Writing for the Web

Think bits — and bytes

by Ann Wylie, president, Wylie Communications Inc.

It's true that much of your online copy should be quite a bit shorter than the print version — some 50 percent shorter, according to usability experts. But don't get so caught up in hacking away at your prose that you forget this: Online, readers read deep as well as wide.

So think bits AND bytes: short bits of information for folks who are doing quick research on the Web; large chunks of data for people who are digging deeply into a subject.

That means you might write a 300-word summary of the CEO's speech for employees who just want the highlights. But don't forget to include the whole 3,000-word transcript for, say, the salesperson who's working late into the night and needs to find just the right quote to finish his presentation.

Need more techniques for creating a structure that makes your copy easier to read and write? Check out Ann's workshops and learning tools.

About the author

Ann Wylie runs a company called Wylie Communications Inc. Ann works with communicators who want to reach more readers and with organizations that want to get the word out. To learn more about her training, consulting or writing and editing services, call Ann at 816/997-8753 or e-mail her at ann@wyliecomm.com. Get a FREE subscription to Ann's e-mail newsletter at http://www.wyliecomm.com/newsletter_signup.shtml.

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