A lot of websites suffer from a bad combination of “gobbledy gook” corporate speak addiction, excessive jargon use and superfluous words.
The literacy level of these sites are also often too high for their target audience/market niche. As a result, they are turning off existing users who may become potential customers and in the process, giving users/clients headaches who are trying to access the info. they need to use the service or product the site is offering.
Most websites have way too much info. that speaks too little about their services or programs . They fail to emphasize the “FAB factor” of using their product or services “Features, Advantages and Benefits”. Because most of today’s products and services are highly complex ,along with the barrage of daily communications from all directions and sources, we often end up acquiring the 21st century’s condition of attention deficit disorder/ information overload. Such a situation makes it critical that all content on websites be in Plain Language/Plain English- no matter what the type of info. it is and what format it is in.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
More tips re: writing for the Web
12. From your tracking analysis info, develop a profile of your readers before you start writing, e.g. who they are, what their goals, are, etc… What are the demographics of your clients: age, education, culture, geographic, etc..
13. Use pictures more often, if you can, to explain because people remember pictures more than words- images make the message more memorable. You can with the well-chosen pictures make an emotional impact upon a potential customer, which will help sell your service.
14. Overly large graphics can detract from your content delivery and your vital message to the client. Relevant and well-written content- impactive words should be able to stand on their own- even as plain text. Choose your graphics wisely--- the principle of “less is more” applies here. Keep the delivery of the content short and sweet. Avoid excessively long sentences.
15. Give them life stories on your site.. Try to include heartfelt stories by how your customers’ lives have been made easier or positively changed by using your service.
16. Don’t make the users work or think hard to get what they want or need.. i.e. don’t have them click 4 times to get back to the home page i.e. have a back button to Home page on each page of your site might prove useful in some cases. One click should get them to where they need to go on any part of your site.
17. Use the active voice and words that have impact. Whenever possible, make the subject of the sentence do something. Example:. The business proposals were reviewed by senior management. Can become- “Senior management reviewed the business cases.”
18. Understand that different audiences will have different needs and goals, and you must design for their diversity
19. Use short sentences, and paragraphs.
20. Provide sufficient visual space
13. Use pictures more often, if you can, to explain because people remember pictures more than words- images make the message more memorable. You can with the well-chosen pictures make an emotional impact upon a potential customer, which will help sell your service.
14. Overly large graphics can detract from your content delivery and your vital message to the client. Relevant and well-written content- impactive words should be able to stand on their own- even as plain text. Choose your graphics wisely--- the principle of “less is more” applies here. Keep the delivery of the content short and sweet. Avoid excessively long sentences.
15. Give them life stories on your site.. Try to include heartfelt stories by how your customers’ lives have been made easier or positively changed by using your service.
16. Don’t make the users work or think hard to get what they want or need.. i.e. don’t have them click 4 times to get back to the home page i.e. have a back button to Home page on each page of your site might prove useful in some cases. One click should get them to where they need to go on any part of your site.
17. Use the active voice and words that have impact. Whenever possible, make the subject of the sentence do something. Example:. The business proposals were reviewed by senior management. Can become- “Senior management reviewed the business cases.”
18. Understand that different audiences will have different needs and goals, and you must design for their diversity
19. Use short sentences, and paragraphs.
20. Provide sufficient visual space
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tips for writing for the Web
Layout
Formatting and Background for the Web Article
1. Use a bigger font size for headlines
2. Use larger font size for people - it can range from 10 point to 14 point.
3. Colour code your headlines but do not use too many different colours.
4. Make sure the colour does not clash with the background, e.g. orange and pink together; blue and green; and yellow and orange ,etc…
5. Particularly avoid the following colours for text and background: yellow, green and blue.
6. Don’t use too much embolding or Italics… less is more because they are hard to read off a monitor.
7. Be careful of underlining headlines or words because it can be confused with hyperlinks.
8. Avoid the use of purple or orange for hyperlinks. These colours are very hard to see.
9. Don’t use serif fonts because you cannot differentiate serif font on the Web. Serif font is only for print.
10. Use bullet points - they are user –friendly and easy on the eyes.
11. Use vertical lists to break up complicated texts. By chunking the info., you make it easier for the reader to remember your message. Remember to use white space between chunking episodes to make the info. more appealing to the reader’s eye.
Formatting and Background for the Web Article
1. Use a bigger font size for headlines
2. Use larger font size for people - it can range from 10 point to 14 point.
3. Colour code your headlines but do not use too many different colours.
4. Make sure the colour does not clash with the background, e.g. orange and pink together; blue and green; and yellow and orange ,etc…
5. Particularly avoid the following colours for text and background: yellow, green and blue.
6. Don’t use too much embolding or Italics… less is more because they are hard to read off a monitor.
7. Be careful of underlining headlines or words because it can be confused with hyperlinks.
8. Avoid the use of purple or orange for hyperlinks. These colours are very hard to see.
9. Don’t use serif fonts because you cannot differentiate serif font on the Web. Serif font is only for print.
10. Use bullet points - they are user –friendly and easy on the eyes.
11. Use vertical lists to break up complicated texts. By chunking the info., you make it easier for the reader to remember your message. Remember to use white space between chunking episodes to make the info. more appealing to the reader’s eye.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The Future is Green
When considering a new topic to write about, it is vital to note the environmental impact on and in our business world... So, favoring the colour "green" may just be the ticket to making a memorable impression for your writing and for your career.
On October 20th, 2008, I attended the Toronto Small Business Forum 2008 at the Delta Chelsea Hotel that featured renowned key note speakers and their presentations, such as Laurie Simmonds’ “ Green Enterprise”- President of Green Living Enterprises, and “Lessons Learned from Building a Green Business by Tom Heintzman- President of Bullfrog Power, stressing the global concern for environmental issues and eco-friendly products.
The emergence of” green marketing”, and “green businesses and enterprise” was indeed a prevalent theme for this year’s Forum. It seems that “ green” is now the primary foundation colour for building any current and future successful career and business venture.
On October 20th, 2008, I attended the Toronto Small Business Forum 2008 at the Delta Chelsea Hotel that featured renowned key note speakers and their presentations, such as Laurie Simmonds’ “ Green Enterprise”- President of Green Living Enterprises, and “Lessons Learned from Building a Green Business by Tom Heintzman- President of Bullfrog Power, stressing the global concern for environmental issues and eco-friendly products.
The emergence of” green marketing”, and “green businesses and enterprise” was indeed a prevalent theme for this year’s Forum. It seems that “ green” is now the primary foundation colour for building any current and future successful career and business venture.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The mosaic of colours
As a good writer, you need to get inside the world of the readers, including their minds and hearts.
You paint a picture with your words when you are writing ; and these well-crafted words are ultimately transformed into an artist’s palate’s creation for poignant communication.
The colours of this palate and the richness of the hues /colours of these words can a strike a chord that resonates with the heart, mind and soul.
People remember pictures rather than words... Images make your message much more poignant because of the richness of the hues of the colours that transforms your writing into vivid existence –echoing in concert with the readers’ heart song.
However, the colours of your words “must be properly blended” to illustrate cohesion and continuity.
It is the use of such well-drawn images of colour that satisfies the thirsting heart/soul of the readers. Vivid words and the mosaic that they fashion can walk the pathway to their inner depths.
_____________________________________________________________________________
You paint a picture with your words when you are writing ; and these well-crafted words are ultimately transformed into an artist’s palate’s creation for poignant communication.
The colours of this palate and the richness of the hues /colours of these words can a strike a chord that resonates with the heart, mind and soul.
People remember pictures rather than words... Images make your message much more poignant because of the richness of the hues of the colours that transforms your writing into vivid existence –echoing in concert with the readers’ heart song.
However, the colours of your words “must be properly blended” to illustrate cohesion and continuity.
It is the use of such well-drawn images of colour that satisfies the thirsting heart/soul of the readers. Vivid words and the mosaic that they fashion can walk the pathway to their inner depths.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Writing about your personal experience makes for memorable writing
Writing stories about your personal life experience helps others believe in the message you are trying to get across.. Personal life experience creates an "authenticity" and truthfulness that cannot be contrived.
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