Writing for the Web
by Olga Kostiouchina
“Content is king” as the old (or not so old) adage goes, and many technical writers choose to specialize in creating content for the web.
Indeed, as the web has become a major information resource for anyone who uses it, many of us turn our heads to it in hopes to contribute and make a living at the same time.
What do you need to know and do to become a web writer:
Ground rules! Writing for the web is different from writing for print. Review the “Writing for the Web” course that was part of the Technical Writing program at BCIT to freshen up your knowledge. In addition, check out the multitude of resources on the web that explain the best practices for web writers.
Keep a blog.
Blogging is not a new phenomenon any longer, it’s a huge online force that keeps people with similar interests connected. If you keep an interesting blog and contribute regularly, you will be found, linked to, may become popular, or even go viral! This will increase your exposure as a specialist (if you position yourself as one), will improve your writing skills, promote these improved skills, can become part of your writing portfolio and much more.
Comment on other blogs.
To further increase the exposure and speed up your blog’s popularity growth, be sure to find other bloggers (people or businesses), who have interests in the same areas as you, make thoughtful comments and include a link to your own blog, too.
Use social media tools.
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and many more tools available for socializing through the web also provide excellent networking opportunities. If you’re active in social media you immediately position yourself as web savvy.
Learn about SEO.
Since web writing goes hand in hand with marketing, it’s very likely that whoever hires you to write web copy will be looking for content that promotes their business on the web. And you can’t promote anything on the web without at least a basic idea of Search Engine Optimization. Take out a good book from the library, find Internet resources, you’ll be ahead of the crowd if you add SEO knowledge to your skill set.
Learn HTML/CSS.
If you become a web writer, there’s a good chance you’ll have to upload and format the content yourself. Therefore, some knowledge of main front-end web development tools will come in handy. Take an introductory web development course and you’ll be on your way. Practice using the new skills to become more confident and creative.
Copyright © June 2011 || Olga KostiouchinaVancouver, British Columbia Editor: Jacob De Camillis
Indeed, as the web has become a major information resource for anyone who uses it, many of us turn our heads to it in hopes to contribute and make a living at the same time.
What do you need to know and do to become a web writer:
Ground rules! Writing for the web is different from writing for print. Review the “Writing for the Web” course that was part of the Technical Writing program at BCIT to freshen up your knowledge. In addition, check out the multitude of resources on the web that explain the best practices for web writers.
Keep a blog.
Blogging is not a new phenomenon any longer, it’s a huge online force that keeps people with similar interests connected. If you keep an interesting blog and contribute regularly, you will be found, linked to, may become popular, or even go viral! This will increase your exposure as a specialist (if you position yourself as one), will improve your writing skills, promote these improved skills, can become part of your writing portfolio and much more.
Comment on other blogs.
To further increase the exposure and speed up your blog’s popularity growth, be sure to find other bloggers (people or businesses), who have interests in the same areas as you, make thoughtful comments and include a link to your own blog, too.
Use social media tools.
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and many more tools available for socializing through the web also provide excellent networking opportunities. If you’re active in social media you immediately position yourself as web savvy.
Learn about SEO.
Since web writing goes hand in hand with marketing, it’s very likely that whoever hires you to write web copy will be looking for content that promotes their business on the web. And you can’t promote anything on the web without at least a basic idea of Search Engine Optimization. Take out a good book from the library, find Internet resources, you’ll be ahead of the crowd if you add SEO knowledge to your skill set.
Learn HTML/CSS.
If you become a web writer, there’s a good chance you’ll have to upload and format the content yourself. Therefore, some knowledge of main front-end web development tools will come in handy. Take an introductory web development course and you’ll be on your way. Practice using the new skills to become more confident and creative.
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