Typos, misspellings, hideous grammar, exclamation overkill and run-on sentences all undermine a Web site's message. Your reader will have to work too hard, and you won't have that reader long.
Grabbing a reader's attention is a key point in getting your message out, but there is such a thing as too much grabbing--and the wrong kind of attention. Negative attention can lose a great many visitors and potential clients.
Clean content and neat appearance are not merely a matter of aesthetics. It goes to the core of establishing trust and reliability between a Web site and visitor. Relate it to a deli. A potential customer heard about you through an ad. Cool ad, got his/her attention, so he/she stops by on the way home. On the outside everything looks nice, meets expectations, so the visitor walks in, looking for tonight's sandwich goodies. Once inside it only takes a few seconds to notice the dust on the shelves, the dirty footprints, the unidentifiable smudges on the glass counter-fronts. No matter how good the food smells, if the counterperson has dirty hands or there are papers littering the floor, how many people are going to feel comfortable reaching over a crumb-covered counter to pay for their dinner?
That may sound like a silly comparison to Web content, but really, it's not so far off. The principle stands: clean, neat, appealing content builds comfort and trust. Sloppy, haphazard or distracting content repels, and breaks down credibility. And the principle is very easy to apply to all Web content. Just remember the acronym, "Get It All"
G- et another set of eyes to take an objective look
E- xtra attention to spelling lends credibility
T- ell your message with exciting words; don't rely on graphics
I- talics, bold and all caps are rough on the eyes, use sparingly
T- ake the time to read the entire content... backwards (you'll be amazed at what you'll notice this way)
A- lways do one last look-see after it's finished
L- et all content sit for at least a full day before a final edit
L- ose the guesswork--keep a dictionary and grammar/editing reference at your fingertips, and use them often.
Whether your content is a one-line ad or five-page report, taking that little extra time and effort will improve your site, build customer confidence and add respectability. Saving time now and risking poor content quality can end up costing you more later. After all, the object is to get and keep customers at your site; to keep them reading. How long would you have kept reading this article if it had all been written like that first paragraph?
Cherie' Davidson is a freelance writer and Web content developer who lives in the Pacific Northwest with her toy poodle, Auggie Dog, her "energy muse." She has her own freelance writing business, Suitable Words Publications (http://www.suitablewords.com), where she writes and promotes Website content, designs and develops e-books, hires out as a copywriter and writes a wide variety of articles and essays. She has started a blog at http://www.suitablewords.com and a free article site at http://www.suitablewords.com
best cleaning company Lincolnshire ..You've thought about it and you're ready to go. You're... Read More
There are many ways to add fancy bells and whistles... Read More
As an online Entrepreneur you require a successful website.One that... Read More
So you need a website. You are not sure if... Read More
Here is a quick list of components that make a... Read More
No question about it, web design is an art. Finding... Read More
The HTML editor is usually a webpage design software that... Read More
Designing your own successful web page can seem difficult and... Read More
You have identified that to have an internet prescence would... Read More
Designing a website is hard job, and requires you to... Read More
As a web designer, I have a personal interest in... Read More
Unless you are an inventor, most likely you are selling... Read More
We've all read the countless publications about effective web site... Read More
Why your site should be developed with CSS and semantic... Read More
This may comes as a surprise to you but, if... Read More
The way you design your web site affects your visitors'... Read More
Just because you are a small business with an even... Read More
Due to the large number of people offering website design... Read More
Selling on the internet is a challenge. There is no... Read More
In this article I will give advice and tips of... Read More
I taught myself HTML back in the mid-nineties and was... Read More
Content is undoubtedly the most important element of a website.... Read More
New Web sites are springing up online by the millions.... Read More
Physical therapists have unique web presence needs. An effective site... Read More
In this article you will find the parallel between two... Read More
on demand house cleaning Lake Forest ..Well it is not Elvis, that's for sure.I am a... Read More
All websites have a homepage. It is the most important... Read More
The icons in an application are the soul of the... Read More
Regardless whether you manage a small business, charitable organization, or... Read More
Geometric designs come in all shapes and sizes? and lines.... Read More
1. Use .gifs rather than .jpgs. GIFs are smaller in... Read More
Tips to brand your websiteInclude your logo in all pages.... Read More
No, that's not the real question. The real question is... Read More
So how do you know when your graphic designer costs... Read More
Content is king. Without content your website is an empty... Read More
As search engine marketers, we spend an enormous amount of... Read More
1. Web site File Structure / File NamingMost search engines... Read More
There are two camps when it comes to flash web... Read More
On the internet we don't deal with face to face... Read More
Web usability is perhaps the most important factor in any... Read More
Are you a student of graphic design? If you have... Read More
(Making Your Graphics Work For You)It's no secret that a... Read More
If you've a website that is not generating a lot... Read More
Know what you wantMake sure you know why you... Read More
Whether you are planning on having a website built for... Read More
We have all seen websites showcasing their testimonials either spread... Read More
Some wise human once said "Learn from the mistakes of... Read More
As the Internet blooms at an alarming rate, so as... Read More
For most people graphic design does not come easy. Unfortunately... Read More
In this article I will give a few tips of... Read More
Web Design |