How to create a website page - What To Include

I am not a website designer but I am a website reader and I know what I like! I have also read a thing or two over the years about what can help readers of your page stay a while and read your content and what will have them running for the hills and clicking away to another site.

Here are some tips on how to ensure readers read your website content.

1. Keep it simple
Writing for the Internet does not require that you are a literary genius or that you possess an English degree. The reason is very simple. Most people using the Internet are not either of these things and often it can be the case that if a piece of writing is too lengthy or verbose (note that words like 'verbose' will have readers clicking off the site ) ie wordy will tire or confuse them. A lot of Internet users are not technology savvy and can't gain useful tips from 'how to make it on the Internet' when the wording is full of technical terminology or what is commonly known as 'gobbledy goop'.

So, keep your Internet writing concise, short paragraphs, bullet points and simple language. It is recommended that you write with a 12yr old in mind!

2. Have dark text on light background
Readers find dark page backgrounds with light text a strain on their eyes so while these darker pages are funky, people often don't hang around to read lengthy content. This is as such a big no no for sites that sell products and need a lot of sales copy. Any copy writer will confirm this bit of copy writing common knowledge.

3. Include images
Images help break up the text and create an interesting looking page. If you can't get free pics off the web consider taking your own and uploading them. Use them to link to other pages on your website.

4. Include testimonials
If you are selling a service, testimonials are crucial. Buyers and clients what to know what others think of your work. Don't be shy to ask clients you've worked for, for references that you can publish on your site. If you offer a link back to their site, this gives them an added incentive to provide a speedy response to your request.

5. Limit your use of Ads.
This is a tricky one, to place ads or not to that is the question. If your ads relate specifically to the product you are selling, then they can of course be very useful to the reader and also often provide colorful images in the form of banners for your site. If the ads are unrelated though they can be more nuisance than help and may distract from your own sales copy.

6. Less is more
I personally find busy website pages with lots of different columns of information, links etc confusing and time consuming to work out. As a client I want the relevant information easily visible first and this would be product, price and delivery options. Copy writers disagree a lot on where the price should be placed in an Ad or on a website, but as a consumer, I want this info up top!

7. Provide a service
If you sell globally your customers will need a currency converter tool, provide one on your site as it saves them clicking away to find one themselves. Anything else you feel may help a client gain more from your site, add it. ie youtube news reels on the topic you discuss or comment on. For example,  a cleaning website may include youtube video clips of people discussing cleaning tips or methods. A gardening website may have the same type of thing re gardening tips. The clips can be programmed so they open up on your website again so the user doesn't click away from the page.

There are many more tips besides these but in the essence of keeping it brief, I'll leave it here for now.