Quick! Your website has 3.5 seconds to make a good first impression before the person who clicked though to your homepage moves on to the next search result.
Writing for the Web is different than writing for print. Online readers tend to have a shorter attention span and are quick to make judgments. If they don’t like what they see, they’re going to move on – and they’re going to do it in a hurry.
If you want visitors to stick around – and ultimately become customers – you’re going to have to make your content sticky!
Here’s how to write for the Web:
Keep It Short. While search engines like to see content optimized with important keyword phrases, it’s best not to overdo it. Keep your content short and sweet by giving visitors the information they need – no more, no less.
Make It Visual. It’s important to break up your copy to make it easy for visitors to scan your Web page. Use bullets, punchy headlines, sidebars, subheads, pictures and other copy-breakers liberally to make your content quick and easy to read.
Include Links. When appropriate, link to other pages on your site. This will encourage visitors to dig deeper into your site’s navigation, and ultimately become customers. This could include a link to related products on your site, a request for more information, a link to your blog, etc. Be selective and only include a link when it adds value.
All it takes is a few simple tricks to get – and keep – an online reader’s attention.
Tags: writing for the Web
