Web Writing

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Web Writing

• Ag Media Writing
• 3/19/03

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Web Writing

• People who surf the Internet use a special
  medium that requires concentration and attention,
  and they seek information that interests them.
• Audience interests drive the content.

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Problem

• Reading rates slow by 25-40 on the Web.
• Monitors flicker causes eye strain.
• Almost 80 of Web readers scan Web text.

• Web readers fickle.
• Tons of competition.
• Readers scan a Website for 8-10 seconds before
  moving on.

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Solution

• Design for easy scanning.
• Provide visual navigation and accessibility.
• Be concise.
• Convey credibility.

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Solution Design for easy scanning

• Select legible fonts - san serif best for
  Web.
• Use large enough fonts.
• Italics decrease legibility, use sparingly.
• Dark type on light background reads and prints
  much better than light type on dark background.

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Solution
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Solution

• Keep line lengths short.
• Use headlines and subheads to break up text.
• Use bullets or numbered list.
• Highlight or bold key words.
• Use navigational tools and menus.

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Example

• http//www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/nutritio
  n/DJ0856.html

• http//cgil.uoguelph.ca/pub/Update2000/AllGenes.ht
  m
• http//www.agweb.com/sig_get_article.asp?fileAgNe
  wsArticle_2003325941_912articleid96424sigcatco
  rn

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Solution Concise/Credibility

• Avoid Fatigue Factor.
• Use concise, lean text.
• Chunk content.
• Just the facts maam.
• Make sponsors known.
• Only link to high credibility sites.

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Web Writing

• Use of graphics can help readers navigate a
  Website.

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References

• Bunton, K., Writing Across the Media, Bedford/St.
  Martins, Boston, 1999.
• http//www.useit.com/alertbox/whyscanning.html