Developing Winning Web Content
Content is King of the Web. Nothing, absolutely nothing is more important to the value of a Web site than content that meets your visitors' needs. However, online content development is much different than offline writing. Further, because of monitor resolution, presentation issues must be considered. Here is a thumbnail summary on developing winning Web content. Use this as a quick checklist as you review your site.
- Organize content into logical categories and subcategories.
- Divide material into page-size blocks. Endless scrolling can be annoying.
- Use headings and subheadings to help your readers zero in on the content that interests them.
- Use color and graphics to create interest and visually direct focus from one topic to the next.
- Chunk your content. Break content up into short paragraphs for easy reading. Limit the width of lines of text. Long lines of text are harder to read and can cause eye strain.
- Make use of bulleted or numbered lists. Information in lists can be quickly and easily digested.
- Use bold text for emphasis.
- Never underscore text that is not a link.
- Clearly label all links.
- Use legible fonts and font sizes.
- Paragraphs composed of sentences that are similar in length are easier to read than ones that combine long and short sentences.
- Limit the number of fonts and font colors used throughout your site.
- Be consistent in the way you present your material throughout your site.
- Spell check, spell check, spell check.
Source: 501cWeb.com.
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