Content & Your Website
Benefits of Writing Web Content
By Jenna Ryan

Writing articles for your website will not only help your website get to the top of search results, but will score points with visitors too. Think of how you think when you're visiting sites on the web. Usually you're looking for an answer to a specific question, or for information about your topic. With the click of a mouse, you can find out most anything you want to know. If you want your website visitors to stay on your site, better give them all the information they need so they won't click away and find it elsewhere. Here's the benefits of web content in a nutshell:

Web Content is Helpful to Your Visitors. You're visitors will appreciate the fact that you went out of your way to write down information that's easy for them to find and understand. If you really do a good job, they'll bookmark your site for future reference. 

Web Content is Traceable by Search Engines. Search is the #1 way people find things on the web. When your web content is written about what you do, people looking for what you do can find you. Viola! Your web content is a marketing tool. 

Web Content Displays your Expertise to Readers. When you have interesting and relevant information posted on the web, people get a chance to see how you work, and you're underlying work ethic. Your web content shines the light on you. 

Web Content Disarms Your Visitors. When you give free information about what you do to your website visitors, people take their guard down. It's more relaxed and less pressured than a full-blown sales talk. It's a sure-fire way to build rapport.

Writing Web Content for Your Business Website

Now that you know it's good for you, what are you going to write about? Try these suggestions:

Repetitive Information: Your website is the best place to write down all that repetitive information that you tell people all the time. This might include your company history, your application process or generic membership info. 

Detailed Product Information: If you sell products in your business, your website is an excellent place to tell all about the products you sell. Remember to keep it short and simple, and make sure each product has it's own page. 

Benefits of Your Business. Write an article about why it is better to work with your company than any other. Surely you can think of at least five bullet points that show why people should use you. This is more of a sales - type page, but absolutely necessary to the success of your website. 

Industry Information. Everything included on your website does not have to be directly related to making a sale. You are on the web to be a resource to the visitors, not just sell them something. Go out of your way to provide special insight on your industry, products or services.

Points to Remember When Writing for Your Website

Write Scan-able Text. People don't read the web, they scan. Using bullet points is one way to make web content scanning easier.

Get to the Point--Fast. Use Inverted Pyramid Method. That means you say what you have to say first and then support it later. You have a better chance of getting your point across if you just "spit it out." 

Write to the 9th Grade Level. Most people are at the 9th grade level on reading. You should write to the lowest denominator. No big words or poetry. Just get your point across and move on. People on the web are in a big hurry.

Edit to the Bone. Take out all unnecessary paragraphs, sentences and words. Use short choppy sentences and the fewest syllables possible. While you're editing, check your spelling and grammar too.

You are now armed with enough info to get started writing good web content for your own website. It may seem a little shaky at first, especially if you're not a writer. Don't worry, it gets easier. The world is waiting to hear from you. Get writing today!