing unique…
When you write content for the web it’s important to get the message across quickly and to put the most relevant information at the top by adopting the inverted pyramid approach.
It’s important to catch the reader’s eye as web readers tend to scan information instead of reading it, and don’t spend a lot of time on pages.
Unfortunately, unlike the print media, you can’t get too creative with headlines when it comes to articles for the web. Headlines have to be clear, concrete and specific so that articles are easily searchable.
Web Author has a Lot more Freedom
The structure of online writing is also different but it can provide the author with a lot more freedom. Writers can make use of bullet points, subheadings and other devices to break up the text, which makes the copy easier to read and write. Long articles can also be broken up into smaller posts or multiple pages.
Print, however, can be more restrictive as you have to adhere to style guides and the space available to you, so bullet points are not always possible to include.
Provide a Link to the Source
Sourcing stories online is easier too. Instead of giving a long explanation in foot notes, all you need to do in your online story is provide a link to the source. No more messy citations!
While print is usually more formal, online prose can be more relaxed and conversational, especially when it comes to blogging. However, when it comes to online writing it’s not just about how you write something but what you include in the content.
Web writing relies on key words
Keywords are important because they can help you achieve good page rankings, target specific customers and are effective when you market or advertise your website.
It’s important to write original and engaging articles when you go online. What’s more, it’s important to keep note of the basic fundamentals of what makes good copy. If your content is littered with typos, grammatical errors and bad punctuation, you can be sure that your users will not return.
About the Author:
Angelique Ruzicka is a graduate of the Writing for the Web Course at The Writers’ College. She is presently working on a Wedding blog – Weddings from Scratch:
http://www.weddingsfromscratch.com/index/
Photo: Flickr.com_bigpresh
