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
family-safe home cleaners Northbrook ..I'm sure you've all heard the saying 'Build it and... Read More
In today's world, a web site is virtually mandatory for... Read More
Almost everything is available on the web? products, services, e-books,... Read More
Let's look at what your user wants to see at... Read More
When you begin the design of your Web site, one... Read More
I often wonder how serious people are when it comes... Read More
One of the simplest things you can do to give... Read More
Seeing is believing.One trick to increase your visibility as well... Read More
1. Assemble a web site development plan that is integrated... Read More
So you want to build a website here I will... Read More
It seems that almost every Tom Dick and Harry do... Read More
There are six important characteristics that can play a major... Read More
Thinking about designing your own website? Think again about adding... Read More
In learning webpage design, I encountered many problems that took... Read More
Want to know what the worst thing to say on... Read More
In this article I will give advice and tips of... Read More
Your website is your tool for showing the online community... Read More
If you have a business, big or small you may... Read More
Unarguably, the most important part of your website is content.... Read More
Before doing anything on the technical side, you need some... Read More
Most of us at times need advice on different aspects... Read More
Do you remember playing with the jack-in-the-box toy as a... Read More
What dollar amount does your web site contribute to this... Read More
With the advent of the Internet a whole new vista... Read More
Think of the people who visit your site as blind... Read More
residential cleaning services Deerfield ..Well, a logo for your business. Why is it important?... Read More
Let's face it; the line from A Field of Dreams... Read More
A client asked me, at what point do you change... Read More
There is nothing wrong with making your own website if... Read More
Most people will agree there is nothing more annoying than... Read More
Many websites make the mistake of being all flash and... Read More
In my web surfing adventures, I've found a few site... Read More
Many Internet sites that try to sell you something have... Read More
Does your website make you any money? Does it SAVE... Read More
In today's age of fast food and high-speed Internet, a... Read More
The Questions You Should Be Asking ? The Answers You... Read More
1. Web site File Structure / File NamingMost search engines... Read More
On the internet we don't deal with face to face... Read More
A well designed web site is great to have, but... Read More
In cascading style sheets you can specify how your web... Read More
The solution lies in creating a 'Database driven website', through... Read More
"It's good.""You've done a nice job.""I don't like it."At some... Read More
Your home page is the most important page of your... Read More
The most important person that you need to please when... Read More
A highly effective website will always reflect its highly effective... Read More
Why your site should be developed with CSS and semantic... Read More
To create your own great banner, you only need five... Read More
Being a writer, when I was asked to do some... Read More
Well it is not Elvis, that's for sure.I am a... Read More
One visit does not make a sale. Be sure to... Read More
Web Design |