Being a Technical Writer, I have learned valuable lessons in taking complex information and turning it into something that the reader can actually use. One of the most important things I keep in mind when I write anything, especially something that is going to be read on a computer screen, is to keep it short and GET TO THE POINT.
From my experience as a computer user and as a writer of information used on the internet, I have discovered that people would rather use a mouse-click action to read short bits of well-written information instead of scrolling through lots of text on a single page to find the information they need.
Another VERY important technique when writing for the web is "chunking" or organizing your information into logical sections so the flow of information makes sense to the reader. This is important because not all people reading on the internet will read the information in a logical sequence. Chunking will help the reader to not only better understand the information they are reading, but also be better able to remember what they have read.
For more information on chunking, visit the following website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chunking_(psychology)
7 Things to Remember
The following website provides a list of key things to remember when writing for the web:http://www.webdesignfromscratch.com/writing_for_the_web.cfm
- Say Less
- Use the Inverted Pyramid
- Put More Important Content First
- Use Clear Headlines and Headings
- Consider the User's Goals
- Establish Trust
- Use Active Voice
1 comment:
Hi, Yvonne–
Good summary!
I read a useful research article on the retention of 'chunked' information, when written concisely for the web. It showed that websites with 'scannable text' were 47% more usable than websites with long scrolling text.
It made me think of possible ways how authors might learn to 'chunk' information effectively for the Web. One way I thought could work, was to use the 'auto-summarize' function in word –to find key words and key ideas in long articles of text. Anyone who writes for the Web should give this a try and then highlight the selected content online.
It's a useful tip for any new author to the Web!
–Nancy
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