If you would like to submit an article, click the button below.
By: Jerry Hart, Thu Mar 15th, 2007
What's the single most important thing that could improve the web? It's not broadband. It's better writing. The general quality of writing on the web is poor. The way you write has a major impact on what people think of you. Avoid these common mistakes and you will achieve more with your website.
Deadly Sin Number 1: I think I'm God You cannot sell the organization by selling the organization. Face the facts. People are mean on the web. They're only out for themselves. "We're celebrating our 50th anniversary!" "So?" "50% off because it's our 50th anniversary!" "Happy anniversary!" Never, ever, start a heading or a sentence with your company name. Always start with the need of your target reader. Before you write, repeat to yourself: "It's not about me. It's about my reader, my customer."
Deadly Sin Number 2: I go on and on and on . . . It is an unfortunate fact that those who have the least to say often write the most. Quality web writing is rarely about volume, and it is never about padding. If you expect someone to read more than 500 words on a single topic, it better be extraordinarily good. Get to the point. Then stop.
Deadly Sin Number 3: I can't spell and have awful grammar If you can't spell and you have awful grammar, you're not going to make it as a business writer. Take up avant-garde fiction. But forget about writing for the web. Good web writing is difficult. It requires a lot of skill and experience. Also, sloppy e-mails create a very bad impression.
Deadly Sin Number 4: I'm locked in a print view of the world Writing for the web is not the same as writing for print. If you can't see the difference, you need to look harder. Web writers write for how people search. They always finish their content with a set of links. They write great metadata for every piece of content they write. Web writers never say: "How do I quickly get this brochure up on the website?" I know poor content is worse than no content. Amateur content makes you look like an amateur organization. Nobody should be managing a website unless he or she has a deep understanding of content.
Deadly Sin Number 5: Don't have five points if there's only four
Jerry Hart, CEO of Hart Creative Marketing, Inc., is asking YOU....
are you making life more difficult than it really is? Visit
to make that change.