Writing on the Web from Patsi Krakoff, The Blog Squad

How to Write for the Web - Copywriting Intensive

 Here's an opportunity to immerse yourself for three days and learn how to write great content for the Web. This is important for any small business professional, even if you hire a copywriter for your big projects.

Why? Because everything you write on the Web, your blog posts, your Twitter messages, your email broadcasts, should do all of these things:

1. Grab the attention of your ideal prospects
2. Keep them interested to read your entire message
3. Connect with them on a human level
4. Provide useful information that appeals to learning styles
5. Move your readers to some sort of action

Otherwise, your content will not market you, or build your brand, it won't attract the right people, and your business won't grow using the magnetic power of the Internet.

No other skill is as important than writing for the Web. Okay, delivering your products and services is important, but if your writing doesn't interest prospects, you won't have customers!

The American Writers and Artists Inc. (AWAI) is teaching what you need to know about web writing:

AWAI Web Copywriting Intensive:
Words That Work - Converting Your Web Traffic to Cash!
Austin, Texas, February 15-18, 2009

Wishy-Washy Writing: Just delete these 5 words

This is worth reading and not just because it echoes my thoughts every time I read someone's blog writing that's too wishy-washy: 5 Words You Can Cut Out, from the Daily Writing Tip:

1. just
2. really
3. quite
4. perhaps
5. that

I have to add two:

1. maybe
2. very

Every time you re-read your writing, be on the look-out for these wishy-washy offenders and make your writing stronger, better.

Telling Stories = Stronger Connections with Readers

"Now just the other day, I..." As soon as someone starts telling me a story, I listen up. Why? Because I am sure they are going to deliver something with impact - otherwise why would they be telling me? And most of the time it's true: I get to laugh, or be outraged with them, or in some way feel emotionally in tune with the person telling the story.

The same is true for really good copy. I read a good post today over on Scott Young's blog about 4 things that go into telling a good story. I am always amazed when I read wisdom on an 18-year-olds blog, but never mind that. Here are his 4 points, but if you're interested, go read the whole post, it's worth it, campfire picture and all.

1) Start with a Hook
2) Keep it Concise
3) Know Your Point
4) The Purpose of Stories is to Create Feeling

Writing Online: a Few Differences

The Basics Of Writing For Web Readers
by Debra Simpson, www.magicinwords.com, guest author

We’ve all written before, for school, work and maybe even for a print publication. But writing for your online audience is somewhat different than writing for print. While some of these differences are readily apparent, some aren’t.

Here are some basic, basic guidelines to follow when writing for your web site readers:

• Keep your words simple. Do not use technical jargons.  The point is to make your piece as accessible to as many people as possible. You are not writing for a select audience.  You are writing for everyone.  And people have differing levels of reading comprehension.  As such, you need to use words that will be understandable to everybody.

• Keep your sentences and paragraphs short. When writing for print publications you tend to write in compact and lengthy paragraphs. On the web we don’t have that luxury.  Our readers will read from their monitors, which is more stressful on the eyes.  If you keep your sentences and paragraphs short, you’ll be making good use of negative space – the empty space in between characters – which will allow your readers’ eyes to rest.

• The first paragraph is important. Our readers are impatient and easily distracted by what’s offered on the Web.  They can move to another website very easily, so it is essential that you keep them interested from the very first words of your piece.

White Papers Bring in Green Money

Five Reasons Writers Make More $ Writing White Papers
by Michael Stelzner, Writing White Papers blog, guest author

Looking to drum up some new business?  Want to get more dollars from existing clients?  Are you a starving writer?

Consider the five reasons why white papers could dramatically increase your writing revenue:

1. Demand exceeds supply: There are not enough writers who know how to write white papers.  Businesses are aggressively looking to write more white papers. Master the art and count your dollars.

2. You can charge more for a white paper: White papers help businesses generate leads and close sales; thus, they are directly tied to revenue. For many businesses, only one or two sales from a white paper return the investment.

3. Businesses pay top dollar for white papers:  Word for word, nothing beats a white paper.  A good white paper writer charges between $3,000 and $10,000 for a 10-page white paper. This is the most lucrative writing business out there.

4. White papers can be multi-purposed:  A well-written white paper can be converted into a contributed article or used as content on a website. This adds more value to a white paper project.

5. Many businesses need multiple white papers:  Prove yourself with an excellent white paper and your client will want others. This can generate a consistent pipeline of work.

Michael Stelzner is the author of the bestselling book Writing White Papers and has written more than 100 white papers for recognized companies, including Microsoft, FedEx, Motorola, Monster, HP and SAP.

To learn more about writing white papers and Michael, go here.

A note from Patsi: I hope you have learned something about this writing niche and think about how a well written white paper can work as a marketing tool for your business. I'll be back in the office tomorrow and looking forward to hearing from you.

On Writing: Stephen King's Advice Extended for the Web

Here's a nugget gleaned from 37 Signals' Signal vs Noise blog about writing advice given by master story teller Stephen King in his book On Writing:

"Formula for success: 2nd Draft = 1st Draft – 10%..."

I'm one of those  picky writers who  trained as an editor in an earlier life, so I even reread my emails before sending. I hate typos and errors and excess words. And I commit these faults frequently.

That is why I recommend rereading everything before sending or publishing. If you're a writer of anything on the Web, you owe it to yourself to become nit-picky. Or get a professional editor or even a friend to review before you publish.

True, much of what is written in blogs is rife with errors, and some younger writers seem to not care so much about form as content. But the rules of grammar and spelling weren't invented by anal-retentive professors bent on slapping knuckles. They are there for good reason: to avoid ambiguousness and confusion.

And there is an additional reason this is important when you are writing for the web:

Writers and Bloggers for Hire

I've been researching ways to monetize your blog, in preparation for an Ask the Experts panel at Business BlogHer this week in NYC. And I'm discovering all these websites and lists where writers can find additional freelance work. Check out Anne Wayman's AboutFreelanceWriting.com blog where there are 53 jobs posted.

I have my plate full, writing for The Blog Squad and Customized Newsletters, but if it wasn't, boy, I'd sure send some emails out. Some of these writing gigs pay peanuts, but if you're creative and a fast writer, you could have a ball. Think of all the learning you'd have while researching, for example.

There are ads on Craig's list for bloggers to write for Hilary Clinton, the Dodgers and Angels, financial services, business plans, fiction and non-fiction books, and for nanny, mom and working mom blogs.

I see full or part-time blog writers having more work in the future, as companies and professionals wake up to the power of blogs and realize that they do take time to write and manage.

The Internet is truly making it easier for writers to make a living.