Web writing demands a different style than in newspapers or magazines. Here are 5 tips for writers to become more online friendly.
More and more writers are making the transition from paper to web, and although they may have been honing their craft for years, online has a whole new set of rules that are quite different from print.
Here are five steps for newspaper, magazine and journal writers on how to transcend their skills and become a popular "hit" with online readers.
- Keep it Simple: Refrain from wit or pun when headlining a story, otherwise it will be indecipherable online. The Suite 101 Web Writing Handbook says the more specific the title is, the easier it will be for search engines, such as Google, Yahoo or Ask.com, to find it. A title such as "Dog Day Afternoon" may sound perfect for a guide to strolling with your pet, but type it into Google and over 2,000,000 sites will pop up about the movie. "Walking your Dog" is more obvious.
- Understandable: This may be common knowledge for newspaper journalists, but the lead paragraph should state everything a reader needs to know about the story. The "who" "what" "when" "where" and "how." This is another handy trick for search engines and searchers to find what they are looking for quickly.
- Short and Precise: Writers love the written language, but using it can cause unnecessarily long paragraphs. Suite 101 says the reader scans over an article before deciding to read it. Keep the story short, between 400-600 words, and include information in numbered or bulleted lists so articles remain factual. Anything longer can become tedious for the reader. Keywords should be typed in bold to emphasize new information.
- Adding Extras: Creating links helps readers continue reading. Whether it is in house or external, links should be similar with the original topic, so as to increase the reader's trust in the author. No more than five links should be added, for any more will look like advertising.
- Image Obsessed: Articles remain interesting when there are images associated with it. They offer a visual explanation that is familiar with the reader. Photos should have the artist's permission and a caption describing it. Photos on sites such as Google Images and Morguefile are free to the public as long as the photographer's name is credited. Photos in .jpg, .gif format are the most understandable for browsers.
Following these tips will help any print writer become well on their way to an online author. Practice makes perfect so put down the pen and start typing!
The copyright of the article Web Writing Made Easy in Online Publishing is owned by Erica Timmerman. Permission to republish Web Writing Made Easy in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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