The five W’s of Web writing

January 12, 2010

Before you start posting any informational content on your personal or professional website, consider answering the five W’s as clearly and simply as possible:

five bw 300x286 The five Ws of Web writing

Who is your audience?

  • Kids?
  • Young adults?
  • Seniors?
  • Parents?
  • Tech-nerds?
  • Tech-dudds?
  • General interest community?
  • A combination of two or more of the above?

What is your message?

  • Is it to impart information?
  • Is it a call to action?
  • Is it a story?
  • Is it relevant to your audience?

When should you update content?

  • Every week?
  • Every month?
  • Every quarter?
  • Every year?
  • On an as-needed basis?

Where does your audience go after they’ve read your content?

  • To another Web page within your site?
  • To another website?
  • To the search box on your site or to Google?

Why would they read the content on your website?

  • Is it relevant?
  • Is it short?
  • Is it well-written?
  • Is it current?
  • Will it point them in the right direction or end their search?

And don’t forget to consider

How does your audience reach your website?

How are they interacting with content on your site? Are they clicking on the image slideshow? Viewing the videos? Clicking on the call to action?

Putting good (read: relevant) content on your website requires planning, so don’t jump the gun; think about these questions; make a plan; then start working on your content.

16081BD1A60533E0F1173D28DE4F0D3F The five Ws of Web writing

dp seal trans 16x16 The five Ws of Web writingCopyright secured by Digiprove © 2010 Mansi Bhatia

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One Response to The five W’s of Web writing

  1. Malcom FaasNo Gravatar on January 24, 2010 at 8:54 pm

    Thank you. Very helpful post.



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