10 Tips for Writing Effective Web Copy
On the Internet programmers and designers rule, not the writer. Yet words drive targeted traffic to your site, carry content, make the sale, convey marketing messages, persuade people to buy and make the difference between your site's success or failure. Here are 10 tips for writing effective web copy: 1. Make sure content is easy to readIn the online world, less is nearly always more. Write your copy for the impatient, online reader.
Here are some guidelines for the length of your content:
- Headings: 8 words or less
- Sentences: 15 ? 20 words
- Paragraphs: 40 ? 70 words
- Page word count: 250+ words
And then stop.2. Write from me to you The most powerful word in the English language is "YOU". Write for your reader, in a conversational tone, not for your ego. Get to know your reader. Is there a common style or tone you need to use to reach her? Don't forget, she's come to your Web site to do something?make a purchase, obtain information, sign up for a subscription.
Make sure every word you write moves her toward a solution.3. Drive Actions With ContentContent is about getting the reader's attention and keeping it. Content is about selling. Make sure your content is driving your customer's actions. Then put that content on your home page.4.
Write for how people searchIf you want your site to be found when people search the web, use words your target readers use. Before you begin to write, sit down and think carefully about the keywords you're going to use. Then carefully weave those words and phrases into your copy. Here's two Web sites that will help you find the right keywords and phrases for your site.1. www.overture.com2.
www.wordtracker.com5. Create Effective HeadingsThe heading is the most important piece of content you'll write. That's because:
- Internet users scan read and the first thing they read is your heading. If it doesn't grab their attention, they'll leave.
- An effective heading can used in title tags (more about this later).
- The heading can be placed on your home page as a link to content.
- Keep them to eight words or less
- Include important keywords
- Avoid the use of adjectives and prepositions (and, a, the, of).
- Be clear and concise. Avoid wordy, wishy-washy phrases.
Write keyword-rich title tagsTitle tags are a small piece of HTML code that appears in the top bar of your browser. "For example, "Acme Company Home Page." Title tags, along with meta keywords and meta descriptions, are one of several important factors in achieving high search engine rankings. Title tags appear in your site's HTML code like this:ACME COMPANY HOMEPAGEYou can view a site's title tag by clicking VIEW then SOURCE on your browser's tool bar.Because search engines use title tags to gather information about your Web site you need to think carefully about what words you put in the tag. Don't be tempted to put your company name in the tag (unless you're a well-known brand like Nike or Microsoft). Instead put specific keywords relating to your business.
For example, if you're a California real estate company, you would want your company to appear in search engine results for searches on keywords such as "California Real Estate" or "Realtors in California." So, you would use the keywords "California Real Estate" or "California Realtors" in your title tags. If you wanted to be more specific, or you prefer seeking business in a specific geographic area you would use keywords such as "Silicon Valley Real Estate" or "Silicon Valley Realtors."7. Provide links and connectionsThe web is about linking information. Make sure your site links your reader to other information and other sites link to you. Never make your Web site a dead-end.
Some search engines, including Google, are based, in part, on their ability to find you from links on other sites8. Write effective summaries, sentences and paragraphsAn effective summary is who, what, when, where, how. It's about getting the information across in 50 words or less. Keep your summaries short and factual. Make sure they encourage your reader keep reading.Remember, keep sentences to between 15-20 words.
Paragraphs between 40-70 words. Make your first sentence grab your reader's attention or they'll move on.9. Sell Benefits not FeaturesIf you want your Web site to sell your product or service you must write about benefits and not about features. A feature describes a product or service. A benefit is what the user gains from using that product or service.
Don't say, " Our duvets are warm and comfortable," say "You'll be warm and comfortable in one of our duvets." Tell your customers how your product or service will make them happier, sexier, healthier, wealthier. In other words focus on making sure every line of your copy is dedicated to what's in it for them. 10. Edit. Edit.
Edit. Then edit againMistakes in online copy are temporary and easily fixed, but by the time you've noticed your errors so have thousands of other people. Have two or three people proofread your text. Check it yourself for consistency in grammar, punctuation, capitalization, abbreviations etc. And finally, read it backwards?you'll be surprised how many errors you'll spot..
Julia is an independent copywriter and consultant specializing in search engine marketing and copywriting, direct mail, brochures and other marketing materials businesses need to increase sales. To find out how Julia can help boost your companies profits visit www.juliahyde.com. Or email info@juliahyde.com. She'll get back to you right away.New Movie Trailer Online - The Homegrown Collection
(ContentDesk) February 21, 2006 -- Hollymood Entertainment is (www.HollymoodEntertainment.com) an underground production company like few other production companies in the entertainment business.
Hollymood Entertainment has found the spark that has made guerrilla filmmaking the cool approach to entertaining your audience again.The underground production company has just recently released a new DVD titled, 'The Homegrown Collection' and the content of the production can easily be labeled as extreme or shocking.
This isn't the DVD you buy your grandmother for her birthday.
This is the DVD you buy when you want to get drunk and watch insanity caught on film.The DVD is filled with hundreds of painful stunts and many laugh out loud moments.
The personalities of the groups involved in the production make this production much more than just some simple...
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Home Business Operation Basics
One of the least talked about, yet very important aspectsof running an online business is the organization andactual operation of the business.Any successful business, offline or online, needs to beorganized from the beginning. Even a one-man operationlike Red Lion Books needs to be organized. Here are a fewtips on staying organized and keeping your businessrunning smoothly.PlanBefore you jump into any online venture, you should takesome time to plan it out. I know from experience, thefirst draft of Redlionbooks.com looked totally differentthan it does now. I used the remains of the first,half-completed site as a plan for this site.
It was likea list of all the parts that were going to come togetherto make this site. I recommend that you start by making achecklist of the essential parts of your future site.Write It DownWhen I first started out, I thought that everything couldbe filed away on a spreadsheet in Excel. I had onespreadsheet for article promotion, another one for ezinepromotion,...
Home Business Operation Basics
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Internet Cyber Cafe Definition
What is Cyber Cafe or Internet Cafe?Internet cafe or cyber cafe is a place where people can get connected to the Internet while eating or have a cup of coffee using publicly accessible computer. While the main activity in the cyber cafe is the Internet, such as email, newsgroup and web site surfing, other applications usually available are office suite to type document or spreadsheet, games, such as online games and other utilities such as printing service, scanning and digital photo service. Some internet cafes also sell computer accessories and computer related stuffs. People may have their food and drink at the computer table or at available separate tables provide by the cafe. Modern cyber cafe also have wireless connection in their local area networking (LAN), where people can bring their own lap top and get connected to the Internet by paying a small fee.What is Cyber Center or Internet Center?Cyber center or Internet center is almost the same with cyber cafe or internet cafe....
Internet Cyber Cafe Definition
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How to Make Sure to Save Money and Headaches on Your Next Used Laptop Purchase
(ContentDesk) October 29, 2005 -- Anyone who is in the retail sector of the computer business will recognize the following dilemna.
Before buying, the consumer desires to know everything about the technical aspects of the laptops, rather than the practical aspects.
It seems the customer will try and find out all of the technical differences between hard drives&
such as seek time, partitions available, physical dimensions&. All important stuff to be sure.
But this information is sought out before the practical details such as What am I going to do with this laptop is considered.
It is still amazing to hear people say they do not really know what they want to DO with a laptop, but they are sure they want a Dell.
The concern is not with their desire for a Dell (a great brand, sure)& but why they didnt bother to think about what they were hoping to do with the laptop they were planning to buy in the first place.
It would be...
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Ornamental Resources Leading Supplier of Beads and Findings Launches New Website
Idaho Springs, CO (ContentDesk) May 25, 2006 --? Ornamental Resources launches new website with decorative materials to serve an ever growing customer base. Customers can find everything they need at www.ornamentalresources.bizA large part of the Ornamental Resources collection consists of rare, old or unusual beads and pieces that provide unique opportunities and inspiration for the creative designer and bead worker. Ornamental
Resources also stocks all of the standard materials such as cut crystal glass beads and pendants, seed, pony & bugle beads and a wide selection of sterling, findings and basic tools.The new Ornamental Resources website features only a portion of the 13,000 items that are available. You can link to their ornabead.com website to view everything in .pdf format, or you can see it all on CD for $3.00. For those who prefer, a 250 page black & white copy of...
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Converting Newsletter Readers Into Website Explorers
All the experts agree, if you want visitors to explore yourwebsite, you have to give them a reason; without one, they'llclick away from your site. If you publish an email newsletterand own a website, here's an interesting way to promote viewingof your website's pages among your newsletter readers.Sprinkle (actually, "hide") trivia tidbits throughout thepages on your website. They can be in body copy, imagecaptions, advertiser copy ... anywhere. Then run a quiz inyour newsletter, letting your readers know the that all ofthe answers are somewhere on your site.
Offer a prize to thefirst person to email you with all the correct answers.You may freely repost the sample quiz without any resourcebox. I would appreciate, however, some sort of a link to mywebsite Bison Creek Author Services
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Dvd copy silk 10 Tips for Writing Effective Web Copy
Bringing Springtime to Your Table
About mid-February, everyone starts thinking about Spring - warm breezes, flowers beginning to blossom and scents of nature coming to life. Surprise your table with this "springtime" basket when your salad course comes to your mealtime: Fit two lettuce cups together. Fill with tossed salad and use split green pepper rings for the handles. Top with dressing and some crumbled cheese. Trim with some "marigolds" (just notch thin slices of carrots) and you have a really wonderful "salad basket." *...
fruit baskets Dvd copy
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Mazda Combines Sporty And Space In The CX-7 SUV
Mazda has certainly made sure that they would be able to create a vehicle that would not only catch the attention of all prospective buyers and everybody else in the market for a vehicle but would also be able to provide enough, if not more than enough, room and space for passengers and for cargo. And it has been made a reality in the 2007 Mazda CX-7.
This new vehicle is a successor for the Mazda MPV and it has been built as a wagon with four doors. It entered the market...
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