Web writing resources

by Rani Milne

Web writing is different from writing for other mediums, forgive me for stating the obvious. This difference is based on the fact that people experience the web differently to the way they do reading the printed word, as you would undoubtedly have discovered for yourself. Even if you are browsing for information on the web, you are statistically less likely to spend time reading unrelated content than you are if you are browsing a newspaper, for example.

Gerry McGovern, author of Killer Web Content, suggests that the web is different for two main reasons. To paraphrase, the two main reasons are that users of the web are able to search for information or content 'in their own words' and text is searchable via hyperlinks.

In order to assist web writers to refine their web writing style, I have put together the following set of web writing resources (some are print, some are online – it's up to you):

• Use IT – Jacob Nielsen's usability resource gives effective and useful tips for web writers from a usability perspective.
• Gerry McGovern's Killer Web Content – make the sale, deliver the service, build the brand (2006, A & C Black Publishers) – this resource has a fantastic section on the 'six Cs' of web writing.
• Jinny Redish's Letting go of the words – Writing web content that works (2002, New Riders) – an excellent, user-friendly book that is very easy to follow and introduces the web writing concepts.
• Website Tips – some very handy tutorials and tips for web writing.
• Steve Krug's Don't make me think (second edition, 2006, New Riders) – subtitled 'A commonsense approach to web usability', this has some excellent examples of making web content 'usable' for your audience.
• Style manual for authors, editors and printers, revised by Snooks and Co (2002, Wiley and Sons) – an excellent tool for developing your organisational style for writing in general, as well as specific web tips.
• Hot text by Jonathan and Lisa Price (2002, New Riders) and its accompanying website Web writing that works – the books is a little old now, but contains a really good overview for writing web content, including writing for genres and creating a site style.
• Web pages that suck provides a cautionary tale for web writers. It looks at sites with a whole range of faults, including the web content. Take a look and find out what not to do.
• Information architecture for the world wide web by Rosenfield and Morville (second edition, 2002, O'Reilly Media) – an excellent book to help you look at content from the planning and design stage.

My best advice would be to read as much as possible and use what works for your website content. Not everything will be appropriate in every circumstance, but it is only once we know the rules that we can each decide how and when to break them.