Tips & Tricks: Writing for the Web
Unless you consider yourself a modern-day Charles Dickens, writing isn’t easy for most of us.
Ever tried to write something for your website, but found yourself asking questions like: Am I making sense? Does this sound okay? Is this too boring? Why do I sound like a robot? And then there are the issues of grammar, tone, and language. It’s a lot to think about, but don’t worry. We’ve been there, too. That’s why we’ve created this blog post.
Today, we’re giving you our personal tips when it comes to writing for the web so you can focus on what really matters: connecting with your audience.
Use Shorter Sentences
When it comes to writing, simpler is better. Avoid unnecessary words and keep your sentences short and sweet. When you aim for shorter sentences, chances are your sentences will be more concise and easier to understand.
This is the best way to avoid confusion amongst your readers.
Write at an Accessible Level
Did you know that the majority of Canada’s population reads at an eighth-grade level?
It may be a relief for you to know that you don’t have to write in a super academic voice. Actually, it’s better if you don’t! You’ll have a better chance of breaking through to your audience if you keep things simple.
Keep Paragraph Length to a Minimum
With people pressed for time, it’s best to keep your writing scannable.
You can achieve this by keeping your paragraph length to a minimum. Two – four sentences is a good length to aim for. Anything more is too much for your reader’s eye to absorb all at once.
Use Clear Headings and Subheadings
This is another important tip when it comes to keeping your writing scannable.
Using headings and subheadings breaks up your content on the page and makes it easier to read.
Another plus is that using headings and subheadings is more accessible for visually impaired peoples because screen readers can pick them up.
Break Up Content with Images
Not everything needs to be communicated with words. Sometimes, you can let images speak for themselves!
A full page of written content can be daunting for any reader to tackle. That’s why it’s important to break up written content with images if you can. This also keeps things more interesting and visually appealing.
Avoid Passive Voice
We’re all guilty of letting passive voice slip out from time to time, but it’s important to try and avoid it. Here’s why: Sentences written in passive voice are usually longer and more complicated.
It’s better to be direct and use active voice. Here’s an example of passive vs. active voice.
Active voice: Dogs love bones.
Passive voice: Bones are loved by dogs.
Get ready. Get set. Get writing.
Like we said before, writing is never easy, but we hope this makes things a little easier.
And for our last piece of advice, we want to tell you to be authentic. To make a connection and avoid boring your audience to tears, it’s important to sound like a real person. Don’t be afraid to be you!
Also, keep an eye out for more tips and tricks posts. We’ll be rolling out more in the coming weeks.