Plan It

Define the purpose of your website, the information you need to provide viewers, and the various sections/pages you want to include. If your web development company includes this, work with them to ensure that you have spacefor all of your content requirements. Define what sorts of things you want on your website and what section you plan to put it in. Organizing your content before you begin writing will make this a much easier process.

Divide It

Blocks and blocks of text only serve to discourage a reader. Make use of bold headlines and bullets to break up your text. Remember, readers like to scan a page rather than read the entire thing. Set up your content for maximum scanability.

Write For Your Viewer

Write professional content but with the understanding that your viewer might not be familiar with you, your products, or your services. Leave out industry-specific terms that your viewer will not be familiar with, and provide any information you think they might require. Avoid too much industry jargon.

Add Marketing Hooks

Include a call to action on every page. Whether you want to drive them to buy, to send you an email, or to visit a specific page within your website, placing a bold statement in plain view that links to whatever you want them to view is one of the easiest ways to direct them to take action. While you don't want your website to read like a bad advertisement or poorly written ad copy, you want to ensure that you are providing more than just information: you want them to do business with you.

Newsletters

Including a newsletter on your website is an easy way to keep your website fresh with new information. Include changes in your company as well as informative and marketing articles that relate to your industry. The best part? You don't have to write all your own articles. There are a variety of sites that offer free newsletter content as long as you include the writer's link. Take advantage of these free articles when you don't have the time to write your own articles.

Stick To Topic At Hand

It is human nature to get excited about what we're talking/writing about and to go off on a tangent. If you find that you are writing in circles, it helps to create a topic sentence for each page (or even each paragraph) to keep you writing on topic. Reread your pages to ensure that you've stuck to your topic for each website page.

Hire a Writer

When all else fails, use your web developer's copywriter (or hire your own) to save time and get the job done right. A website content writer works with you, your site plan, and your marketing plan to ensure that your business is well represented on your site, your topics are all written about, and viewers will be inspired to click or buy.

Often, businesses leave content writing until the final moment. Their first thoughts are on the keywords, design elements, functionality, and navigation. While all of those factors are important, content is equally important because it serves multiple functions on your site: it informs visitors, markets to them, allows viewers the ability to scan pages, and even looks good.

Happy Holidays

Wishing you a Christmas full of joy and happiness and all the best for 2008.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Krista at Lynks Web Services.