Techniques for Writing Web Content

How to Write Content for Web Pages and Articles for Online Magazines

Apr 26, 2009

Writing assignments for online magazines or providing content for web pages, requires freelance writers to adapt their writing style.

Freelance writers who normally work for print media will find that they have to adapt to a different approach for writing online. Freelance writing assignments for online magazines, newspapers or for website copy will assume that writers are aware of the conventions and demands of the online market, such as SEO, correct use of headlines and sub-headings, and even writing style which must be adapted to suit the reading habits of the online reader.

Freelance writers will often see writing assignments which demand a knowledge or expertise in SEO. SEO or Search Engine Optimization affects all online writing. Articles or websites are normally found by people using internet searches through one of the various search engines, Google, Yahoo, etc.

“Optimizing” your writing for search engines, means ensuring that people find an article or web page by enabling the search engine to locate the article and decide that its content closely fits the search.

Choosing the Right Words

To do optimize writing for search engines, the freelance writer needs to think about the words which are most closely related to, or identified with, their chosen subject or website. It’s important to consider what words or phrases a person would enter into a search engine in order to find a website or article covering the subject that they are looking for.

Placing the Words

Once the writer has identified the “Keywords” it’s important to place them prominently in the article and repeat them during the article. This will help the search engine to identify that the subject associated with the “Keywords” is being covered well on that web page.

Writing Style

It is important to understand that people read differently when they read online, and as a result, online writing must accommodate that. Readers tend to “scan” a page to see if it has the information they require. To catch a readers attention, when writing an article for an online magazine or content for web pages, remember to use:

Prominent Pertinent Headlines

Avoid smart or clever headlines that rely on word play. Be as clear as possible. Highlight the content often throughout the article with sub headings.

Short Paragraphs

Avoid large chunks of text which are densely packed with too much information. Keep sentences and paragraphs short.

Bullet Points and Numbered Lists

Another good way to attract attention to the information being covered is to incorporate a bullet point or numbered list within the text so that people can get important information at a glance.

500 – 600 words on a Page

Keep pages short, so that it is not necessary to scroll a long way down the page to find information.

Links to Expand on a Subject

Make use of links to a new page or new article, to allow you to expand on any part of your subject. This allows each article or page to act as a resource for all the other connected pages.

Web Readers are Always in a Hurry

Remember, above all that a simple click will take a reader away from your page, possibly never to return. When writing web content, it helps to imagine writing for someone in a hurry, who might be about to rush off at any moment.

Never assume that you have the luxury of time to win them over. The secret of effective writing for the web is to get the important information to the reader clearly and get it to them quickly.

The copyright of the article Techniques for Writing Web Content in Freelance Writing is owned by Janice Hally. Permission to republish Techniques for Writing Web Content in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.