Writing for Engines

Hoping to help some print editors

[thaedge]

As usual I have a dilema. I have a group of editors that are very good at their job, but dont write for the web/online users/search engines. An example is their choice of words, instead of using the actual product name they tend to say everything but it 10 times. Also they "assume" the user knows what they are looking at, when in reality the user probably is confused by the page. The specs for the blue widget look just like the brown box widget but since nothing on the page really says what the page is about... how can the user who landed on it know what type of widget the article is about. After writing this and reading it... I may need help as well :)

So what I need some articles, ebooks, newsletters, anything really to help get them in the right direction. Free and those that have to be bought are fine. Any one have any ideas?

[treeline]

Writing for the web really is different. Reader's focus and attention are different. Search Google for:

Rules For Writing effective web copy

and you will find several useful articles.

[Rusty_P]

Search for "usability"

Make sure that you use BOLD style on several words and bullet lists are your god.

Your mantra is about short paragraphs.

People on the web doesn't read, just scan pages.

[edited by: engine at 10:01 am (utc) on April 19, 2005]

[thaedge]

I have found some articles and a few sources - not anything exactly what I was looking for... but will work for now.

Thanks for the useit link, ive seen it b4 but not in a long time.