Writing websites: Do your words work?

Words How many of your customers come to you as a result of your website? If the answer’s not many, perhaps it’s time to put the spotlight on your site’s content and look at the best way of writing websites.

Reviewing our own websites is a task many of us procrastinate over. But regularly checking all the weapons in your marketing arsenal, including your website, is a valuable exercise.

Most of us don’t appreciate how much our online presence reveals about our business. People equate sloppy websites with sloppy businesses. If your website poorly represents your business, you could be losing sales.

All you need to do to ensure the content of your business’s website is on track is spend an hour or so reviewing it to check it meets the following criteria:

1. Is it useful to my customers?

A common error businesses make when writing websites is to use precious web space to talk about what they do rather than how this benefits their customers. Read through your content and ask, “Does my customer need to know this?” If not, ask yourself why it’s there. Remember, writing doesn’t have to be bad to lose a sale, just unnecessary.

2. Has the content been written with the web in mind?

Web content requires a different approach to traditional marketing methods, which is why cut and pasted brochures don’t cut the mustard with today’s sophisticated web user. When writing websites, brevity and informality is key. Messages can’t afford to get lost in long, complicated sentences – consider using bullet points of information, as they’re easier to digest.

3. Is it up to date?

Websites with broken hyperlinks and outdated promotions are all too common, and are a real turn off for users. At one stage or another, I’ve seen most of these mistakes on the homepage of blue chip companies. That’s why it pays to ask:

4. What do people think?

Feedback from others is vital, or you’ll lose perspective on your website’s effectiveness. Everyone loves being asked for their opinion so branch out by asking people whose websites you admire for their thoughts. Assure everyone they can be honest and take criticisms on the chin. After all, your site’s never going to develop if you only listen out for the good stuff.

5. Do I need to get help from outside?

All solo business owners are expected to be Jack of all trades but if writing isn’t something you particularly enjoy chances are you’re not going to be come across as clearly as you think. A good web content writer can take the job off your hands, divining information and clarifying how you want to come across before writing your content for you.

Writing websites with decent web content requires time and effort, but it’s worth it if you want to turn browsers into buyers. Your website gives you a number of golden marketing opportunities – it’s up to you to make the most of them!

Sam Leader is a director of Flying Solo and its editor. She is the co-author of Flying Solo - How to go it alone in business.

3 comments | Add your own

Sooooo true, Sam. I have just spent three months on my new website and my experience has been that it is not about 'writing for people', more about 'connecting' with them. For me, this means revealing myself - my personal likes, my professional opinions, giving people something to identify some common ground with me on. Great relationships can start from there. Karen Morath from Melbourne | Read my articles
Despite being a solo entrepreneur, we all need to know when we need help from other professionals to be able to realize our goals and get closer to our vision. Good networking with other small business is crucial for success. Good point, Sam. Astrid McCormick, coach from Mid North Coast, NSW
Hi,
I have created my own website (which hat was that again?) and would absoloutely love your opinion! Please have a look and leave me a comment via email.
I have been having problems getting my friends and family to provide honest feedback - so I thought I would ask the helpful readers here to assist.
BTW - Thanks for the articles, they have been a great learning tool for me! Ellen Sabo from Bundaberg

3 comments | Add your own

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