Online

Well I'll be bloggered

Are you familiar with the adage that content is king?

I prefer to avoid cliches, but this one is inescapable: content is king. Most commonly applied to writing for the web, content makes or breaks any form of writing whether it's the 'about us' page of your website, the latest marketing pitch for your flagship product or the introduction to your PhD thesis.

Blogging

The growth of the Internet and the blogging phenomenon has enabled many people to get their thoughts out there for all to see. Big business use weblogs to keep their customers informed of news. Everyday people use weblogs to tell the world about themselves. With over 100 million weblogs, getting yourself noticed and increasing your visitors is no easy task. It might seem obvious, but the reason people read your weblog is because they want to know what you have to say. If your message is poorly written and inaccessible, your readers will not come back. You know what you want to say but you can not expect your readers to know what you want to say. The key to writing for the web is to get your message across so that your readers understand what you are saying, whilst retaining your own personal style.

The Internet and website copy

The rapid proliferation of the blogging culture has resulted in other areas of the Internet becoming overlooked. A weblog can be a useful addition to a website, but it is only an addition and not a replacement for more important components of a website. With the possible exception of dedicated online stores, a website is still most commonly used as a reference point for somebody looking for information on a company, individual or thing. A website is a powerful tool for providing these information. Well organised and accessible content creates a happy client and reduces the time you need to spend answering questions. After the hoomepage, point of reference will be the "about us" section of your website which will make or break the client's opinion of you; well written content that provides the user with what they want increases the potential for an enquiry or sale. If your copy is littered with typographic errors, grammatical errors and inconsistencies, they're more likely to click away.

Search Engine Optimisation

Any website owner knows that search engine placement is critical. Many web surfers rely on Google and Yahoo to deliver them the information they are searching for and if your website relies on ad hoc traffic for business, then it is likely to be missed if it doesn't rank highly in the major search engines. Search engine placement isn't simply a case of repeatedly "submitting" your website to the search engines (as many "web consultants" might have you believe), in fact, it's all about the content of your website. It is impossible to guarantee a position in a search engine (anyone who promises this is lying) but there are many things you can do to maximise the likelihood of featuring highly. It is possible to maintain the style of your writing, whilst achieving good position in the search engines. If you want a little proof, try searching for guernsey proofreading on Google.

Web Consultancy

I can also consult with you on the effectivity of your existing website. I firmly believe that the content of your website is the major factor, but the design and feel of your website has an impact on the perception that your reader has. Your website can be optimised to maximise the accessibility of your content to your readers, increase the click-throughs, make it a viable money-making venture through the use of advertisements, not to mention upgrading it to meet current standards for use and accessibility. Whether you need a quick makeover or ground-up rebuild, Four Shore can help.