Joanne Grey's blog
7 Ways to Kill Your Website
I work online a lot. If it weren't for websites and emarketing, I probably wouldn't have a job (not one that I enjoyed as much, anyway). It still amazes me when I find awful websites that make me want to run away from my computer. Poorly written web content, cheesy music and flashing rainbows are not going to encourage anyone to stay on a website.
Anyone can design a website, right? Even MS Word has some basic web templates available for download. You might ask yourself: Why would I pay thousands of dollars for someone to create my website, when I can do it myself?
You could ask similar questions like: Why do I pay someone to do my tax returns? OR Why do I employ a garden service?
The reason that you would pay someone to create your website for you is because you want a professional, modern and active website. We call it an active website - a website that encourages conversations between you and your customers. An active website changes; it has regular content updates and draws heavily on content marketing and calls-to-action to engage with your clients.
By all means - if you have the time, energy and SEO content knowledge - design your website yourself. Before you do, though, we've composed a short list of ways to watch your website die. Please do yourself (and the rest of the internet community) a favour and read this before you decide to have an animated bird flying across your web page!
7 Ways to Kill Your Website...
- Use neon colours on a black background
- Use lots of different fonts in different sizes
- Have a large "WELCOME" sign across most of your Home Page
- Use animation to feed words or pictures from one side of your screen to another
- Insist that the user listens to your cheesy music
- Give us 3 pages of your company history before telling us what you do
- Make us guess what it is you're selling
There you have it. Do the above 7 things and rest assured, your website will die. RIP.
Let me know if you have any other "killer" traits for websites!
9 Key Points Your Press Release Must Include
A press release is presented in a standard format and uses a consistent style. Styles vary from organisation to organisation, although the basic rules always apply.
9 Key elements to include in your press release
- The words "Media Release" clearly stated;
- Where it is from (use a letterhead, or company logo);
- Date;
- Distribution or publication date (whether it is for immediate distribution or embargoed);
- Headline in the active voice;
- Page numbers: 1 of 2; 2 of 2, etc. (if more than one page);
- Use at least one-and-a-half line-spacing and use wide margins for journalist's notes;
- List the name, all contact numbers, email addresses and after-hours numbers for the main contact person;
- Link to quality images, or attach images to be used. Alternatively, provide information about photo opportunities.
Stick to keeping your press release short and use clear language, follow the above 9 elements your press release must include, and you will find that press release writing is not all that difficult.
Wordy thought for today:
The number 4 is the only number in the English language that has the same number of letters in its name as its meaning.
Spotted Wombat is a comprehensive copywriting service in Brisbane, Australia. We provide writing for brochures, newsletters, websites, articles, white papers, press or media releases, blogs or any other writing that enhances your business.
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Easy web content writing: Paragraphs
People don't read web pages the way they read printed materials. A website needs to grab a reader's attention immediately with a headline and a promise of useful information.
Once your reader has started reading your web content, you've got to keep them engaged. Use bullet points, numbered lists and a combination of short and long sentences. It also pays to keep your paragraphs short.
Paragraph lengths
Have you ever looked at a Press Release? You'll notice that each idea or quotation is seperated by a double line space. It's similar with web content writing. Avoid long paragraphs and allow your readers' eyes to relax by providing plenty of spaces and white space.
Limit paragraphs to one idea
Ensure that your paragraphs only feature one idea. Your readers will find it easier to scan each paragraph and understand what each section is about. When readers get used to your style of writing, they will feel confident in scanning your page, paragraph by paragraph, and not feel as if they are missing anything important.
Spotted Wombat is a comprehensive copywriting and content marketing service in Brisbane, Australia. We get you online fast. We'll write your newsletters, websites, articles, white papers, press or media releases, blogs or ebooks. We'll also manage your mailing lists and provide detailed statistics for your email marketing messages. We can even design your website for you and give you access to update it as often as you like.
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