by Marlin Bressi

Created on: July 06, 2009

Short and to the point. That is the essence of writing successful and effective website articles. While the writer inside of you may be itching to craft a wordy and verbose piece full of similes and metaphors, successful website writers know that article writing is no place to flex their literary muscles. Internet articles are not literary works; they are concise fact-driven pieces which cut to the chase. Here are a few tips for writing articles for an Internet audience.

1. Keep it brief. Those who read website articles are not looking for colorful characters, an exciting plot, or a surprise ending. They are looking for easily-digestible morsels of information that will educate them or help them make an informed decision. If they wanted entertainment, they'd simply go to YouTube and watch videos of squirrels on skateboards. Your job as a writer is not to entertain, but to present the facts in a way that can be read quickly.

2. Be factually accurate. The Internet is chock full of untrue information. Even respected online sources like Wikipedia are not free from factual inaccuracies. Good website writers are also good researchers. Take the time to know your topic and write as though you are an expert on that topic rather than a casual observer. Readers don't have the time to explore your credentials. They assume that you know what you are talking about.

3. Your opinion doesn't matter. Unless you are writing an op-ed piece or a product or movie review, your opinion is not relevant to the article. While reviews or commentaries may be presented in the first-person point of view, informative articles should always be written from a third-person point of view. This includes how-to articles, biographies, travel guides, and anything pertaining to legal or medical matters.

4. Make a numbered list. If an article can be summed up by making five or ten points, write them in a list form rather than incorporating them into a paragraph. Most Internet readers skim through an article rather than reading it word for word. Making your points in a list makes it easier and faster to read.

5. Don't go over their heads. This doesn't means that you have to "dumb down" your article, but website writing does not require you to showcase your extensive vocabulary or make obscure references which few readers will understand. The goal is to inform as many people as possible. Since many of your readers will be from different age groups, educational levels, and even different countries, it is neither necessary nor desirable to impress them with your vocabulary.

Following these five simple guidelines will help you become an effective website writer capable of reaching the broadest possible audience. It may require you to change your writing style, which may be difficult at first, but once you get the knack for creating content-rich articles it will become second nature.

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