Content Writing Tips

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Quality content writing - how to write for the web

Good content writing entertains, performs well in search engines, and provides helpful answers to those who need information. Content writing is an art, and with all arts, practice makes perfect.

If you want your content writing to be noticed and to be paid for, plan in advance to organize your content and perfect your writing skills so people will find your content helpful.




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Content Writers Forum

Content writing: what do people want?

...what kind of content writing will attract and help your site visitors?

People want answers to their questions.

People want information that is fast to read, easy to understand, and helpful.

Remember This

Your page will be referred to often if you provide quality helpful content that is kept up to date and relevant to the needs of web readers.

Choosing and Finding a Slant for Your Unique Web Content Writing

...good content writing focuses on an aspect of a topic.

  1. Is your idea important? Why? Write down your reasons for wanting to make this web page.

  2. Who would look for this information? Make a list of the types of people who would need this information.

  3. Try some web searches for the information to see how many other pages exist on this topic. Too much competition may make your web page hard to find through a search engine like Google or Yahoo.

  4. Can you write about a different aspect of the same subject to slant the web content toward one particular type of person looking for information?

  5. Do you believe in this topic? Does it fit in with your personal philosophies on the subject matter?

  6. You need a theme for your web content. The theme should indicate your unique point of view on the topic.

  7. If you're looking for some bit of information on the web and are having a hard time finding it, this may be opportunity to write something yourself! The content would be unique and would help the next person who comes along looking for information on that topic.

  8. Choose a small niche in which there's not much already written. Remember, your goal is to be unique!

  9. Find two or three popular keywords to use on your page (but don't stuff them into unnatural places). Here's a free place to find keywords: Google Keyword Tool.

Remember This

Avoid including anything off topic whether it be photos of beautiful flowers, or links to unrelated items for sale. If they don't pertain to and add to the topic, then eliminate them.

Hot Text! Web Writing That Works

...a content writing manual.

Jonathan and Lisa Price have written an extraordinary content writing manual that explains how to write FAQs, blog articles, newsletters, online resumés, and much more.

Hot Text: Web Writing that Works

Amazon Price: $11.95 (as of 02/12/2012)Buy Now

This is the content writing guide that webmasters are calling a classic even though it dates from only 2002. Web content writers are finding this to be one of the best new books that cover web writing techniques. It covers content writing well, and then goes beyond into meta tags, search engine optimization, usability, and content structure and organization.

Get Into The Content Writing Flow

...plan ahead.

When you're writing for the web, open the flood gates of imagination and let your writing flow. But first it is helpful to have a strategic plan for making that writing the best it can be.

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Killer Web Content: Make the Sale, Deliver the Service, Build the Brand

...content writing instructions you can live with.

Gerry McGovern's five-star website content writing manual is an outstanding favorite among many professional website content writers. It is said to be one of the best books available on website management and teaches the art of writing excellent web content along with user behaviors and search engine optimization techniques.

Killer Web Content: Make the Sale, Deliver the Service, Build the Brand

Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 02/12/2012)Buy Now

Out of twenty-five customer reviews, this book got an average of five stars (that's the best possible) though there was one bad review too. The book gives basic and advanced information on website management and making editorial decisions.

Web Content Writing Using an Inverted Pyramid News Style

...journalists use the inverted pyramid. If you write for the web, so should you.

Simply put, the inverted pyramid puts the most important information in the first paragraph. As an article progresses, less vital information is offered for those with enough interest and patience to stick around and read the whole thing.

How to Develop a Content Strategy

Ralph Wilson of Web Marketing Today interviews Rebecca Lieb, editor of ClickZ. Her content writing strategies include keeping content updated and writing with keywords in mind.
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Good Web Content Writing & Understanding How People Read Websites

...website reading is different than print publication reading.

  1. Website content readers usually scan text instead of reading everything. There are things you can do to help scanners find information on your page. Keep reading.

  2. Bulleted or numbered lists help website readers scan for information that is important to them.

  3. Highlighting keywords will help website content readers find concepts that interest them. Highlights can be done by changing text color, making hyperlinks, or bolding the text.

  4. Condense your ideas. Shorten paragraphs. Long paragraphs cause eyestrain. Use plenty of paragraph breaks. Use one idea per paragraph, max. Write less. Provide more meaning in less words. Your website content readers will thank you for it.

  5. Never, ever write in all-caps. Not only does it cause eye strain for a lot of people, it actually makes a lot of people angry! People say that capital letters on the web indicate shouting.

  6. Always, always double-check your spelling and grammar, especially if you know you have a problem with that.

Copyblogger

Copyblogger is a popular blog that teaches about content writing.
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Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works

People are raving about this book, saying things like "this is hands-down the best"...

Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works (Interactive Technologies)

Amazon Price: $23.06 (as of 02/12/2012)Buy Now

If you want to know the facts about content writing and reader usability, this book will give you that information. Ginny Redish has produced a book that will help every website content writer.

World Copywriting Blog

...David Garfinkle

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Men With Pens

Another great blog about writing for the web.
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Simplicity in Content Writing Translates to Usability for Your Readers

...keep it simple and straightforward. (KISS)

We've come a long way since the days of quill and ink, but one thing hasn't changed. When people take time to read something, they want it to be worthwhile and meaningful.

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My other writing lenses

If you love reading about writing (and/or books) you're welcome to visit some of my other lenses:
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Build Credibility With Good Content Writing

...there are things you can do that will help build your credibility.

  1. All the words in the world won't help if people won't trust what you say. Tell people why you have a genuine heart-felt interest in an issue and not just a desire to make money.

  2. Make your information easily verifiable by including links to other sites that back up your opinions.

  3. Include your photo and bio on the page. For example, this Squidoo page has my photo and a short bio in the top right-hand column.

  4. Have a site that looks professionally made, even if it isn't. Professional sites (with lots of white space) indicate credibility. See my suggestions to writers at Creating An Impressive Writing Website. My suggestions for professionalism on the web can be used by anyone setting up a personal or business site.

  5. Update your content frequently. Make it look like someone lives there, and someone cares!

  6. Provide contact information. You'll find my contact link on my profile page here at Squidoo.

  7. Use perfect spelling and grammar. Even one small grammatical mistake can affect your credibility in the mind of a web reader. Use capital letters when needed, avoid them when not needed, and put all your punctuation in the right places. Check and re-check! Then find a critique partner or two who will take the time to check your work for you. (You can do the same for them.)

  8. The more useful your site, lens, or page is, the more credibility points you earn.

  9. If you have experts working with you, let people know! Expertise is one of the most important contributing factors for credibility development.

  10. If you belong to an organization, or if an organization backs your site, you should include this information on your website. Even an affiliation with your local Chamber of Commerce will help!

  11. Lose any desire to write silly stuff like "I'm the best ever," or "My product is the best on the market." This type of language destroys your credibility. People like to decide for themselves based on valid criteria.

Now, Write!

...yes, go ahead and write something!

Make your plan, then get in there and write! Writing is the most important part of our job.

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References:

Some of these articles and sites contributed to the information on this lens.
21 Must-Read Tips To Write Better Web Content
A list of articles aimed at helping people learn to write better web content.
How to Write Good Web Content - Write Good Web Content For Your Site
Content is king on the Web, and in order to attract more visitors to your site, you're going to need to write good Web content.
Writing for the Web
Results from several research projects and eye-tracking studies about how users read on the Web and how authors should write their websites.
A List Apart: Topics: Content: Writing
Web design, content, and coding. Accessibility, CSS, XHTML, scripting, server side, front and back end. Designing with web standards.
Writing Good Content
Suggestions from the ProBlogger, Darren Rowse.
Content Writing and CopyWriting Blog
Blogging, content writing, online copywriting and SEO.
Writing Well for the Web
Writing for the web: writing tips and common mistakes found on web pages.
Web Content Tutorials Writing for the Web Tutorials, Articles Webpage Copy Writing - Web Site Resources, Website Tips - WebsiteTips.com
Writing for Web, Web content Tutorials: how users read on the Web, how to write & prepare headlines, marketing copy & Web page content, tips on preparing content copy. Find expert copy writers, authors.
Content - Writing, Editing, Creating
Content is vital on the Web, and there are lots of ways to get it. This subject listing will give you ideas on what to write, as well as tips on writing better, and editing your Web site. Writing techniques for the Web. Get ideas for content and free content services.
How to write good content
To create good content we need unique information, easy to scan structure, an answer to a question, quality of grammar, punctuation and spelling, and readability. This article goes into detail on these topics.
SEO Advice: Writing useful articles that readers will love
How to determine your niche and write helpful articles.
Website content writing tips that work
Website content writing tips that explain why web readers need shorter paragraphs, short sentences, and other content writing considerations.
The Web Credibility Project: Guidelines - Stanford University
Stanford Guidelines for Web Credibility How can you boost your web site's credibility? We have compiled 10 guidelines for building the credibility of a web site. These guidelines are based on three years of research that included over 4,500 people.
Credibility
The Wikipedia article on credibility states that is is comprised of two elements: trustworthiness and expertise.

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About the author

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When you're through learning about website content writing tips, you might be interested in learning how to create a website, or... how to write a memoir!

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"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." -Dr. Seuss
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Writing For The Web 

Writing for the Web

Amazon Price: $10.41 (as of 02/12/2012)Buy Now

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Letting Go of the Words 

Letting Go of the Words: Writing Web Content that Works (Interactive Technologies)

Amazon Price: $23.06 (as of 02/12/2012)Buy Now