In my last blog post I summarized a few of my favourite take aways from the Web Copywriting that Works course offered on Udemy. It was while taking this course that I was introduced to the book, Nicely Said – Writing for the Web with Style and Purpose by Nicole Fenton and Kate Kiefer Lee.

Here are my favourite tips from the book for how to write for the web.

Be Clear

Never assume that the reader will understand what you are writing about. To appeal to a larger audience it’s important to be thorough and descriptive. Always use the shorter word to use to explain what you mean. Don’t try to use large words just to be perceived as more intelligent. Keep your writing as close to regular speech as possible to make it easier for the reader to digest the information.

Be Concise

Make it easy for your audience to digest your content. For example, make your blog posts scannable by including multiple headings. Keep your sentences short and don’t make people read more than they need to.

Be Honest

Whether you are writing about your company or creating content for potential clients, it’s important to provide accurate. information. Include facts, statistics and/or links to reliable third party resources to help backup your points.

Be Considerate

Think of your audience when you are writing. Choose your words carefully and write like you are having a conversation with your reader. Be polite and relatable. Metaphors and regional expressions don’t always translate for other languages or cultures. If you are trying to appeal to a large audience avoid this.

If you are new to writing for the web or just want to brush up on your copywriting skills, I highly recommend reading Nicely Said.

For a more in-depth look at copywriting, download our white paper, An Introduction to Copywriting.