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Home / Features & Articles / iWorld by Sharad Agarwal

iWorld by Sharad Agarwal

Writing For The Web - Do’s And Dont’s

Writing for the Web demands a much more concise style than writing for print

Have you ever tried to read your local newspaper online? How about the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal? It just isn't the same. Do you know why? Because articles meant for print don't translate well to the web, and the rules that apply to writing content for the internet are different than those for print. What constitutes quality content offline does not necessarily constitute quality content online.

How the web is different?

1. Because text is more difficult to read on-screen, people often read slower, comprehend less, recall less, and do less in response.

Typical computer monitors have a resolution of 96 dpi. Compare that with a printout from a laser printer that has a resolution of 600 dpi, or a magazine page that can be upwards of 2400 dpi, and it's not hard to figure out why the text on a computer places a strain on the eyes.

2. Words can be hyperlinked to other pages and URLs

The closest thing you're going to get to a link in a newspaper is when a story is split into two sections and you're told the story is continued on page 10. But when it comes to the web, words and images can be linked to other web pages, photos, videos, sounds, blogs, chat forums etc. Being able to link is the primary tool that web writers can take advantage of that print writers don't have at their disposal.

How you should write?

Write less cause 'less is more'

Because of the strain placed on readers when reading on a computer screen, you can't expect them to read a 5,000 word article. Research has shown that most readers tend to scan an article before reading. Articles longer than 1,000 words will likely turn off your audience and result in few people reading your article.

Get to the bottomline and' cut the chase'

You should condense your writing to include only the most crucial points and eliminate everything else. Writing successfully for the web forces you to present only the necessary content and leave the rest out.

Utilize headings and lists

Since people tend to scan web articles as opposed to reading them from the first word to the final word, you should make it easy for them to find what they're looking for by using headings, bold type, and lists. A great way to turn a print article into a readable web article is to transform it into a top 10 list. Lists make it easy for readers to scan and read only what they are interested in.

Use plenty of hyperlinks and' make them obvious'

Since linking is the primary advantage of a web writer, it should be used early and often. Linking allows you to provide the reader with a roadmap of information. With your article as a starting point, your reader should be able to find more information about any and all topics discussed in the article. Common things to link to include reference pages, news sources, audio and video, forums, and applications that will enhance the reading experience.

And finally, the most important advise of all. Don't try and do all of above on your own. Trust the professionals!