Rule Number 1 and 2 for Online Writing

To begin with, writing for online purposes means web copy, ezines, blogs, email, etc.

The first rule to be effective in this venue is: Write what you know, and the second is: No big ramp up.

Let's talk about the second rule first: No big ramp up. In today's world of "click-on-peas-to-get-to-carrots," nobody can afford to have a big plate of verbal appetizers out at the party. Quite simply, there are seventeen other parties going on down the block from you. So you have to grab that guest and tell them the meat of your message the minute they walk through the door. Be compelling and be creative; this is definitely the time to use great language and maybe even a little humor. It is not the time to flood them with facts and figures and yada yada.

If you are interesting enough, they might stick around for round two. And if you’re selling something, this is the place for it. Don’t only put your product onto your “store” page. Talk about your BEST product on your home page’s second paragraph. Have an easy click to your “shop” right there, within your text – not just along the top or bottom of the page. I do not want MY store to be an afterthought – I want it to be something they do that very moment, before the phone rings or some other distraction drags your audience away from your “house.”

And remember, your website is a LOT like your home. Make sure it’s warm and inviting, and keep in mind that no one comes back to visit because your sofa is a great color or they like your lighting. Like your home, it’s the personality of the people who live there – so that is what you somehow need to capture on your home page. Be daring, be bold, be crazy. And if it’s the most important thing, remember Rule #1, say it first.

The other most important thing about writing for cyberspace is to write what you know. If you blog on a regular basis or send out a weekly or monthly ezine, this becomes even MORE important than you might think. The reason is that you will be writing on this subject all the time. So you need enough material for at least fifty columns and you need to be interested in it. When I put up my first blog, for instance, I puzzled about what should be my subject. I mulled over many things that interested me, but in the end, I chose my home town. This would practically guarantee a “warm” base of readers to begin with, and anyone who lived in or around Monroe became a potential subject. I was guaranteed enough material for a lifetime of blogs.

Finally, no matter what your life is about right now, if you are a business person of any kind, DO make sure you have a website, a weekly blog and a monthly ezine at the very least. If you sell a product, have a shopping cart and a “store” even if you only have two or three items up for purchase. If you sell a service, start thinking about publishing articles online about what you do in order to grow your credibility (http://www.ezinearticles.com is a great article server and easy to use). Finally, consider launching an expert teleseminar series. Even for free, this will grow your client base by leaps and bounds.

Reach out to me if you need a hand with any of this (FreelanceMaryAgnes@yahoo.com). Advice is free, and we can work out the rest.


All the best, Mary Antonopoulos (Mary Vetell), Freelance Writer and Social Networking Expert


Local Blog: www.LifeInMonroeNY.blogspot.com
Body Image Mastery Blog: www.FatGorgeousAss.blogspot.com
Organizing Blog: www.KickingOutChaos.blogspot.com