Prompt Proofing Blog Post: Writing Effective Web Content
As promised, on the third week of each month, we will focus on writing tips. This week - writing effective web content.

VANCOUVER, BC, January 20, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ -- As promised, on the third week of each month, we will focus on writing tips. This week - writing effective web content.

The key word here is 'content'. If you are writing an article for publication on your website then it is all about the content. To capture the attention of your audience, you must give them the content they are looking for and, preferably, have been searching for.

1. It should go without saying that you need to know what you're talking about.

You don't have to be the world expert on your subject but you do need a substantial understanding of it. Writing content for your website helps you to become established as an expert in your field and therefore enhances your business and attracts potential customers. Try to tailor your content to your desired audience. If you are unsure just who your target audience is then you are not yet ready to write the article; you must establish your target audience first and foremost if you want your content to be effective.

2. Assuming that you have established your audience, think what it is that they want to know.

You are aiming to give your readers quality information that they cannot readily obtain elsewhere. This way, they will return to your website again and again, whenever they need more information.

3. That said, brevity is also key.

Be concise in your writing; on the Internet, attention spans are extremely short so make your point quickly, preferably in the opening sentence, then illustrate / support it with examples. Break up your writing with white space. Reading online is tiring and long paragraphs of writing are likely to have your audience clicking away from your site. Break up text with graphics, bullet points and plenty of white space to give your readers' eyes a rest.

4. Maintain your focus.

Avoid digressions, stay focused on your main message. However, humorous anecdotes, used sparingly, can be effective, especially when they are self deprecatory.

5. Resist the temptation to sell to your readers.

Your articles should be helpful and informative rather than a blatant sales pitch. When you finish writing, read through what you have written and see if there is extraneous information you could readily omit. Check again for unnecessary repetition.

6. Proofread carefully for grammatical and punctuation errors.

Particularly check for spellings of words that spellcheck will not have picked up on. This writer, for example, has a sort of 'keyboard dyslexia' with certain letter combinations. I frequently write 'form' for 'from', for example. Spellcheck, of course, has no problem with the word 'form', so I simply have to be vigilant. Lastly, check through one more time (preferably have a friend / colleague check it also). If you let a typo slip by it may be the main thing your readers remember; unfair, perhaps, but if you want to ensure your readers remember your content, don't distract them with errors!

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