Writing for the web seems to be relatively easy; you not just get published but get paid too. With that said, can anybody become a writer? The answer to this question could be a yes and a no, which essentially means, anybody can write and get published, but there is no guarantee that their written works will be read.
Readership is what determines a writer’s popularity. While it is good to get support from friends and family, the best appreciation for a writer comes when a stranger appreciates your work and wants to know more about you or wants to read more of your written works.
In that case what are the 10 essentials of web writing?
Here is a list of some important requirements for writing engaging content on the web.
Use a conversational tone-this means directly address the reader. You may be one of those who uses personal experiences to drive home a point or one of those who just state facts. In either case please ensure that whatever you are stating has relevance for the reader. Some people have a great way of using personal experiences to convey a message and they make it humorous too.
For instance, I get newsletters from Sue La Pointe, a writer who writes in a very informal tone– but–does she manage to drive home the point? She does. In fact, she does it so well, I find her blogs posts not just interesting but she manages to motivate me enough to believe that I can write well too.
Active Voice- Stephen King and several others recommend the use of active voice, the reason for this is simple it is direct and keeps the reader engaged. While the third person narrative or the impersonal or objective tone is fine, it should not be didactic or tend to sermonize.
Use Examples- Using examples or illustrations to convey your thought has always been preferred, especially in non-fiction writing. You can use illustrations from your personal experiences or just pick any object or example to explain your point. Use of illustrations to explain a concept has always been a standard method of teaching. Consider your readers as your audience who want to gather some information from the article.
Provide Information- Do not consider the web to be your literature class where you display your verbal flourishes, rather pack your written work with information. Remember the internet is often primarily used as a place to search for information. So, make sure your article has accurate, up-to-date and in-depth information. Do not do a perfunctory job when it comes to providing information. The more information your articles provides the more likely is your reader will come back. The standard rules of writing apply to the web too. Give correct information and the reader will buy your book.
Use Short Paragraphs- Writing for the web should be concise. It is essential to make your writing succinct. The reader skims the article for information so unless the article is pithy, the reader is unlikely to stick around. Short sentences and short paragraphs are the essentials of web writing.
Know your subject- Irrespective of whether you are a subject matter expert on a particular topic or not, make sure when you write about something you know the subject in-depth. Don’t limit your knowledge of a subject to a 500 word article. This will not just help you in building trust with your reader, but is good for your credibility as a writer.
Confident Tone- Write confidently and this comes when you know your subject well. So make sure you have your grammar in place and you know what you are writing about. Make sure every article, blog post, or e-book you write is well researched, even if you are just compiling information, make sure that your source is good so that you can be confident that you are providing value to your reader.
Avoid Using Jargon- Do not assume that your reader has also done the same kind of research work as you. In fact remember that you are a facilitator of information for the reader, so make sure that the he finds your copy easy to understand.
Interactive content- Web writing is a lot about being interactive. Make sure you leave things open for the reader to comment on. The reader should have questions or should be able to add some information to the article. So make sure that your content is presented well and engages the reader.
Focus on the content- It is not necessary to make your article an encyclopedia but make sure you provide all the information in a simple, easy to understand manner. Make your article come alive by exuding your energy and enthusiasm into it.
