Writing for Web Psychology
Posted on June 29, 2008
Insights Into Writing for Web Visitors?
Think about how you feel when reading within yourself, your mindset and how you feel when reading articles in different mediums.
Let me give one example. I woke up this fine Sunday morning, put on a pot of coffee, walked to my front door and grabbed the newspaper. To me, a cup of Java coupled with a newspaper on a Sunday morning is a ritual, one that I have been practicing for decades. What am I looking for when I read the today’s news? Firstly, I am relaxed and generally not looking for anything specific, just current news. After scanning all the headlines, finishing my cup of coffee it’s time to do what humans do everyday. Sorry for having to share this with you but I also NEED my newspaper at this time and I am certain I am not the only one. Whilst sitting on the throne I can now focus on the headlines that caught my eye over my cup of Java.
Writing for Web- Relaxed Compared to Mission
The paragraph above has valuable insights into the way a writer must think to improve readership. The main point here is people rarely go online in a relaxed mindset to read. They will generally find your web site through entering a search phrase into a search engine. One of my favorite web usability and writing style experts describes it as “lean-forward vs. lean-back” Source Jakob Nielsen.
Using Web Writing Styles to Your Advantage
After a person enters a search phrase into a search engine they are looking for a quick answer to what they entered. This is when other factors enter into the way you write and structure your web pages. At this point the web searcher does not want relaxed reading or story telling, they want education and help with what they entered…”Skip the song and dance, help educate and answer me with a Reader’s Digest Version!”
How to Write in a Nutshell
Let’s reflect back to the search phrase entered and what a search engine displays (SERPS). This is where writing for the web effectively starts. What will likely lead to a visitor choosing your site over countless other websites? The simple answer is your page format, in particular the page title and Meta description. This is where writing skills require a strategic approach. The small samples of your writings that appear in the result pages of a search engine are instrumental in persuading the person which websites are the best choice for them. Web sites displaying the exact phrase in the page title will likely be the click of choice. Not just displaying the exact phrase in the title and Meta description but at the beginning. If you can echo the exact phrase back to the person that has entered the phrase your likelihood of snagging that person is far greater.
With Web Content you want to Get it Said Done Quickly
It is fast and furious with online communication; people do not want to be romanced. When writers realize this copywriting takes on a new dimension. It requires a unique skill with clear and concise content. Once someone lands on your page readers should be able easily navigate and obtain the information quickly. This is not the time to get into elaborate education; The process of delivering the goods in a small package requires a very special skill indeed.
A Few Tips from a Freelance Content Developer
- Forget about entertaining.
- Write Short, Sweet and Simple compelling web content.
- Always write content that provides value.
- Be consciously thinking about the topic you are writing about.
- Don’t make it hard to understand your point.
- Have a professional approach.
- Key Phrase at the beginning of your page title.
When Writing for Web Practice Makes Perfect
Hone your skills so that when writing for web it is easy to understand and makes sense. The sooner you understand people do not read print the same way they do on a screen. Think of it as having a conversation with someone. Take careful note that visitors want actionable content, give it to them.
Approved by Governor- Create Online BusinessStuck on the net
Tags: reading, write, search engine, writing, writing for web, web content, web content writing, for web, understand
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