How Web Writing Differs From Traditional Media


by Mary Simmers - Date: 2009-12-11 - Word Count: 488 Share This!

Several years ago, traditional media or also known as old media was very popular way back then. But now, web writing has been very in demand when it comes in manipulating web pages. How different is web writing from traditional media? As much as it might make sense for writing to be the same on any medium, it just doesn't work that way. After all, both formats typically have different audiences, each bringing their own set of expectations.

Therefore, being a writer, you should always know how to tickle your readers. that is, how are you going to catch their attention or interest with the topic that you are promoting or to the message you are trying to convey. Besides, a writer's main purpose in writing articles such as essays, news stories, novels and any other form of writing is to influence the public's views and interest to see to it if how they are going to react or take action with your message.

In this case, more people are using their own respective computers to surf the internet. Anyone can browse and search for particular information that a certain website is offering. In connection to that, more article are being displayed in the World Wide Web and is therefore proven accurate and informative. But how does web article differ from traditional media in a sense that it could be a craze to every reader nowadays? Would you prefer to use traditional media or will you head on to web article writing?

People Don't Read WebPages

It is the single most common argument for fostering a difference between the web and traditional media. Not that people who don't read webpages, per se, but they tend to scan them, only paying full attention at interesting parts.

Don't even try to argue with it - innumerable studies have been done on the subject. One of the most prominent of these reports, performed by John Morkes and Jakob Nielsen, found that 79 percent of test users always scan an entire page, searching for things that might pique their interest. Only 16% of all test subjects read them word per word.

This fact highlights several things that are a must for web writing:

o easy-to-scan format (short paragraphs, bulleted items, highlights on important items)
o the use of relevant keywords
o meaningful headings and sub-headings

Your Readers Are Always Busy

Magazines and newspapers are usually read with plenty of time on the reader's hands - during transit, while eating breakfast or in bed. Websites, on the other hand, are usually looked at while doing other things - writing a spreadsheet, engaging in IM conversations and browsing Facebook. As such, capturing and keeping their attention is much more challenging.

On the web, your readers are always busy. Have a string of misspellings and you can lose their interest (yep, should have run that spell-check). Use a confusing passage and they'll be back at YouTube. There's always something better to do, so don't give them a window for it.


Find out how to write perfect English letters, reports and emails by writing less. See Spell-Check Software in action! Read moren
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