With so many web pages and only so many hours in the day; potential customers will spend only seconds looking at your site before moving on – so how can you make those seconds count?

Your readers will be looking for web copy which is easy to scan, signposting key messages quickly and clearly. We’ve frequently discussed the importance of using clear and concise language on this blog and it comes into play again here. Potential customers need to be able to understand what you are saying or selling instantly; hence jargon-free, simple, effective prose is required.

For each page of web copy, you should be looking to front-load your content by putting your key message at the top of the copy, rather than reserving it for the conclusion; as is more common across traditional media.  This enables readers to decide instantly if they are on the right page or not and captures their attention. Sub-headings can have a similar effect by clearly signposting the site’s content and allowing users to find their target quicker and easier.

Once you have your content, there are several formatting steps you can take to achieve maximum impact, such as emboldening key messages. This instantly draws the eye of the reader to what you want to say. This will naturally happen on links, so make sure that your linking text says something you want to be read, not just ‘click here’.

By applying these simple steps you can be sure you’re web copy is more likely to turn a roving eye into a ready customer.

Talk to Write My Site if you would like to explore business blogging, article PR or SEO copywriting. All work is covered by our Quality Guarantee to ensure you’re 100% satisfied with your content.

Write My Site will be exhibiting at this year’s Online Marketing Show, which is one of four shows that comprise Marketing Week Live. It takes place on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th June at the Grand Hall, Olympia.

As part of the show, we will be delivering a workshop called ‘Blogging for Business’ at 1.20pm on Tuesday 29th June.

Tickets for Marketing Week Live cost £20 on the door, but you can get free tickets in advance by clicking the banner at the top of this blog post and entering ‘Write My Site’ in the invitation code box.

Hope to see you there! (We’re at Stand A420, near the cafe).

P.s. We’re giving away free chocolate on our stand. Not that we’re trying to tempt you or anything …

So, you’ve written your new blog article, now the question is – how do you get people to come and read it? One way to attract attention is to spend some time thinking about your blog categories and tags, but what are they and how can they be used?

Categories: Categories are the internet’s equivalent of a filing system. You can create your own category list, which should consist of very broad headings that cover a wide range of topics. A good example would be one category for each key business area and a miscellaneous.

These categories will form a key part of your website’s navigation strategy. Every blog should be filed under one category only, allowing those who visit your site to easily navigate to the content they want.

Tags: Tags work in tandem with your categories to provide more detail. They are more specific and can cover as many topics as necessary; however, there should not be multiple tags on the same topic. For example, an art blog should choose between ‘drawing’ and ‘sketching’ as a tag and use the same one across all relevant posts.

Tags are a search tool; they enable a customer to type in their keyword of interest and instantly see everything relevant your blog holds. If used effectively they can not only help you gain traffic, but ensure that visitors are seeing exactly what they want to see.

Talk to Write My Site if you would like to explore business blogging, article marketing or web content. All work is covered by our Quality Guarantee to ensure you’re 100% satisfied with your content.

When writing an article, for traditional or electronic media, you need to play up to the psychology of your audience. They’re only going to keep reading as long as they are getting something from you, so what is it they’re after?

In the first instance, they want to be empowered. When they click off of your webpage, they want to know or be capable of more than they were when they started. Whether you are writing an information or opinion piece, the same point stands.

If you are writing an information piece, Five Steps to a Perfect Blog, for example, make your five steps as clear as possible. That means not only saying what your reader must do to achieve their aim, but also pointing out potential pitfalls and traps that can be easily avoided. Knowledge should never be assumed. Omitting supposedly ‘obvious’ details is as bad as patronising your reader.

And always leave them wanting more – remember how Scherezade in Arabian Nights extended her life by never completing her story? Well, what will keep your readers coming back? There may be a tangential point included in the article, or you may wish to divide a major topic across several posts, but if your original article is giving something to your readers, they’ll be back for the sequel.

Talk to Write My Site if you would like to explore business blogging, article  PR or SEO copywriting. All work is covered by our Quality Guarantee to ensure you’re 100% satisfied with your content.