Content Writing Tips

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

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

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.

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?

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.)

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

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

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!

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.