1 Rule for Writing Web Copy

Here’s a rule for creating web copy: write your content, then cut it in half.

Why do this? Well, when visitors first hit a web page they don’t read, they scan — looking for bits of information of personal interest. If they find enough items of interest they may decide to read the entire text. If not, they move on to something else.

You need to provide text that’s easily scanned. Here are tips to make it so:

• Be concise
• Use boldface headers to break up text
• Keep paragraphs short
• Use lists (bullets are excellent) tables, or pictures to simplify content
• Delete all unnecessary words

Write your content and return to it the following day. You’d be surprised how much easier it is to get out the cutting shears after stepping away from the initial writing process.

Oh, and be sure to spell check. That’s a golden rule, regardless of word count!