Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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July 11, 2006

6+1 Traits: Conventions –The 6+1 Secret Rules of Online Writing

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 11:23 am

Writing for Online Is Different

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Effective writing is writing that works. It follows a set of rules we agree on. We call those rules writing conventions, as in conventional writing. Where some writers can trip up is that they don’t realize that the conventions for writing for print are slightly different from those we use when writing online. The differences are small in nature, but big in impact. They can mean a reader stays to read or clicks on by.

Now I’m anything but conventional. Still I know the value of following convention to make my readers feel comfortable in knowing how to navigate through what I write.

The 6+1 Secret Rules of Online Writing

Okay, so the rules for online aren’t really so secret. But some of them aren’t really talked about as being different. You know that if you surf the net. Many pages reflect work prepared for print readers and not adjusted for folks who are reading from a computer. Here are the six plus one Secret Rules of Online Writing.

    1. Use a dazzling, grabber headline to name your article. The noise online is louder and more pressing than in print. In print you might get 3 seconds, online you only get a blink.

    2. Write in shorter paragraphs. Online readers are bombarded with light as well as print. They also take in info-bytes and think about them before they read on. Print readers spend more time in a paragraph and take more time later in reflection.

    3. Highlight key points and use more subheads. Online readers are often researching for quick information or if reading for entertainment, they’re looking for info-snacks. Let them process the key points quickly.

    4. Use keywords in titles, subheads, and first sentences of paragraphs. I’m not advocating the overuse of keywords. However, well-placed keywords will get your articles where they will get read.

    5. Use lists and links, but avoid tables. Lists are easy to read and take in. Links allow readers to choose for themselves whether they need more information. Tables should be converted to lists, because tables are difficult for search engines.

    6. Show a grasp of standard writing conventions – spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, and mechanics. Folks online tend to be slightly more forgiving, but don’t take advantage. The online grammar police will let you know if you do so.

    PLUS ONE: And do be forgiving yourself. This media is easily changed. If you see an error, email the writer off the page.

Online conventions the sixth trait of effective blog writing. It’s one more pillar of effective blog writing and a phenomenal tool for building a business brand. Of course, the other kind of conventions are fun for building a brand too.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
If you’d like Liz to work with you on your writing, visit the Work with Liz!! page.

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14 Comments to “6+1 Traits: Conventions –The 6+1 Secret Rules of Online Writing”

  1. July 11th, 2006 at 12:12 pm
    Danny said

    I count five plus one, plus #2 begins “writer”. Or am I not being forgiving enough? ;-)

  2. July 11th, 2006 at 12:21 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Excuse me one minute, Danny. while I go behind the curtain. :)

  3. July 11th, 2006 at 12:25 pm
    ME Strauss said

    There now, Danny, I feel so much better. Don\’t you? Thanks for pointing that out. Sometimes when I read my own work, I lose my ability to count.

  4. July 11th, 2006 at 6:33 pm
    Rick said

    Wait, wait! You read my latest post! I keep reading where people say writing for the web is totally different than writing from print, and how it’s different. Someday I’ll get it through my head.

    I did change my latest title after reading this, though.

    Thanks, Liz

  5. July 11th, 2006 at 6:34 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Rick!
    Don’t worry. It took me a while to believe it too!

    Hope you’re coming to be a pirate with us tonight. :)

  6. July 11th, 2006 at 6:56 pm
    Rick said

    I’ll be there!

  7. July 11th, 2006 at 6:57 pm
    ME Strauss said

    YEA!!

  8. July 12th, 2006 at 10:21 am
    JohnB said

    “… email the writer off the page.”

    ME — shouldn’t that be “of the page”.

    I think, btw, that you nailed it though I’d add one additional suggestion. You’ve got a nice little graphic “Power writing for everyone”. In that same vein, I’d recommend 1-2 (or perhaps 3) pull quotes. They shouldn’t be topics or sub-topics but should be “teasers” related to the topic within which they are embedded. In your case, one such might be “The online grammar police … let you know”.

    Finally, I’m not sure how to parse this phrase in your entry: “If you’d like Liz to you with your writing …”

  9. July 12th, 2006 at 10:52 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi John,
    Welcome and thank you for your help!

    by off the page I was purposefully being redundant. I didn’t want to say Don’t do it in the comments. , but I wanted to underscore that idea.

    I very much like pull quotes and I hardly ever talk abou them. Thanks for the reminder!

    Also thanks for your tact in your last comment, I’ve fixed that.

    Please keep adding your insights they make me better.

    I appreciate your comment, John.

  10. July 12th, 2006 at 12:37 pm
    JohnB said

    “off the page” — ah, now I get it! Of course, I should have realized that was your intent. Old age isn’t an excuse but it’s the best I’ve got right now so I’m gonna use it. :-D

    And the spelling police caught a typo in your reply to me — but I won’t mention … oh, wait … oh, well.

  11. July 12th, 2006 at 12:41 pm
    ME Strauss said

    HI John,
    I do enjoy you!
    Forgive the typo in my email. It was rude of me to so feel the urgency to finish it that I continued it after the phone rang, breaking my rule of not multitasking any more.

    Busted!!!

    Please forgive me. My intentions were good.

    And you may not know about the dyslexia that is a familial gene I work against.

  12. July 12th, 2006 at 1:00 pm
    JohnB said

    Ah … lysdexia. I’ve heard of it!

    Nothing wrong with multi-tasking; something wrong with people who won’t cut other people a bit of slack for it, though. I’ll go take a 30-second timeout.

    30, 29, 28 …

  13. July 12th, 2006 at 1:12 pm
    ME Strauss said

    No need for a time out when you’re playing. No harm, no foul. Come on back. :)

  14. July 13th, 2006 at 4:20 am
    Bloggers Buzz said

    [...] Writing for Online is Different: [...]

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