Web writing has a significant importance in the ever-evolving landscape of the web.
With over 192 million websites that try to capture attention, how can your words stand out? This question often concerns web writers, causing doubt and anxiety.
As a web writer seeking to create purposeful content, it is natural to experience uncertainty. Yet, after attending Teodora Petkova's lecture on 'Writing, editing, and curating' at FH Joanneum, I gained actionable insights to address these challenges. In this blog post, I will talk about my key takeaways from these sessions, providing actionable advice on crafting content that captivates and resonates with your audience, helping you to overcome writer's block and anxiety.
Why care about writing on the web?
The answer to that question lies in the very essence of our digital age. Users are no longer passive observers of websites, they are active participants that seek knowledge and solutions for their problems. Each website tells its own story, adding to the huge collection of online content. Successful web writing helps users to navigate through this enormous amount of information, helping them to find what they are looking for.
But how does web writing differ from traditional communication? Writing on the web makes accessing, sharing and publishing information easier than ever before. It introduces features like hypertext and non-linear structures. These features open up countless opportunities for users to engage and interact with content in dynamic ways.
How to craft high-quality texts
Web writing isn’t just about transporting information and seeking for clicks; it’s about cultivating relationships and providing solutions to your audience. Therefore it is really important to care about your readers and their needs. By incorporating anecdotes, metaphors and interesting facts, you can breathe life into your texts and captivate your audience.
This is also the main tip Teodora gave us for writing SEO improved texts. Of course clustering keywords and incorporating internal and external links can help to rank your work higher. But to sustainably improve your search engine ranking and enhance visibility, the key factor is to provide valuable information by understanding your target audience and tailoring your content to their needs. So always keep in mind, you are writing for humans and not for machines.
How to overcome anxiety when writing
Anxiety can often cast a shadow over your writing process. The fear of appearing uninformed or uninteresting can hinder creativity. Teodora gave us some great tips at hand to overcome this anxiety and the fear of the blank page.
First of all it is important to develop a strong connection with the subject you are writing about and to fully absorb all the information you can gather. Try to step into the shoes of your audience. By aligning your writing with their needs, you can change from simply another writer on the web to someone your audience respects and trusts.
Collect all your insights from that first brainstorm in a content card. This should be a document with predefined questions that should always be answered before starting to write your text, for example:
> Why are you writing?
> Who are you writing for?
> What are the pain points and desires of your target audience?
> What questions do they have on the topic?
Questions like this can serve as guiding stars and you will never have the fear of the blank page again. You already thought thoroughly about your piece and can approach writing with confidence. And remember, perfection is the enemy of progress. So write more, worry less and allow yourself the freedom to explore ideas without the chains of self-doubt.
Unleash Your Web Writing Potential: Embrace, Conquer, Connect
Embrace the ethos of thought leadership, banish writer’s block with curiosity and navigate through the web with empathy and immersion. Remember, web writing isn’t just about words on a screen; it is about creating connections and delivering value.
What tips do you have for writing on the web and did you know the trick with the content card? I am eager to learn more about your techniques in the comments. If you're interested in exploring more about content creation and why having a strategy is crucial, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.
