1. Writing for the Web: Strategies to Promote Good Writing Darlene Fichter Data Library Coordinator University of Saskatchewan Library library.usask.ca/~fichter

2. Outline ► Classic Mistakes ► 10 Ways to Encourage Web Writing

3. Wordiness ► Strike out useless words

4. Legalese ► “By clicking the submit button, you agree to abide by regulations specified by both the borrowing and the lending library concerning the use of the borrowed item. You also agree that you have read the copyright notice and will observe copyright provisions in the use of any library material requested.” ► ILL loan form

5. Put Important Items First ► Put the most important things first –Enamored by alphabet ► Link density should be highest above the fold

6. Harness Hypertext Power

7. Jargon ► InfoTrac | Ebscohost | | Lexis-Nexis Newsbank | ► MELVYL, HAYSTAC, SUNCAT ► Course Integrated Sessions ► Information Literacy ► Circulation, collections, reference

8. Use Words for Important Announcements ► Use words not graphics for promoting new program or service

9. Don’t SHOUT

10. Typography ► Layout your text consistently to support how user’s read

11. Promoting Good Writing ► Lots of ways to promote good writing ► Depends on your situation –One author or many? –Decentralized or centralized

12. Make the Case ► With management ► With the web team ► Ideally designate an “editor” for content who will: –Review the site –Set guidelines and standards –Mentor new authors

13. Set Standards with Your Team ► Editorial standards –Capitalization, punctuation –Acronyms ► Styles –Headings, subheadings –Make a site wide style sheet –Make it mandatory –Consider typography and layout

14. Pre-Publication Checklists ► Spell checking ► Uses standard styles ► Follows editorial guidelines ► Check for: –Hyperlinks embedded in text –Dense block of texts –Check “readability statistics” –Word count over ______

15. Lead By Example ► Make sure the areas that you control are succinct, clear and easy to read –Annotations in a subject directory

16. Recognize Good Writing ► Let other authors know about particular pages that are well written ► Tell stories

17. Recruit Authors as Observers for Your Next Usability Test ► Nothing works better ► Seeing is believing

18. Marketing ► Send out tips or a newsletter by email ► Sprinkle in writing tips ► Plan a seminar

19. Be a Teacher ► Do not assume new authors will know how to write for the web

20. Foster External Review ► If you don’t have a site wide editor, encourage authors to partner with another author and ask for a review ► For major sections, ask for prototypes so you can review and make suggestions before it’s set in stone

21. Provide Resources ► Plain language word lists ► Before and After examples Instead ofUse constructbuild concerningabout in order toto

22. Questions? ► Thank you!