Writing for The Web

by pkmcr

If you are writing for the web then you need to focus on writing content that real people want to read. Quality material that provides what the reader wants is key to success!

When it comes to writing for the web there is no doubt that quality, useful content has been important for many years.

However, with the recent changes, especially with the leading Search Engine Google, it has never been as it is now. It is important to take the time to create high quality articles, pages, Squidoo lenses and the like, that real visitors really want to read.

There are many people who will continue to ignore the requirements of the real reader/visitor in their pursuit of money making opportunities.

However, if you want to be successful in the long term then you need to forget about taking shortcuts.

Quality or "readable" content is the cornerstone of any successful online venture. It doesn't matter if you are writing on your own blogs/sites or on the quality free page creation sites such as Wizzley. Quality counts today more than it has ever done and taking shortcuts is simply not worth it.

So let's take a look at what is involved in writing quality content when it comes to writing for the web.

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Top Five Writing For The Web Tips

How To Write Web Content

If you want to write content for the web that really gets your message across then the following ideas will help you.

1) Make it Easy To Read

If you are like me and indeed most people you will skim read web pages.  So you need to bear that in mind when you are writing for the web. Your readers are probably visiting dozens of websites, pages and blogs, and with the fast moving world we live in now they can easily get bored and before you know it they have moved onto the next article or page.

So how do you make web content easy to read? You need to use short paragraphs, make good use of:

  • bullet points,
  • numbered lists,
  • subheadings.

This approach makes the page easier to read, but it also gives it some structure which will help you to make sure you stay on point.

2) Write Informative Content

There are some Internet Marketers who claim that you can make money by churning out hundreds of poorly written, non-user friendly articles.  Don't be fooled by this sort of nonsense and you really should not do this if you want to build a sustainable income from your online activity.

As we have seen recently with Google, Search engines are become more aware and increasingly dismissive of keyword stuffed and spun content. What web searchers are looking for are articles and pages that answer their questions in a clear, informative and if appropriate entertaining way. 

3) Get The Length Right

There are lots of different views about how long online articles should be. However, in reality the needs of each and every article are different. The best approach, and this applies to so much of what we do online is to think like the  person who is searching for your content.

If you are able to answer what the searcher needs to know in just 100 words then that 100 words is long enough! However, realistically most questions will need a little more than that and you wil need to a little time writing your article and a few more words in order to really address the question.

4) Writing in a Natural Way

I am sure that, like me, you sometimes struggle to write naturally when you are trying to incorporate your keywords into your articles. There's an easy answer and that is to stop worrying about it!

If your article or page is answering the questions the people searching are looking for answers to then the keywords will come into the content naturally. I am not suggesting that you should stop trying to incorporate keywords into your pages or articles, but this should be a secondary concern to creating an article which is readable, interesting and informative.

5) Be Current

Whilst there are some articles and indeed topics which you might consider “evergreen.”  That is they will be as relevant in a few years as they are at the time you first write them. However, a lot of our online content needs to be updated from time to time.

You may have noticed or read that the large search engines like Google are increasinly placing more emphasis on fresh content. If you can keep on top of your content and keep your answers current then you can take advantage of this development and at the same time keep your readers informed.

In summary, there are no quick and easy shortcuts to when it comes to writing for the web and creating high quality content. However, if you invest the time and effort it takes to write content that engages your readers then success will surely come as they take action on your recommendations.

 

Join Wizzley

More Writing For The Web Tips

Wizzley is the new kid on the online block for Writers. One of the questions I am frequently asked is how does it compare with Squidoo? Let's take a look!
The trend for marketing to move into micro niches continues but what exactly is a micro niche? How do you define a micro niche and do you need to focus on them in your marketing?
There is an increasing focus on Micro Niches within online marketing. But how do you find them? Let's take a look at How To Find a Micro Niche and help you to be successful
We know that Niche Marketing is the way to go but then comes the challenge of choosing a niche! How do you choose a niche to market to and how do you decide what to market to them?
Updated: 10/04/2014, pkmcr
 
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cmoneyspinner on 09/07/2013

My content is "readable" and I'm even conceited enough to think it's "quality". But if people aren't interested in saving the trees, what can I do? :) Thumbs Up!

Pinkchic18 on 03/25/2013

Awesome tips, these are definitely good pointers worth trying out.

katiem2 on 09/23/2012

Just stopping by to see what an Editors Choice Article should look, feel and read like. Thanks for the example. :)K

BarbRad on 06/27/2012

Thanks for a lot of good reminders on what kind of content to write and how to make it accessible to those who are looking for it.

Raj B on 05/25/2012

Writing for the web is certainly different from other forms of writing as the task is not just of delivering useful information to your target audience. The article needs to be optimized in order for you to reach your target audience. So keeping in mind the points you outlined is definitely important. Cheers!

terrilorah on 03/19/2012

Great tips and advice, especially for us newbies!

sheilamarie on 02/12/2012

Helpful article, Paul. I like the bullet points. That seems to work best for people who skim.

ShersAndroid on 02/09/2012

Thanks for sharing such concise points about writing for the web. I can see you practice what you preach, and I'm going to read more of your articles!

Angel on 01/04/2012

I am new to all of this and your articles are very helpful! Thanks.

Aysha on 12/30/2011

These are useful tips for those who want to succeed in writing online. One should realize that it is very different from traditional writing


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