Writing for the Web
Five Ways to Research for Your Content
Posted by Rhiannon Louise on July 10, 2007
Filed Under Writing for the Web
My guess is that if you want to provide a valuable online resource you’re going to want to provide unique and worthwhile content.
But researching facts, figures, statistics and opinions day after day for your articles, guides, reports and entries can seem like quite a startling task to get your head around when you’re starting out and contemplating how exactly you’re going to -
a) populate your website with pithy and desirable data and
b) continue producing worthwhile web based content on a daily or weekly basis…
But never fear – here are five ways to research for your content – they are tried and tested ways I use each and every single day and they will ensure your articles are factual, interesting, unique and that they provide value to your website!
Get to the Point When Writing for the Web
Posted by Rhiannon Louise on June 07, 2007
Filed Under Writing for the Web
It’s a cold hard fact that with more and more ways for information to be supplied to us and for us to have instant access to facts and data, the less time we seemingly have to digest that which is thrown at us and even that which we go out and actively seek.
Nowhere is this more the case than on the internet.
Web readers have an attention span shorter than the average goldfish’s memory according to many sources – although others refute this fact, claiming that actually internet readers have a greater capacity for concentrated attention but that we prefer not to use it.
Whichever theory you’re more inclined to agree with, it’s a fact that web readers generally prefer to dip in and out, surf and scan stuff on the internet - which is why it is essential to get to the point when writing for the web.
A Successful Article Writing Formula
Posted by Rhiannon Louise on June 02, 2007
Filed Under Writing for the Web
I’m sure many of you who’ve dived in to read this report will instantly be coming from the point of view of questioning the headline of the article – i.e., is there such a thing as a successful article writing formula - surely creativity cannot be formulaic, right?
Well, I’ve read many sites, articles and even whole books dedicated to the theme of writing successfully for the internet and I’ve written thousands of articles and reports for the web myself and I actually believe that there is such a thing as a successful article writing formula. If you’re just getting started, you’re looking for tips or you struggle with writing web and reader friendly content then you can use my formula to help you develop your own natural writing style.
Over the years I have honed and adapted my writing style, I have taken on board others’ opinions and I have tried to keep up to date with the most informed opinions in the industry and I believe I have created – or at least adopted - a successful article writing formula.
The truth is I don’t always use it (!) – but in this article I’ll lay it out for you to use at least as a basic framework for your first few posts so that you can get started and develop your own unique way of writing successfully for the internet.
Finding Your Web Content Voice
Posted by Rhiannon Louise on May 29, 2007
Filed Under Writing for the Web
Alice Seba from InternetMarketingSweetie.com sent out a great email the other day – she was talking about reaching your audience with compelling content and the style you should write in. Alice suggested that it can be appropriate to write like you speak – i.e., be personable and approachable, and personally I couldn’t agree more.
Simply put, finding your web content voice is critical if you’re going to be able to reach and entertain, compel, convince and retain your readership. Mind you, I might not be the most appropriate person to write this article – you see I have multiple writing personalities but I can just about stifle the more excitable ones when I’m writing a detailed report for one of our sites because I know I can move on to a less serious section soon!
So, how do you go about ‘finding’ your web content voice and what if your natural way of writing is not appropriate for your readership?
Well, if you’re a natural communicator you’ll probably find that however much you try and structure your posts, articles, reports and comments in a certain formal way, your great natural ability to really relate to your readership will keep popping up and you’re going to have to give in and relax and let your style develop into a more chatty way of corresponding and communicating.
Despite what anyone else says, a great swathe of the internet is largely about communication in the written form in my opinion, and therefore those who can relate in a natural way to their readership will get the most loyal followers – so if communication comes easily to you, you’re one of the lucky ones.
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