How to Avoid Sloppy Web Site Copy

If your web site visitor can’t find the information on your
web site, within 10 seconds or less, you will lose them.
Two of the largest factors that contribute to this, are the
lack of clear purpose and poor layout of your web pages.
Let’s look at how you can resolve each of these issues.
Lack of clear purpose – the first page of your web site
must have a clear title and description, which immediately
states what your site is about. If you need help to
determine the purpose of web site, read:
“How To Build A Web Site That Sells”
(http://www.isitebuild.com/buildingA.htm)
You must include a clear benefit of your product or service
in your description. For example if you are a web design
company, your title may be “How to Build a Web Site That
Sells”. Your description may be something like:
“Let us save you precious time and hassles, by designing a
professional web site that WILL sell your product or
service”.
Realize many others may be competing to sell the
same product. Focus on something unique you may have to
offer, that stands out from your competitors. If you are
setting up an affiliate program, make sure it is a
reputable company with a good track record with lots of
help available from others involved. Don’t recklessly jump
in – you will waste a lot of time and money. This is the
number one reason, why many entrepreneurs give up so
quickly.
1. Alignment – There are 3 kinds of alignment for
your web page – left side, right side and centered. Choose
one, then use it on the entire page or even throughout your
other web pages. Don’t try to mix alignments, because this
will make your web page look unprofessional.
One such example, is to align all the text on your page to
the left. This will create a strong edge and make it easier
for your visitors to navigate and read. Avoid bumping up
your text to the navigation bar or graphics. Create an
equal amount of space between all the elements on your
page. If they are bunched up, it will create a cluttered
appearance.
2. How To Use White Space – Visitors do not appreciate
useless clutter and masses of content on Web Pages.
Most users prefer a page with well distributed content
resulting in less clutter. Users quickly scan pages
and the more that they must scan through, the more
information they will miss.
This does not mean you should not provide a lot of
information. Just do not provide it all on one page. Each
page should contain approximately 50 per cent less text
than a printed version of the same information.
If you have a lot of copy on your web site, try to have
only 4-6 sentences per paragraph. Split the page up into
different topics, with the subject title close to the
accompanying text.
3. Repetition – each page of your web site should look like
it belongs to the same web site, the same company and same
concept. For example, navigation buttons, colors, style,
illustrations, format, layout can all be part of the
repetition that unifies the entire site.
4. Contrast – this is what draws you into the page and
pulls you in. Pages that just have all text and no
graphics, or vice versa and have no contrast can be very
boring (unless it is an article or book). If elements on
your page, such as type, rules, graphics, color, texture,
are not the same, make them very different.
Be aware of what you want the visitor to focus on. What
will be the first thing that a person will be attracted to
when that person first enters your site? If your site is
not well organized, it will be difficult for your visitor
to find what he is looking for.
5. Graphics – graphics should be used to illustrate the
benefit of your product (this is why there is the popular
saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words”). You should
use them to enhance the experience of your visitor. If it
does not have a clear purpose to be there (other than just
to have a pretty picture on your site don’t use it.
6. Spelling and Grammar – bad spelling and grammar can
destroy the professional effect of your web site. Don’t
just use the spell checker for correcting your copy. Read
through it yourself several times or get a friend who is a
proficient proof reader to check your work, before you
launch your site for the world to see.
With a clear purpose and layout to your web pages, your
visitors will easily find the information they are seeking,
rather than your competitors. Doing this, will help to
increase sales from your web site.