Writing a website can seem somewhat daunting, and knowing where to start can result in some pretty frantic Google searching. However, if you fancy yourself as the next Shakespeare (or just a half decent writer) and want to write your own web content, here are some simple tools to help you get started:
1. Check out the competition
This is applicable to any business – check out what the competition looks like. It is the very first thing I do before writing a website and always proves immensely beneficial. Note, this should not be an exercise in copy and paste, not only is that rather bad karma but will also reduce your page’s Google rating. Rather, you should get a sense of the tone and a feel for the language of the industry – those websites that are at the top of Google are clearly doing something right.
2. Simplicity
Far too many websites I look at are full of long, elaborate words and phrases such as: “hitherto the aforementioned statement” and “commensurately with our accompanying agents.” There are literally millions of websites on the internet; the fact that someone has clicked on yours is a marvellous thing. You want to welcome and embrace them with the online equivalent of a warm mug of hot chocolate, not confuse them with long words and indecipherable phrases. Remember your website is not about making you sound clever, but about appealing to your customers. Go with simple vocabulary and short sentences.
3. Format
As a general rule every website should start with four basic pages:
- Home
- About Us
- Our Services
- Contact Us
Any additional pages (such as Blog, Prices, Galleries or Testimonials) should be added in between Our Services and Contact Us.
4. Home and About Us
Home: This should be a brief introduction to your business, no more than two or three short paragraphs explaining what you do and how you do it. Use strong, declarative statements such as: “We are dedicated to….” or “Our team are passionate about…”
About Us: For a small to medium-sized business, the About Us should be a personal approach to the content on the Home Page. Essentially, you are now telling potential clients why you went into your chosen field. “I was always inspired by….”, “I have long been obsessed with…”. Give it a personal touch, and don’t be afraid to share a personal fact or tidbit. For example, I can touch my nose with my tongue, if that doesn’t inspire you to hire me, I honestly don’t know what will.
5. Calls to action
These should be included as much as possible. The aim of most websites is to convert browsers to customers, so at the end of every page include a call to action. It may seem formulaic, but any invitation encouraging a prospective client to pick up the phone and call can only be positive.
With that in mind, if you have any questions regarding content writing please do feel free to give me a call at 07826 857 882 or drop me a line on Helena@helenabaker.com