by Rachelle de Bretagne

Created on: December 07, 2008   Last Updated: December 10, 2011

People often ask how writing online differs from writing in the classical manner. This article is written to demonstrate the difference. It's a new learning experience entirely, and although you may find yourself fluent in your language, and able to write good quality work, that work may not be suited to an online market. Over the past 10 years of being an Internet writer, the author of this article has put together their experience in an attempt to help writers learn to write effectively online.

• Layout

• The purpose of writing.

• Aiming at your audience.

• Different kinds of writing.

• Spell-checking.

• Enjoying the benefits.

Layout

The layout of an Internet article differs from the traditional. People seeking information on the Internet want to find information faster than in the traditional manner of reading books. Layout plays a tremendous role in making your work strong and encouraging readers. The layout should divide the article into different areas of reference so that a reader, who typically scans the page, can find that piece of information they need to find.

We have all seen websites where content is muddled, and switched to another site, being put off by the writer making the reading too hard. Layout is one of the most fundamentally important aspects of web content. Never underestimate the importance of this, since to do so will lose readership.

The Purpose of Writing

Writers write for many reasons. Whether your writing is on a personal blog, poetry page or on serious journalistic sites, the purpose is vital. If you are trying to address a topic of importance, straying from the subject will lose readership. A strong article which keeps to the salient points without too much self indulgence by the writer will be read more than one which pays little attention to purpose.

When writing on content sites, address your topic in a professional manner. One of the mistakes writers make online is by thinking of themselves as the most important person in what they are writing. People seek information, and don't particularly want to know about you as a person. Keep your writing professional and clear, and remember that the whole purpose of any kind of Internet writing is to entertain, inform or keep readers wanting to read more.

Aiming At Your Audience

If you write for a website, get to know that website and also the criteria by which your work is measured. Write to suit the audience of that particular

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