Ron Paul does it again..
10/29/09
Tips for Writing Website Content
10/14/09
- Shorter sentences, words and paragraphs
-One idea per paragraph
-Concise text – half the word count (or less) than writing for print
-The inverted pyramid style, putting the most important point or the conclusion first.
-Simple words
-Objective language to build credibility, rather than exaggerated claims or overly promotional words like “great”, -”Tremendous” etc.
-Bulleted lists
-Highlighted text (bold or color, also hyperlinked text) for scannability
- Meaningful headlines and subheads, avoiding cute or clever lines
Reading on the web is too much work!
Reading from a computer screen tires the eyes. People read 25% more slowly on the web than they read print material.That’s why, web content has to be 50% shorter than print.
Readers on the Web scan text
According to a study by usability expert Jacob Nielson, 79% of readers on the Web tend to scan or skim text rather than read word for word.Highlighted text (bold or color, also hyperlinked text) and bulleted lists aid scannability.
Readers on the Web are impatient
Readers on the Web are in a hurry to get the information they want, and move on.
They don’t have the patience for obscure and complex text. They don’t enjoy scrolling through masses of text either.Since there are millions of alternative websites in cyberspace, they will quickly move to another site if they don’t enjoy the information gathering experience on your site.Attracting attention and retaining reader interest is a challenge, specially as you have just:
- 10 seconds to grab attention with your web site content
- 55 seconds to develop an understanding of your company or product
To combat reader fatigue, make it easy for your Web users to get relevant information. Put the most important information at the top. Use clear and concise text.
Readers on the Web are skeptical
Credibility is a major factor in retaining reader interest on the Web.
Use objective language, write meaningful headlines and subheads and avoid marketing jargon or exaggerated claims to build credibility. Cute or clever lines could mean that the reader takes longer to get to the main point. Hyperlinks to the sources of your information or to related information also add to credibility.
Readers avoid information overload
In an average workday, people suffer from information overload . They already have a large number of emails in their inbox to contend with, and several documents to read.
They don’t want to spend time and effort reading content that they may not find useful.Offer your readers information in bite-size chunks which are easily digestible. Use short sentences, short paragraphs, one idea per paragraph.Use meaningful headlines and sub-headlines which help them nail the information they want, quickly and easily.
The “Unreleased” Press Release
09/10/09
Most people remember their first love and Peter Barbosa is no exception! It wasn’t love at first sight but rather it happened during his first year at Bradford High when he got involved with a passion that is sure to stick with him for the rest of his life – it’s a love for computers, what makes them tick and learning the “language” that programmers use to make them run faster and more efficiently.
Since then, Peter has been called all sorts of names in jest that he jokingly welcomes because he realizes they come with the territory – nerd, geek and computer dweeb to name a few. But now Peter says he’s able to add one more, one that he’s proud of, entrepreneur.
After completing the second year of the three-year Computer Analyst Program at Barrie’s Georgian College, Peter decided to try his hand at running his own business, rather than working for someone else.
“People in the program spend a lot of time as interns or as a co-op students working for a variety of companies. I’ve done a stint at Future Shop and then I was recruited by CIBC, but I thought I’d try my hand at entrepreneurship this time out. I made a conscious decision to become a job owner rather than a job seeker,” Peter said.
So far Peter’s bet seem to be paying off. He recently completed a job for Fred’s Paving that included setting up a network, installing a back-up system and firewall to prevent security breaches. There are also a couple of works in progress, such as website development for the Bradford Print Shop and fine-tuning a flash animation site for Newmarket’s Kayak Pools.
Peter’s company, ITelligent, is based out of his parent’s home in Bradford. Although his business is based on knowledge and providing affordable solutions, he did need some start-up capital for additional hardware and upgraded software in order to turn his summer dream into a reality.
“It was a classic Catch-22,” Peter lamented, “I actually had business and customers lined up but I couldn’t deliver what they were looking for without the upgrades. All my money had been eaten up by tuition and school expenses. I had the skills but I couldn’t afford the tools to get the job done.
“Then I heard about a program called Summer Company. I looked into it and thought it might be just what I was looking for. I had to work on a business plan and prove that my idea was viable in order to qualify. I had never written a plan before, but they have great people and free resources to help, but only if you’re prepared to do the work.”
Summer Company is sponsored by the Provincial Government’s Ministry of Small Business and Entrepreneurship. It is targeted to enterprising students, 15 to 29 years old, who want to start and run their own summer businesses. Successful applicants receive hands-on business coaching and mentoring from local business leaders who volunteer their time. They also receive a forgivable grant of $1,500 to put towards start-up costs and upon successful completion of the program, an additional $1,500 to contribute towards their education.
Dan Ruby, a Business Consultant at York Region’s Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) administers the program for the area. He also acts as a mentor and business coach for the young entrepreneurs enrolled in the program.
Business consultants work with the young entrepreneurs though the duration of the program and instil best business practices that we hope will stay with them for a lifetime. The program certainly gives these young people a taste of entrepreneurship and it’s up to them if they want to pursue it after they’ve finished their schooling but interestingly, about 30 percent do continue with self-employment. The businesses run the gamut of products and services to both consumers and businesses.”
Peter admits that being on your own isn’t for everyone, but he says the best part so far for him is the people that he gets to deal with.
“My target market includes small businesses as well as on-site and in-home computer repair and support. So far I’ve focused mainly on businesses, but I’m hoping more customers will visit my website and see how affordable my in-home services are. My competitive edge is that my in-home rates are actually much cheaper than the big box stores and you don’t have to dismantle and carry your computers in. Customer service is a big part of my business model.
“So far I’m having a ball,” admits Peter, “it sure beats sitting in a back room or cubicle doing the same thing, day in, day out. The best part is I’m getting paid for doing something I love,” he jokingly added.
If you would like further information about ITelligent contact Peter anytime at XXX-XXX-XXXX or visit his website at www.beitelligent.com
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For further information, please contact Peter Barbosa at:
peter@beitelligent.com
Hi, I'm Peter Barbosa. I'm half computer techy, and half scientist. Here, I share my thoughts, ideas, rants, and random interesting things I stumble across online. While away from my blog, I attend college, majoring in Computer Science. I also enjoy: Photography, reading, adventures, and an ice cold beer.