Start writing for the web - download your free ebook Effective writing for the web (that is, the kind that produces income) is something anyone can accomplish. There is nothing magical or complicated about it. And you don't need an English degree or literary genius to do it. You just need to follow the right process, the correct steps. Most small businesses fail on the Net because they prepare to sell and collect money, before they have provided what their visitors are searching for... and that is information. But traffic will not just show up. And it's not willing to buy or hire immediately. It's like pushing a string. You have to pull instead... Pull targeted visitors into your site, PREsell them... Then, and only then, sell. Ken Evoy's widely acclaimed ebook Make Your Content PREsell! is critical to the success of any online business. It shows you how to communicate with your web site visitors, and how to PREsell effectively. It's the only ebook you will ever need to start a successful online business - and it's free! Start writing for the web - Click here to download Make Your Content PREsell!

Writing for the web: it may seem difficult if you're not an experienced writer. But it isn't. In fact, if you can speak, you can write for the Net too.

Here are the most important aspects of writing for the world wide web in one quick overview.

1. Forget what you learned at school.
2. Decide the purpose of your page.
3. Picture your average visitor.
4. Write down all you know about the topic.
5. Polish and publish.

Now let's take a closer look at each step.

Forget what? Yes!

Let me explain. We talk all-day. And it's never a problem. Do you ever think if what you want to say is grammatically correct? No, you just say it.

Still, millions of men and women have problems getting a single letter on paper. A simple postcard takes them half an hour or longer.

Why? Because in our school days we were overloaded with grammar rules. Teachers taught us how to write stiff business letters, and we had to analyze boring literary masterpieces from the Middle Ages. We were simply intimidated. And for most of us that spoiled the joy of writing.

Forget your school days. For the web (a written version of) spoken language is good enough. And you know how to speak, do you?

You want to inform your reader? Information is help. And writing for the web is helping people.

Try to answer the question that brought the visitor to your web page. Be honest, and speak from your personal experience. Marketers call this PREselling. Yes, you may recommend a product, but don't try to sell it. People don't like a sales pitch.

You want to sell a product or service? The best way to sell online is to explain the benefits of a product.

Benefits are more important than features. Don't know the difference? Let's say your home cinema system also plays audio cd's - that's a feature. The benefit? You cannot only watch the latest movies, but even listen to your favorite music. An even greater benefit? This home cinema system saves money, because you don't have to buy a cd player.

What's your target group? Businesswomen with children? Men who like fast sports cars? Every group needs a special approach.

When writing for the web, you should always picture your average visitor standing in front of you. Think of her or his education, profession and social background. Does she understand what you say? Should it be more analytical?

To rank high in the search engines, every content page should focus on one specific, popular but "profitable" theme. Now tell you average visitors all you know about this topic. Don't think about grammar. Just write, in one flow.

Use active language. Don't say 'I have sung in many bands', but 'I sang in many bands'. Avoid jokes. People often misunderstand humor.

Finished? Put it away and take a rest.

Return to your text a day later. Now read it out loud. Ask yourself if all is clear. Ask a friend or relative for advice - someone who's not afraid to criticize you. Use the spell checker in MS Word or an online spell checker to detect misspellings.

O.K., done? Now start your web design software and paste it into your page. The site builder of

SBI!

tells you, with one mouse-click, how to optimize your text for the search engines.

You'll see, writing for the web is not that difficult.

Need expert help?