Writing for the Web

Web is Different than Print

Writing for the Web poses different problems than writing for print. Study after study has shown that users do not like to spend a lot of time reading on the Web. Instead, they scan pages, trying to pick out a few sentences or even parts of sentences to get the information they want.

Effective Web Content

When people visit your webpage, they are after information. This means that if you want to put information from a brochure or newsletter online, you will want to rewrite the most important content (condense!) to make the publication effective Web content. You may also provide a downloadable PDF file of the original document for printing. Here are general guidelines to follow when writing for the Web:

Being Simple

Make it easy for users to find your information quickly.

• Try to limit yourself to one idea per paragraph.
• Write as friendly as is appropriate for your audience. Overly formal writing takes careful reading, and most Web users don't want to spend that much time.
• Don't use technical jargon if avoidable. Write for all users to understand.
• Headings should be obvious to the reader who is scanning the page for specific information.

Condensed Content

You have about 5-10 seconds to grab a reader's attention before they will navigate away from your page. Writing concisely will ensure you don't lose them.

• Avoid welcoming text or instructions on using the site. Users are looking for information.
• Use short text segments, written in a clear, easy to understand style.
• Use bulleted lists to condense long lines of information.
• Don't lump all your content into one, long scrolling page. Organize your content by topic into easy to navigate web pages within your website.

Reading at a Glance

Documents must be concise and structured for scanning.

• Organize your content by using headings, bulleted lists and bold text for words and sections you want to emphasize.
• Put the important information at the top of the page. It should be visible without having to scroll down, if possible, so users can find it quickly.
• Provide links to related information available on another page.
• Don't duplicate information that is already available on the Delta website.

Being Accurate

Users expect your content to be accurate. Attention to detail will help avoid presenting wrong information.

• Keep your content up to date.
• Be sure to use a spell checker and proofread before submitting content.
• If you are stating a fact, be sure to double check for accuracy.

Active Links

Just like the rest of your content, links should be found at a glance.

• Use clear and concise wording for your links so users know where the link will take them and what they are likely to find.
• Most links should lead to other documents in your site, not to someone else's site.
• Make sure readers know when they will be leaving the Delta website.