Web writing

Re-publishing print writing on the Web seems simple. Copy, and paste.

Unfortunately, in the jump from paper to screen, something happens to our penned words.

Print stories can’t be transferred online without change. Well, they can be; they may just end up being difficult to get through. And if that happens, your readers don’t read, and your site isn’t visited; advertisers run away, and you’re left wondering how your web site turned into a virtual ghost town.

Some web sites simply add headings throughout the article, to break it down into smaller bits. (Remember, Web users have the attention span of a goldfish, and need small chunks at a time. Long scrolling pages of text are a no-no.)

While this helps, there are many other things a web site can do to make its articles Web-friendly. Here are some tips:

• Use photos or videos
• Link
• Write in short pars
• Provide headings to guide the reader
• Use dot points to break down an idea
• Write lively.

Examples

My next couple of blog posts are going to be examples of Web articles. The idea is for me to attempt to write an article for a particular web site. Essentially, they’re exercises in Web writing.

The web site I’ve chosen is called G Online. It’s the web site belonging to a magazine called G Magazine. It’s concerned with eco-living.

The articles that will comprise my following two posts are meant for G Online’s travel page.

Because it may not be obvious what I’ve considered when writing the articles, I’ve decided to let you in on my thoughts here, first.

• Basically, I see the aim of my articles as encouraging eco-tourism.
• If I could choose the types of ads that would appear on the web page, I would display eco-friendly tour group ads, conservation organisation ads, and travel-related social media ads (e.g. Travbuddy).
• Without that ability, I figure the best I can do is make the trips I’m writing about seem exciting and inviting (i.e. something the reader might like to do); and provide lots of links, so the reader can find more information.