Web content writers need to make use of short words. Orators and great writers know they have a greater impact.
Writing For The Web
Malcolm Davison's blog articles
Some random jottings on writing content for intranets, websites, email newsletters and social media by the Managing Director of www.writingfortheweb.co.uk. Select the RSS feed to receive the latest (usually weekly) postings.
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I would like a brief word
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Saved by the bell
Web content creators need a new form of alert while entering content into computers to save readers from having to wade through poorly presented impenetrable text.
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Fostering the pioneers' web ideals
Early web pioneers fostered a spirit of cooperation rather than competition - which is just as applicable on the web and intranet today.
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Rejecting the ivory tower
Editors who put up barriers up to protect themselves fall out of touch with their audience and lose interest from contributors.
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Exclusivity adds value
Content marketing can have an adverse affect on audiences. Could this be the beginning of the end?
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Supercharge your navigation - ten top tips
Here are a ten top tips to improve site navigation.
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CMS limitations
How CMS systems can fall short of expectations - and I list some 'nice to have' features to look out for.
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How to become a Genius
We get an insight into how Apple trains its customer service staff. Some useful tips for intranet support here.
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Paying peanuts
Finances may be tight, but should we really be looking to dramatically reduce writing costs? Some jaw dropping prices are revealed.
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Is there a digital workplace revolution?
I recall the early history of remote computer working and query whether the digital workplace revolution happened a long time ago
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Content marketing confusion
The term ‘content marketing’ causes confusion we look at the reasons why. Some worrying insights are revealed.
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Content strategy confusion
The term ‘content strategy’ is used as if some new dimension has been added to digital publishing but what is it supposed to mean?
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Please say hello to my computer
Voice interaction will be the next big advance in office computing. Malcolm looks at the progress so far and speculates what will be possible.
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Tablets will overtake PCs next year - now what?
Voice interaction will be the next big advance in office computing. Malcolm speculates what will be possible.
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Is the future to be ‘pick n’ mix’ software?
Looking at the possibility that plug-in apps becoming an integral part of mainstream software.
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When bosses impede web progress
Why do bosses so often get web content creation so badly wrong? Malcolm explores the possible reasons.
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Software prices collapse
The software price revolution will impact web content creation and the economics of intranet computing.
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Michelangelo versus white van man
As more and more people are accessing web pages with tablet PCs there is a greater need for better web writing standards.
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Filtering out web page errors
Analysing why errors happen is a useful start before designing the procedures to prevent them.
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Robot Hal has got news for you
Artificially intelligent software is increasingly being used to write web content for straightforward data interpretation and reporting.
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Calling in logistical support.
Publishing on the web should be carefully structured using outlining software. I look at the history of this software and consider the latest optons.
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Cut the drivel!
A link to a useful program from the Plain English Campaign that content creators can use to improve their work.
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Enforcing the standards
Failure to follow style guide standards can damage an organisation’s brand on a website and look unprofessional on an intranet. We can help with this.
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Lame excuses for short-changing readers
Attention to detail with mundane information can make a serious contribution to staff efficiency and customer satisfaction.
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Tablets now dictate list length
It's long been known that the more choices we are given the less decisive we become. The use of tablet computers is now ensuring that lists will need to be kept short in future.
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Don't let the designer down
When Malcolm judges websites and intranets there are occasions when he finds that the design of a website is being let down by the standard of the written content.
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How to bury important information
We really must consider carefully the best way we should communicate our more important information.
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Greater office efficiency with Apple
Corporates are seeing the many additional benefits of using Apple technology for their businesses. Here are just a few of my favourite Mac software packages.
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Death of a computer
In a more environmentally conscious world, surely computer manufacturers need to take a more responsible attitude to supporting its earlier generation equipment?
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Email is far from dead
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced in November last year 'that email is dead'. But there are no signs of the funeral just yet.
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Needless waste
Poor web design can lead to us printing out far more pages than we really need. Leading to financial loss and blemished environmental credentials.
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So long, farewell
Huge monolithic web pages that descend 12 screen depths ... and more ... lead to readers abandoning pages and moving on. Why does this happen and how can it be avoided?
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Jack and Jill’s capers
I am increasingly becoming concerned at the use of machine translations by large organisations without warning of the inherent dangers of relying on such material.
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How international are you?
Restricting your writing to a subset of the English vocabulary can help the communication process when addressing an international audience.
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Anything else I can tempt you with?
When you buy something from eBay or Amazon you may have you seen how they try and tempt you with another purchase - have you tried using this idea?
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Curator’s nightmare
I look at why we should think very carefully before we install and use curation software, and suggest we restrain ourselves from adopting this misleading jargon.
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What do nuns share with particle physicists?
Each new audience I train brings new challenges as I help them to improve their web pages. There is one thing in common to them all - ‘register’.
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HTML no longer fit for purpose - an alternative?
Could returning to another idea that Sir Tim Berners-Lee first introduced radically improve web publishing?
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Will iPads largely replace laptops?
Could we be seeing a wholesale switchover from laptop to tablets from laptops driven by busy executives on the move?
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Try this free word difficulty check
Whether you are writing for a UK audience with poor reading skils or you want to use simpler English for an international audience, then the following free word check will be invaluable.
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Social media agencies promise the world but do they actually deliver?
Agencies needs an intimate knowledge of the relevant channels for the industry/sector/location concerned. But is this possible?
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High tech high street?
Mary Portas's suggestions to improve our high streets largely overlook new technology as being part of the solution.
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One voice - the impossible dream
Is verbal branding and applying a consistent ‘tone of voice’ onto printed material and websites achievable by all staff?
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Do only half your readers understand you?
If you are writing for your staff in a work environment or for the general public at large you must be prepared to adapt the way you communicate.
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Complex numbering has to go!
Eye-tracking research tells us that the web reader scans the left two or three words down the left hand side of a page, but complex numbering intrudes in the reading process.
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Emerging from the fog
Well written ‘self-help’ website and intranet content cuts the workload for front line staff, resulting in huge financial savings.
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iPad can cut mobile data costs by half
By using a tablet PC and shrewdly shopping around we can cut data access costs by half.
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No go logo?
Wasting inranet web page space with logos could be detrimental to an organisation's efficiency.
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Off with their heads!
Top heavy design causes problems for readers accessing material with smaller screens.
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Teamwork replaces ‘master of none’
It’s impossible to be ‘master of all’ with the pace of change and keeping on top of software development and research.
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Gun manufacturer and an awkward case
In the days of content management systems, writers and designers still insist on using upper case on their web pages.
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Writing that never sees the light of day
Why would a writer spend hours crafting brilliant copy when nobody ever clicks on the relevant link to read it?
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Design criminals
There are two things that really annoy me. Design that compromises the readability of text – and poor writing that doesn’t do justice to a brilliant layout.
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Relaunch to oblivion
How many websites have you seen that have been worse following a relaunch? The client has fallen for the oversold credentials of the agency.
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Designed to look good
Constable would not have been happy if he knew his work of art might one day be viewed stretched to widescreen. Should we let the web reader do the same with our web pages?
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Hats off to HATs!
Recent developments in HAT software herald an exciting possibility to add much needed versatility to today’s CMS systems.
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More computer know-how is needed
To be successful in business today we need to use a repertoire of communication channels. That means having a higher level of computer competence than was needed just a few years ago.
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Is your web agency up to speed?
With some notable exceptions, the sad truth is that many agencies just don’t keep up to speed with technology.
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Too politically correct?
There is a London estate agent, Roy Brooks, that became a national institution in the 1960s and carved a marketing niche for itself through its outrageous, and very funny, property descriptions. Are we too PC now?
On-site and public courses
We train web teams to write content for intranets and websites. The motivational training improves communication standards and stimulates better audience response.
Review
Some interesting and amusing stories from 10 years of web training.
Other services
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