latest trends in effective web writing
TRANSCRIPT
May 10, 2016
Latest Trends in
Effective Web Writing
Vincci KwongIndiana University South Bend
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Why do you attend this session?• I need TLEU• My supervisor asked me to attend• I am interested in this topic• I want to improve web writing skills• Others
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
How do you look for information?• Scan webpage for information• Scan headings and read first paragraph• Scan headings and selected paragraphs• Read the whole webpage
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Why write effectively?
• User scan, not read• Short attention span• Search engine
findability
May 10, 2016
Source: https://dejanseo.com.au/web-content/
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Who are your audiences?
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
What are audiences looking for?
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Application time!• List three priority audiences
• What are the top 3 things you want your #1 audience to do?
May 10, 2016
Source: http://www.docs.is.ed.ac.uk/skills/documents/3783/3783.pdf
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Putting content together1. Create effective headlines2. Determine content order3. Write content4. Check for voice and tone5. Review and test
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Create effective headlines• Headlines should be descriptive
• Keep it short and simple Keep it under 55 characters
• Add keywords to headlines
• Use adjectives that will arouse audience’s interest
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Give it a try!• Create a
headline for the this webpage: http://www.crandalllibrary.org/teens/
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Determine content order
Most Important Information
Important Details
Other
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Write content• Key ideas go at the beginning of each
paragraph• The main point goes at the beginning of
each sentence• Write in short sentences (10-15 words)
and short paragraphs (20-50 words)• Create bulleted lists for key links and
information
May 10, 2016
Source: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/building-great-websites/planning-your-content/writing-for-the-web
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Write Content• Use everyday language• One paragraph per idea• Spell out abbreviation or acronym• Be concrete, avoid generalities
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Hemingway Editor
May 10, 2016
http://www.hemingwayapp.com/
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Hypotext• Revealing content on-demand• A block of text opens within the
paragraph of text they are reading and gives them additional information
May 10, 2016Source: https://moz.com/blog/how-to-write-for-the-web-a-new-approach-for-increased-engagement-whiteboard-friday
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Check for voice and tone• Use active voice• Be consistent
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Review and test• Proofread
• Proofreader should not be the writer
• Never put text in an image• E.g. header
images, graphs, infographics etc.
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Helpful Tips• Keep important content ‘above the fold’
• Information above the fold were viewed 84%, on average, more than below the fold
• Concise means minimal• Enough to meet your audience’s
needs and accomplish your purpose. No more, no less.
May 10, 2016
https://writeclearlyblog.com/2016/01/27/writing-for-the-web-have-the-rules-changed/
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Helpful Tips• Look for information gap
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Let’s put it all together!1. Identify one thing you want your #1
audience to know.2. Find a webpage from your library
website which address the above.3. Review and evaluate how information is
presented on the webpage. How can you make it better?
May 10, 2016
2016 ILF District 1 Annual Conference
Questions?• Please feel free to contact me
Vincci [email protected]
May 10, 2016