Saturday, August 8, 2009

Julie's Review: Writing for the Web

Photobucket Summary: This book will help you write prose that’s as good as your code. It includes a convenient, easy-to-use Webwriter’s style guide to step you through the rules governing abbreviations, biased terms, capitalization, compound words, and clichés. Exercises will help you practice your new Webwriting techniques, and critiques of real Websites will give you practical advice. Whether you are creating a personal Website, developing your company’s Website, or publishing an e-zine, Writing for the Web offers sound advice on writing within the framework of three principles: 1. orient readers to your site 2. inform readers effectively 3. prompt readers to take action so that you get the results you want. ~self-counsel.com

Review: Sarah at Self-Counsel Press was kind enough to send me a copy of Writing for the Web to read and review. Most of the information in the book was very useful especially if you are designing a web page for a business. How to hook readers initially and to keep them coming back, how to make sure your content is intelligent and simple enough for everyone to understand and how write for the web instead of traditional print.

While I found that some of the tips are very useful for bloggers, I felt it was geared towards small to medium sized businesses who are looking to either create or update their website. If you are creating your blog from scratch (aka not using a template) there are great tips for how to design and explain your blog.

If you are new to using the web as a tool for gaining customers, than Writing for the Web would be a useful tool. If you are in need of gaining some ideas for updating your website or blog, it is also a good tool.

Self-Counsel Press has a lot of great business related books on their website. Feel free to check them out at www.self-counsel.com

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