V How to write for the web Russell Warfield, Sustainability Communications Coordinator Friday 29 November.

Slides:



Advertisements
Similar presentations
Web Usability Starring the Webcredibles: Link, Dr. Web Credible, & Wendy Warner.
Advertisements

Technical & Business Writing April 30, ….reading online is very different from reading in print. Readers only read 28% of the words.
Communicative Writing Week 8 MMC120 Instructed by Hillarie Zimmermann MMC120 Instructed by Hillarie Zimmermann.
Communicative Writing Week 8 MMC120 Instructed by Hillarie Zimmermann MMC120 Instructed by Hillarie Zimmermann.
Writing for the Web: Quick Tips for Friendlier Pages Robyn Ness & Beth Snapp July 2014.
Hints and tips for good web content. The University’s web presence To clearly inform prospective students, their influencers, researchers, potential members.
Section 6.1 Write Web text Use a mission statement Generate and organize content ideas Section 6.2 Use page dimension guidelines Determine content placement.
6 Developing Content and Layout Section 6.1 Generate and organize content ideas Write and organize Web text Section 6.2 Identify page dimension guidelines.
Copyright Writing for the web A word to the wise web designer.
Concise Text Jakob Nielsen, author of Designing Web Usability (2000:105), tested how a paragraph’s readability can be improved through “conciseness,” along.
Writing for the Web HOW TO WRITE FOR THE WEB. Writing for the Web Characteristics of Web Writing People rarely read Web pages word by word; instead, they.
Web Page Usability. Determine User Goals Brainstorm: Brainstorm: Why would users come to your page? Why would users come to your page? What level of information.
Writing for the Web. User Behavior Only 16% of people read web content word for word.
How Well is Your Site Organized?. Agenda  Information Architecture / Navigation  What Does the User Want?  How to Organize Information  Best Practices.
Web Page Usability. Determine User Goals Brainstorm: Brainstorm: Why would users come to your page? Why would users come to your page? What level of information.
Prof. Anselm SpoerriWeb Design Summary1 Web Guiding Principles Diversity of Users & Rapid Change –Diverse users, diverse computers, diverse skills, diverse.
 Can enter at any page  Each page independent AND part of a whole  Most looking for specific info, not pleasure reading which means…  People are scanning.
Ten Guidelines for Improving Online Communications.
Connie Padilla - New Mexico State University Writing for the Web Increase usability of your site by writing and formatting for the web.
A cluey freelance copywriters presentation © Copyright Cluey Consulting
Center for Parent Information & Resources Thanks for joining us today. We’re glad you’re here. Writing for the Web.
Writing and Organizing Content for the Web Karen Fisher Student Affairs Technology Services November 2012
]. Website Must-Haves Know your audience Good design Clear navigation Clear messaging Web friendly content Good marketing strategy.
WRITING for the WEB WHO AM I? WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
WRITING FOR THE WEB PUTTING YOUR CONTENT FIRST. SOME QUICK NUMBERS  21,774,931 user sessions  70% of users were on the site for less than10 seconds.
Crafting a successfu l (inline) Information Experience: Understanding how users read online Crafting a successfu l (inline) Information Experience: Understanding.
Expression Web 2 Concepts and Techniques Expression Web Design Feature Web Design Basics.
An Introduction to Content Management. By the end of the session you will be able to... Explain what a content management system is Apply the principles.
Writing for the Web Paul Lalonde Content Manager MarketingWise
© 2012 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2012 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved. ® WRITING FOR THE WEB.
Writing for the Web Phillip Gravely Director of Web & Editorial Strategy University of Richmond.
Writing for the web Tim Matschak Cass Business School City University, London.
Writing for the Web CASE III February 10, 2009 Presented by: Rosemary Jean-Louis and Barbara Obrentz.
Chapter 12: The Internet The ultimate direct. Internet Facts U.S. firms spend $14.7 billion on Internet advertising in 2005 By 2010, they are expected.
WRITING EFFECTIVELY REGION ONE DEMOLAY. WRITING EFFECTIVELY – WHAT WE WILL LEARN Topic 1 Have the basic rules of writing gone out the window since the.
Global, Shmobal! What’s In It For Me? Hans Fenstermacher March 19, 2003.
Messages and Web Writing
Writing for the Web Research on how users read on the Web and how authors should write their Web pages.
CREATING AND SHAPING Web Page Design Chapter 2. Text Matters  Even though when thinking about building Web pages people think of design first, the heart.
Writing for the Web A short tutorial David Rashty, Isaac Waisberg.
Writing Tips for the Web. Tips for Writing for the Web Write for your audience, not your department. Folks come to your pages to find information. Give.
Effective Web Writing April Overview - Why Content Matters - Reading Online vs Print - Best Practices with Web Writing - Content Plan/Schedule.
Info.Design © Writing for the Web Workshop Crafting Usable Content.
Writing for the Web – Spring 2004 “Good writing…must capture the reader immediately and force him to keep reading.” - William Zinsser, On Writing Well.
Amity School of Engineering and Technology Effective Written Communication Presentation on Web Based Writing By Aakriti Khanna Lakshya Mehta Meghna Sahay.
1 Designing Web Usability: Writing for the Web (see
Creating Content for the Web Medical Public Affairs/Integrated Marketing & Branding.
Microsoft Expression Web 3 Expression Web Design Feature Web Design Basics.
Informational Design.  Informational Design involves determining a Web page’s content  Content – text and graphics  A successful Web page uses words.
YOUTH & FAMILIES AGRICULTUREHEALTHECONOMYENVIRONMENTENERGY COMMUNITIES Design with User in Mind.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES A Book Review of Letting Go of the Words by Janice (Ginny Reddish) DDD Self –Directed Time January.
Online Copywriting eMarketing: The Essential Guide to Online Marketing
1 CSE 403 Web Patterns and Design These lecture slides are copyright (C) Marty Stepp, 2007, with significant content taken from slides written by Valentin.
Writing for the Web AGCAS Conference 2009 Chris Phillips Publishing Director GTI Media.
WELCOME! Communication Camp NDSU Agriculture Communication WiFi Connect to NDSU Limited Open browser Enter Full name Password is 7n7K4X6g.
Writing for the Web AGCAS Training Warwick September 2012 Chris Phillips Publishing Director GTI Media.
Writing for the Web Eston Martz Holly Swanson Rose Pruyne.
Writing for the Web Strategies and Tips for Web Content and Usability Present by Patrick Bieser Sr., President Northwoods Software.
Thinking Web > CONTENT DEVELOPMENT
Section 6.1 Section 6.2 Write Web text Use a mission statement
Writing for the Web Warwick July 2010 Chris Phillips
Web section best practice checklist for departments
Writing for the Web.
Corporate Web Development Training:
WRITING FOR THE WEB ® Copyright 2012 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Writing for online/mobile
ICT Communications Lesson 4: Creating Content for the Web
Inspired by the Center for Teaching and Learning
Technology continues to change the way we work and the way we write
Usable Content.
Presentation transcript:

v How to write for the web Russell Warfield, Sustainability Communications Coordinator Friday 29 November

Agenda Introduction How do people use websites? Overview principles of writing for the web How to edit your copy for the web Good example Questions and Answers

How do users read on the web?

Simple answer is they don’t! They scan instead Web users have the mentality of “don’t make me think”

How do users scan?

On a first visit users will first of all glance at the whole page on view on the monitor without focussing A quirk of some users is they may quickly scroll to the bottom and then back to the top before focussing

How users scan The first area a user’s eye will naturally focus upon is the image (if present), followed by the headline and then the intro However, it is also known for a user to first focus upon the image but then go straight to the body copy and miss out the headline and intro paragraph

How users scan Next a user will typically scan the body copy in the following order –The headlines –Links and downloads –Bold copy –Lists –Sentences last (if they reach this level of engagement with the page)

How users scan If a user has engaged with the page they may then read all of it. Typically though this is where the journey ends and the user has taken less than 20% of the words in the article. They will now look for links, press the back button or close the site down All this has taken just a few seconds

So what do we do?

As a result Web pages have to employ scannable text, using: –Highlighted keywords bold hypertext links serve as another one form of highlighting -Meaningful and communicative sub-headings (not "clever" ones) –Bulleted lists –One idea per paragraph (users will skip over any additional ideas if they are not caught by the first trigger words in the paragraph) –The inverted pyramid style of writing Starting with the conclusion and work back –Half the word count (or less) than conventional writing

Editing doesn’t end after the publish button is clicked Keep asking yourself: “Is this clear?” “Is there a simpler way to say this?” “Is there a shorter way to say this?” “Is this even necessary?”

How editing improves usability

Let’s look at an example… Nebraska is filled with internationally recognized attractions that draw large crowds of people every year, without fail. In 2006, some of the most popular places were Fort Robinson State Park (355,000 visitors), Scotts Bluff National Monument (132,166), Arbor Lodge State Historical Park & Museum (100,000), Carhenge (86,598), Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer (60,002), and Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park (28,446). Usability improvement rating 0% by definition

Concise text version (with about half the word count as the control condition) In 2006, six of the best-attended attractions in Nebraska were Fort Robinson State Park, Scotts Bluff National Monument, Arbor Lodge State Historical Park & Museum, Carhenge, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, and Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park. Usability improvement rating = 58%

Scannable layout version (using the same text as the control condition in a layout that facilitated scanning) Nebraska is filled with internationally recognized attractions that draw large crowds of people every year, without fail. In 2006, some of the most popular places were: –Fort Robinson State Park (355,000 visitors) –Scotts Bluff National Monument (132,166) –Arbor Lodge State Historical Park & Museum (100,000) –Carhenge (86,598) –Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer (60,002) –Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park (28,446) Usability improvement rating = 47%

Combined version (using all three improvements in writing style together: concise, scannable, and objective) In 2006, six of the most-visited places in Nebraska were: –Fort Robinson State Park –Scotts Bluff National Monument –Arbor Lodge State Historical Park & Museum –Carhenge –Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer –Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park Usability improvement rating = 124%

To be effective online You have to be brutal in editing your copy offline –Otherwise you are wasting your time –On the web, visitors want you to get to the point –They’re not on your site to admire fine writing If you don’t –You will be increasing clutter –Reducing the usability of the website –Making users think the site doesn’t have content for them

To be effective online Shared/Implied Knowledge –Don’t take anything for granted –Anticipate the questions people may have –Answer questions they didn’t think to ask –Examine your content in the context of what your site visitors probably want to do –Acronyms are dangerous – if in use link them up to definition

Overview principles of writing for the web Good example

Eyetracking behaviour

Scanable Skimable Usable

Appendix

Top tips 1 Your audience Think about your audience first. Who are they? What are they are visiting the site for? Think what primary message you want your audience to learn/remember

Top tips 2 Editing your copy Never, EVER, dump copy online that has specifically been written for print Take your offline copy and be brutal in editing when putting it online Look to write all your articles in under 500 words Get your “killer content” in the first paragraph of the body copy

Top tips 3. Formatting your copy Be straight to the point Use brief sentences Use short paragraphs (don’t go over 4 lines of text) Use the white space (its your best allied) Use sub-headings to convey a new important message Use bold text to assist scanability Use hyperlinks to related information/articles in the body copy Use bullet lists End the article with a call to action or links to related articles on the site

Any questions?