Content Editors Writing for the Web

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Content EditorsWriting for the Web

• Outline
• KRL Website Overview
• Demos QA
• Writing for the Web Best Practices
• Adding and Editing Content
• Critique/Review

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Writing for the Web

• Objectives
• Know the KRL website
• KRL Look
• Template vs. Content
• Use basic editing functions in Joomla
• Hands on experience adding content and using
  best practices for web writing

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Writing for the Web

• 3 Elements of Good Web Writing
• It is like a conversation
• Answers peoples questions
• Lets people grab and go
• (Redish, Letting Go of the Words

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Writing for the Web
When people go to a website, what are they
usually trying to do?
They are usually looking to find a particular
piece of information or answer a specific
question.
FIND SOMETHING
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Writing for the Web

• When I look at a Web page it should be
  self-evident. Obvious. Self-explanatory.
• I should be able to get it what it is and how
• to use it without expending any effort
• thinking about it.
• Steve Krug Dont Make Me Think

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Writing for the Web

• The Main Thing
• is to keep the Main Thing
• the Main Thing
• Stephen Covey

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Writing for the Web

• On average, how much time do people spend on each
  web page?
• 15 seconds
• 30 seconds
• 45 seconds
• 1 minute
• Answer 27 seconds
• (Source Nielsen and Loranger, 2006, cited in
  Redish, Letting Go of the Words.)

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Writing for the Web

• Web site users
• Ignore graphics in first 3 eye fixations
• 8 out of 10 times look for text
• Headlines
• Summaries
• Captions
• Only one third read whole article
• (Source http//www.jour.sc.edu/pages/blog/Web_wr
  iting.PDF)

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Writing for the Web

• Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing
• Make names obvious
• Anticipate what users want
• To feel smart
• To feel in control
• Identify important stuff by
• White space
• Bold
• Size
• Putting it at the top of the page

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Writing for the Web
Who is Your Audience?
Why are They Here?
What Matters Most to Them ?
What Question Would They Ask First?
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Writing for the Web

• Tips
• Use short and simple sentences
• Use shorter words
• Cut out half of the words
• Cut out half of what is left

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Writing for the Web

• Tips (pt. 2)
• Break pages up into clearly defined areas
• Make it clear what is clickable (links)

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Writing for the Web
Writing Pyramid
Top of Article
History/Background Supporting
Information Main Point or Conclusion
Bottom of Article
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Writing for the Web
Inverted Pyramid
Top of Article
Main Point Supporting Information History/ Bac
kground
Most readers take in this part Fewer readers
stay for this Only a few get all the way to
the end
Bottom of Article
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Writing for the Web

• Headings
• Question headings
• Topic Headings

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Writing for the Web

• Emphasis Techniques
• Bold
• Italics
• Underlining
• Font size
• White space

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Writing for the Web
Eleanor Harry Callahan
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Writing for the Web

• Tone and Personality
• Credible
• Entertaining
• Informative
• Useful

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Writing for the Web

• Example
• Before
• London Semester
• Students can experience the most exciting
  semester of their college career. Courses meet
  General Education, Capstone, and Upper Division
  Requirements. Financial aid available.

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Writing for the Web

• Example
• After
• London Semester
• Study in London. Receive credits in
• G.E.
• Capstone
• Upper division
• Financial aid available.

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Writing for the Web

• Example
• Before
• Nebraska is filled with internationally
  recognized attractions that draw large crowds of
  people every year, without fail. In 1996, some of
  the most popular places were Fort Robinson State
  Park(355,000 visitors), Scotts Bluff National
  Monument(132,166), Arbor Lodge State Historical
  Park Museum (100,000), Carhenge (86,598),
  StuhrMuseum of the Prairie Pioneer (60,002),
  andBuffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park
  (28,446).

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Writing for the Web

• Example
• After
• In 1996, six of the most-visited places in
  Nebraska were
• Fort Robinson State Park
• Scotts Bluff National Monument
• Arbor Lodge State Historical Park Museum
• Carhenge
• Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer
• Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park

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Writing for the Web

• And Finally
• Use Active Voice

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Writing for the Web

• Active Voice
• The subject performs the action
• Passive Voice
• The subject is acted upon

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Writing for the Web

• HTML and CSS
• What are they?

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http//www.csszengarden.com/
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Writing for the Web

• What is the content you will be adding or
  editing?

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Writing for the Web

• Summary
• Talk to your visitors use you
• Write short, simple sentences
• Keep paragraphs short
• Start with the context first things first
• Use emphasis techniques to direct the reader
• Use your readers words
• Use Active Voice

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Writing for the Web

• Resources
• Books
• Dont Make Me Think Steve Krug
• Letting Go of the Words Janice (Ginny) Redish
• Web Sites
• Good Documents - Techniques
• Web Writing. Candice Eagan Cal State
  Fresno.PDF
• Usability Your Guide to Developing Safe and
  Useful Websites
• Plain Language.gov

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Writing for the Web

• Web Resources (cont.)
• Purdue University Writing Lab
• Mind Connection Writing Tips
• University of Wisconsin Madison Writing Center
• MIT Libraries