|
Larger screen type fonts improve readability. Short line lengths help. So does reducing
the number of words from print to the on-screen version by about 50%.
INSTANT DOWNLOAD
Word &
Excel Templates for only $9.99!
To make your web page writing more effective, try some of these tips:
- Don't assume that the reader got to a particular page by following a particular
path. Hyperlinks make it possible to enter any page from just about any starting
point. The reader may never have seen your home page and may know only what's on that
page.
- Make each page stand alone. If it's the only page on your site a reader
sees, it should be self-explanatory and easy to move on from.
- A lighter, less formal writing style is appropriate. Light humor is a welcome
touch, but be careful of clever or cute headings or metaphors that don't translate across
geographic distances or cultures. Readers tend to take you literally. Try
writing like you speak.
- Use an inverted pyramid style of writing on every page. The reader should see from
the first screen of information what is on that page and whether they want to read
further.
- Consider carefully before turning a lengthy article into a series of linked pages with
``More" and a ``turn the page" graphic at the bottom. Know your audience.
Many
readers still like to print out articles, and loading multiple pages in order to print
them can be annoying and waste time.
Remember that users come to web sites for information. Help them to hunt and peck
to find what they are looking for easily, and the chances are your web site will be
considered successful.
Copyright 1998 by Kaye Vivian (kvivian@cloud9.net). |
I'm Ivan Walsh, the person behind this site. I help people improve how they write, publish and extend their business assets.