effective writing for the web - how to make your content stick?
TRANSCRIPT
Writing for the web –How to write good content and why it matters
Writing for the Web is different
1. The medium is different
2. Reading habits are different
3. Ease of Use is different
4. Objectives are different
1. The medium is different – Paper vs. Screens
• High contrast
• High DPI: 1200+
• Text first – visualsecond (if at all)
• Low contrast
• Low DPI: 150
• Text + visual elements equally.
DPI = Dots per Inch
2. Habits are different - scanning first
• Web users don’t read like a book
• They scan & skim first
• Then they read (maybe!)
This image shows where people focus on in a web page.Red is highest frequency of focus, yellow is least. White is ignored.
3. Ease of use is different – time sensitive
Book/news paper/journal readers are…
• Not time sensitive
• Engagement is frequently > 10-20-30 minutes or even hours
• More Comfortable for longer periods
For web - look at your site analytics, maybe 1-3 minutes total across all pages…
Web users normally want to…
• complete a task
• that is time sensitive task
• with search or with navigation
4. Objectives are different – Web is Task Driven
Book/news paper/journal readers want to… digest information typically with less time sensitivity…
Time is the single most critical factor
• You often have about 3 or 4 seconds to answer the visitors question
• You need clear, compellingcontent
• Otherwise you drive traffic away (to call centres), OR visitors churn / disengage.
So, what is good web content?
Know your Audience – visitor profiles
• Who is your audience?
− Jill , stay at home mother of 3 kids under 8 OR
− Joe, retired school teacher OR
− Mary, IT professional OR
− Kevin, a fisherman (and many more)……
• What do people want to do on my site?
− How can I access a grant?
− When will the new regulations start fox XYZ?
− Will pylons be close to my property?
Visitors are task driven, content needs to match
• What do your visitors want?
− NOT what do you want to tell them
• How do you make it easy for them?
− NOT what makes it easy for you
Good text content for the web is…
• Written with the visitor in mind
• Easy to navigate & jump to more detail
• Easy to skim
• Short and punchy
• Using Active voice, (especially for instructional text)
• Using shorter words
So what about your site?
Can we get answers fast ?
Can we get answers fast ?
• How many CTAs (Call to Actions)?
• Who is the target visitor?
• The kitchen sink home page
• URL-a-rama!
A bit like this…
What do your visitors want?
Is it really this? (all about me, nothing about you)
The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has responsibility for the Telecommunications, Broadcasting and Energy sectors. It regulates, protects and develops the Natural Resources of Ireland.
And, let’s say we must explain...
Then, couldn’t we do it better?
The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has responsibility for the Telecommunications, Broadcasting and Energy sectors. It regulates, protects and develops the Natural Resources of Ireland.
We are responsible for Telecommunications, Broadcasting and Energy in Ireland.
We regulate, protect and develop Ireland’s Natural Resources.
Words: 27
Words: 18
VS.
And diving deeper… the detail…
• Who is visiting?
• What do they need?
• Content Likely copied from print media (PR or brochure)
• Not writtenfor the web
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Renewable+Energy+Export/Renewable+Energy+Export.htm
Quantify the problem -measure your clarity
Copyright Visible Thread 2014– Confidential and Proprietary
Average words per sentence: 10.5
Hard Words: 2.9%
FOG Index (readability): 5.5
VS
Average words per sentence: 21.6
Hard Words: 5.11%
FOG Index (readability): 10.7
A quick example in a different context
You are not alone
Nice Graphic Design...
Nice clean fonts too –how about the copy?
The learner registration process will not be
deemed to be complete until the appropriate fees
have been paid to the Awarding Body.
VS.
To register as a learner, you must pay
appropriate fees to the awarding body
this is the
actual copy!
…this is the target
audience – non English speaking
students
Nobody is innocent….
Sections of pages scored in government site. 100 page sample
Broadcasting(100 pages scored)
Communications(100 pages scored)
Natural(100 pages scored)
Energy
Sections of pages scored in government site. 100 page sample
Broadcasting(100 pages scored)
Communications(100 pages scored)
Natural(100 pages scored)
Energy
Takeaway: Very Complexcontent across all sections of the site. Levels
of long & run-on sentences very high.
Audience will not read or engage.
Copyright Visible Thread 2014
Long Sentences in context (blue)27
A self-insurer must pay a fee as a contribution to the
overheads of the WorkCover scheme and this includes a
component to cover the liabilities of self-insurers in the event of insolvency
Copyright Visible Thread 2014
Passive Voice in context (maroon)28
Prior to making a decision on applying to be registered as a self-
insured employer, you should become familiar with the
requirement of self-insurance contained within the Code of
conduct for self-insured employers under the WorkCoverScheme.
Copyright Visible Thread 2014
Readability – what is it?
1. Flesch Reading Ease Index (Rudolf Flesh - Austria)
2. Attempt to generically measure how readable your content is
3. Formula – number between 0 and 100
4. 0 – most complex, 100 least complex
Readability for content
Copyright Visible Thread 2014
Readability – a note on readability in the context of tech pubs
(206.835 – (1.015 x Average Sentence Length) – (84.6 x Average Syllables per
Word)) heavily weighted towards syllables per word
Score:
• 0–29 (Very Difficult);
• 30–49 (Difficult);
• 50–59 (Fairly Difficult);
• 60–69 (Standard);
• 70–79 (Fairly Easy);
• 80–89 (Easy);
• 90–100 (Very Easy)
1. For non-tech pubs,
readability measure is
important. e.g. Consumer
Facing Credit Agreements
2. BUT, if you have a tech
heavy document you may
see limited improvements.
3. Focus more on reducing
long sentences and
passive voice. These will
improve the readability
score, but it may not be
significant.
What’s driving your scores?
Let’s consider a sample page
Back to our sample page – from Energy
Content was Likely copied from print (PR or brochure)
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Renewable+Energy+Export/Renewable+Energy+Export.htm
Lots of sentences are
>20 wordsLots of
Passive Voice
How can we easily tell? Clarity Grader report
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Renewable+Energy+Export/Renewable+Energy+Export.htm
57% of sentences > 20 words
32% use passive voice
Readability level requires 3rd level degree
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Renewable+Energy+Export/Renewable+Energy+Export.htm
Copy like this...
Words in sentence: 52
2 passive constructs
Readability of this sentence = 0 (between 0 and 100)
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Renewable+Energy+Export/Renewable+Energy+Export.htm
Direct copy from print not effective for the web
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Renewable+Energy+Export/Renewable+Energy+Export.htm
Remember:
1. The medium is different
2. Reading habits are different
3. Ease of Use is different
4. Objectives are different
The problem is pervasivebut fixable...
How can we do better?
The framework and associated environmental assessments (including Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment) will be prepared over the coming twelve months and will provide an opportunity for all stakeholders including local authorities, potential project developers and local communities to be consulted and have an input into the national policy for wind export.
- We will prepare the framework and associated environmental assessments in the next 12 months.
- You will then be able to provide feedback into the national policy for wind export.
1 sentence - 52 WordsVS.
2 sentences – 14 / 15 Words each Pronouns – we / you ’12’ versus ‘twelve’ Dialogue between you and visitor
It’s not just your site...
Example of 12 US banks
Takeaway: Very Complex content on multiple pages.
Level of long & run-on sentences very high. Audience will
not read or engage.
Detailed reports flag the content
What about jargon?
Jargon – negative impact on your audience?
Take this page...
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Offshore.htm
and this example text...
“The Stakeholder Forum was intended to provide the relevant industry stakeholders with an opportunity to get an update from Redpoint and GarradHassan on the study approach and methodology to be applied.”
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Energy/Sustainable+and+Renewable+Energy+Division/Offshore.htm
So how much jargon is there here?
We created a fairly simple dictionary of jargon phrases
Scan results across different sections of the site
Jargon checkedTakeaway: jargon likely in the pages
we scanned.
‘key’ is very popular
The content...
A key focus of digital inclusion is getting more people to use modern digital
technologies, in particular internet related technologies. The Department,
through the eInclusion Section of the Knowledge Society Division, is seeking
to promote higher levels of digital inclusion in Ireland. In pursuit of this
objective we work with other key stakeholders to identify the most effective
approaches and strategies to promote more digital inclusion. The National
Digital Strategy launched in July 2013 outlines these approaches. The
Department also represents Ireland on the Digital Inclusion Workstream set up
under the British Irish Council .
David Puttnam was appointed as Ireland's first Digital Champion in
December 2012. His focus is on digital engagement and on the priorities
set out in the National Digital Strategy. In this short clip recorded for the
EU Commisison, he outlines some of the opportunities and challenges of
his role as Ireland's Digital Champion. David Puttnam's key objectives .
Some Key Stats
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Communications/Knowledge+Society/Digital+Inclusion/
...in the page
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Communications/Knowledge+Society/Digital+Inclusion/
What about Acronyms?
Again we created a simple dictionary of acronyms
If used, then is it used sparingly?
with a definition?
Scan results across different sections of the site
Acronyms Takeaway: probably acronym heavy
copy in the pages we scanned.
So here’s a sample page full of acronyms
Takeaway: Overused DCENRNo definitions
...and the page
http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Communications/Knowledge+Society/BenefIT/BenefIT+Digital+Skills+Training+Grant+Scheme.htm
Key content likely not findable and searchable
Your audience may be confused and may not
engage due to a mix of terminology
Your SEO keyword strategy may be diluted
Your content may not align with Brand/Corporate
Standards.
We care about language consistency - why?
Worried about Clarity or Inconsistency on your site?
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