© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 1

Writing for the Writing for the WebWeb

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 2

Writing for the Web Writing for the Web

• Needs and expectations of readers

• Difficulty of online reading

• Nonlinear and interactive medium

• Three-dimensional format

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 3

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 4

Hyperlink StructureHyperlink Structure

Plan Navigation Plan Navigation FirstFirst

Plan Navigation Plan Navigation FirstFirst

Give ControlGive Controlto Readersto Readers

Give ControlGive Controlto Readersto Readers

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 5

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 6

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 7

Consider Global Audiences

Style and FormatStyle and Formatof the Online Messageof the Online Message

LanguageLanguageIssuesIssues

LocalizationLocalizationIssuesIssues

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 8

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 9

Chunks of Information Chunks of Information

• Create self-contained Webpages

• Don’t force subdivisions

• Reduce the length of stories

• Handle long documents carefully

• Provide printable versions

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 10

Adopt An Inverted Pyramid Adopt An Inverted Pyramid StyleStyle

Full StoryFull Story

RelatedRelatedMaterialMaterial

RelatedRelatedMaterialMaterial

RelatedRelatedMaterialMaterial

Initial Summary Initial Summary

DetailsDetails DetailsDetails

RelatedRelatedMaterialMaterial

RelatedRelatedMaterialMaterial

RelatedRelatedMaterialMaterial

DetailsDetails

DetailsDetailsDetailsDetails DetailsDetails

DetailsDetailsDetailsDetails DetailsDetails

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 11

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 12

Concise Writing Concise Writing StyleStyle

ShortenShortenSentencesSentencesShortenShorten

SentencesSentencesControlControl

ParagraphsParagraphsControlControl

ParagraphsParagraphs

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 13

Scannable FormattingScannable FormattingScannable FormattingScannable Formatting

ListingListing

HeadingsHeadings

Color andBoldfaceColor andBoldface

SummariesSummaries

Subject

Audience

Me

ss

ageP

urp

os

e

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 14

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 15

Effective LinksEffective Links

• Avoid self-referential terms

• Use absolute directions

• Tell readers what they will find

• Provide context for the links

• Place the links strategically

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 16

© Prentice Hall, 2003 Business Communication Today Chapter A - 17

Establish CredibilityEstablish Credibility

SponsorSponsor

DatesDates

AuthorAuthor

ContentContent