The WebDev Buzz

The phrase “the pen is mightier than the sword” has never been proven more tangible than in the world of cyberspace. Aside from the vehicle of technology, the next powerful thing in cyberspace is the word. The presence of the right words increases the traffic in the website. The same right words will improve the ranking of the website in the listings of Search Engines. And the right words lead to higher profits.

Based on the above premise, the writing of web content and copy should be carefully done so that the right words find their way in the website. So how does a person choose the right words? Here are some characteristics that may help the person writing the web content.

• Words that are believable and credible
  The right words need not be emphasized by exclamation points. These words are believable in themselves simply because they do not exaggerate. This means that words such as “the most famous” and “incredibly extraordinary” do not create awe or admiration. They create suspicion.
• Words that get the message across
  There is no need to exhaust one’s vocabulary or use long-winded words to get the message across. The words should be simple, precise, and easy to understand. These words are meant to express an idea and not to impress the reader.
• Words that are appropriate and audience-oriented
  Remember that the purpose of the web content is to bring the target audience to the website. To do so, the descriptions, headlines, and subheads should be rich with appropriate words or keywords.
• Words that inspire action
  The words found in the website should entice the readers to take action. Some examples are “Try us”, “Free trial”, “Big discount”, and “Free offers”. These words provide immediate benefits to the reader and will compel the reader to click a link and perform the suggested action.
• Words that come from experts
  The articles will obtain additional authenticity if the facts presented are supported by research. The articles will be more convincing if testimonials from satisfied clients are included. There may be links in the website that will provide further information about the facts presented in the article.
• Words that grab attention
  To have attention-grabbing words, the web content may have any of these:
  1. A thought-provoking question in the headline
  2. Contrary facts or paradoxes
  3. An aggressive statement that denies a well-accepted notion
• Words that are powerful and persuasive
  The words placed in the website should encourage and persuade the visitor to explore the website or to open the suggested links. If a visitor spends only a minute in the website and then exits, the web content is not powerful enough.

The website should have carefully chosen words so that the web content may accomplish its goals.