As our previous post mentioned, a lot goes into writing good copy for the web. While you may not be able to write perfect web copy with attention to every detail, here’s a list of some very general points you can use to get started.

1. Use clear, simple language, including:

• Short words
• Simple sentences
• Active words
• Personal language (you, we, etc.)

2. Limit your paragraphs to one idea.

• Clearly state your main point as soon as possible in the paragraph.

3. Limit your pages to just a few topics.

• Visitors are unlikely to scroll through several paragraphs of copy on a page.

4. Use descriptive headings and subheadings with key words.

• These headings allow your readers to quickly absorb main points when scanning a page.

5. Bold important words in your copy.

• Bold words are helpful for both search engines and for visitors to immediately see what your page is about.

6. Use lists rather than paragraphs.

• Where possible, use lists for easy reading and quick scanning of important points.

7. Link general pages to more detailed pages in your site.

• When including just a few ideas on a page, link to related or more detailed information on other pages on your site.

8. Write interesting, specific content.

• There’s a lot of information on the Internet. Visitors are looking for information quickly, and they’re looking for a reason to stay on your site.

9. Write your pages to stand alone.

• Unlike print documents, which are presented from start to finish, visitors can enter any page on your site.

10. Proofread your text.

• Errors in your copy can negatively impact your visitors’ perceptions of your company and its credibility.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 20th, 2007 at 12:08 pm and is filed under Search Engine Optimization, Web Design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.