Just Say It! Writing for the Internet

<h1>Just Say It! Writing for the Internet</h1>Author: <a title="Teajai Kimsey" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/teajai-kimsey/59706.htm">Teajai Kimsey</a> Here's a number that will get you thinking: 79% of website visitors only scan the pages they come upon, only 16% read word-by-word the entire page. What does that mean? In short, that means writing for the internet must cater to the majority of visitors who won't be reading the all the great copy on your site.
What's the best way to ensure that the topic of your site gets the attention it deserves? It's simple, keep the content on your site in chunks that are easy to scan. Think in terms of a presentation and plan for interaction.
Start with the meta-content. This includes headlines, sub headings, and labels. People first approach web pages by searching out key words or phrases that address their specific needs. By putting using the bold fonts that headlines use, you'll be sure to grab their attention. At the same time, don't use these areas for self promotion or hype since those words don't really tell the visitor that you have what they want.
Put your message in the form of an upside-down pyramid. In other words the important information should be at the top (what, how, why) and the lesser important details should be towards the bottom. A good example of this is on the CNN site. at the top of each individual article the main points are bulleted so you can get the whole story in one chunk.
Don't try to explain everything on one page. Since visitors most likely will not read the entire text, give them a quick way to read more by linking to additional information on other pages. Use styles to draw attention to the links with bold-face fonts and underlines.
When you do write the main "story" be sure to write in terms of the benefits, don't just list features. Be direct, the web is friendly so using "we" and "you" is the more acceptable format to tell the visitor exactly what they will be getting. Writing in this manner will draw your visitor in and help you convert more visitors to customers.
The internet if used by a lot of busy people so planning ahead to give them just what they want to know in clear, easy to scan segments will help them choose you over the other websites because of the perceived "ease of use."
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This article written by Teajai Kimsey, Interenet Marketing Strategist, <a href="http://www.ideasthatwork.net">Ideas That Work </a>- January 2008 It may be reproduced and reprinted provided the author's information including web link is kept intact.About the Author: <a href="http://www.ideasthatwork.net">Teajai "T J" Kimsey is an internet marketing strategist</a> and the founder of Advanced Web Strategies Inc, (Beyond Web Design) an internet advertising agency serving over 300 clients with a full range of online services including web development, custom programming, search engine marketing and all channels of online marketing and marketing integration. 
She is recognized as a leader in internet marketing having been a featured expert on the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce website, a featured contributor to the Wichita Independent Business Association newsletter, and featured as the expert on 2 episodes of Minding Your Own Business, a statewide television program. 
 
Teajai has also taught as an adjunct at Wichita State University and Cowley County Community College. She has been featured in a number of articles and called upon as an expert on internet related topics in the Wichita Eagle and Wichita Business Journal. 
 
Teajai holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Friends University, 24 hours towards a Master of Science in Management and has recently begun the path to earning a Doctorate in Human Factors Psychology, specializing in human computer interaction.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/article-marketing-articles/just-say-it-writing-for-the-internet-475527.html" title="Just Say It! Writing for the Internet">Just Say It! Writing for the Internet</a>

Here's a number that will get you thinking: 79% of website visitors only scan the pages they come upon, only 16% read word-by-word the entire page. What does that mean? In short, that means writing for the internet must cater to the majority of visitors who won't be reading the all the great copy on your site.

What's the best way to ensure that the topic of your site gets the attention it deserves? It's simple, keep the content on your site in chunks that are easy to scan. Think in terms of a presentation and plan for interaction.

Start with the meta-content. This includes headlines, sub headings, and labels. People first approach web pages by searching out key words or phrases that address their specific needs. By putting using the bold fonts that headlines use, you'll be sure to grab their attention. At the same time, don't use these areas for self promotion or hype since those words don't really tell the visitor that you have what they want.

Put your message in the form of an upside-down pyramid. In other words the important information should be at the top (what, how, why) and the lesser important details should be towards the bottom. A good example of this is on the CNN site. at the top of each individual article the main points are bulleted so you can get the whole story in one chunk.

Don't try to explain everything on one page. Since visitors most likely will not read the entire text, give them a quick way to read more by linking to additional information on other pages. Use styles to draw attention to the links with bold-face fonts and underlines.

When you do write the main "story" be sure to write in terms of the benefits, don't just list features. Be direct, the web is friendly so using "we" and "you" is the more acceptable format to tell the visitor exactly what they will be getting. Writing in this manner will draw your visitor in and help you convert more visitors to customers.

The internet if used by a lot of busy people so planning ahead to give them just what they want to know in clear, easy to scan segments will help them choose you over the other websites because of the perceived "ease of use."

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This article written by Teajai Kimsey, Interenet Marketing Strategist, Ideas That Work - January 2008
It may be reproduced and reprinted provided the author's information including web link is kept intact.

Teajai "T J" Kimsey is an internet marketing strategist and the founder of Advanced Web Strategies Inc, (Beyond Web Design) an internet advertising agency serving over 300 clients with a full range of online services including web development, custom programming, search engine marketing and all channels of online marketing and marketing integration.

She is recognized as a leader in internet marketing having been a featured expert on the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce website, a featured contributor to the Wichita Independent Business Association newsletter, and featured as the expert on 2 episodes of Minding Your Own Business, a statewide television program.

Teajai has also taught as an adjunct at Wichita State University and Cowley County Community College. She has been featured in a number of articles and called upon as an expert on internet related topics in the Wichita Eagle and Wichita Business Journal.

Teajai holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree from Friends University, 24 hours towards a Master of Science in Management and has recently begun the path to earning a Doctorate in Human Factors Psychology, specializing in human computer interaction.

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Article Tags: Internet Marketing, Copywriting, WRITING FOR THE WEB

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