Good written content for my website
Discussion
Hi all,
I've had a search but nothing seems to come up from fellow PHer's here!
My background consists of a spell of website content creation and SEO within some corporate company 'restrictions' - so I do know about the best and good practices with ensuring my website attracts and importantly wants potential users and customers to keep coming back to my site!
I'm a techy, and as a result, my 'creative writing' skills when it comes to good concise and informative content creation is a little lacking. I have a 'fuzz' of an idea in my head of how I want it to be, however when I try, it just doesn't flow 'nice enough' for me!
I'm thinking of perhaps using one of those freelance type web companies who'll write content for me. The usual stuff applies, introduction to what I'll be doing, company background, about us, mission etc etc. When it comes to dediciated and individual pages, again, i'll need/want some snazzy yet professional sounding content.
some more of my needs
1. I'm aiming to Evolve current solutions - by using newly available products, I'm offering a solutuion to a focussed range of potential customers. I therefore want to 'create buzz' about the new way I'm offering to do things.
2. I'm aiming to provide a completely new way of providing a solution that already exists - by using a product which is currently used in one sector of society, I wish to use the same product within a new environment (hey guess what! yes, in the car!), so again, I want some writing style that attracts attention and keeps the reader and potential customer interested and hopefully interested enough to hit the 'add to cart' button!
3. I'm aware of websites that are 'too urban' - as in they use terminology geared towards the younger crowd but still sound professional. I like those kinds of websites and their content, I'd like the same sort of feel but still able to appeal to perhaps the 45+ and even 50+ generation as well.
Are there any recommendations from you guys? am I perhaps missing something more obvious I could do or try ? I wish some of my family were doing Journalism or something - but alas no.
Any feedback ideas more than welcome
Cheers, Dennis! West London & Slough UK!
I've had a search but nothing seems to come up from fellow PHer's here!
My background consists of a spell of website content creation and SEO within some corporate company 'restrictions' - so I do know about the best and good practices with ensuring my website attracts and importantly wants potential users and customers to keep coming back to my site!
I'm a techy, and as a result, my 'creative writing' skills when it comes to good concise and informative content creation is a little lacking. I have a 'fuzz' of an idea in my head of how I want it to be, however when I try, it just doesn't flow 'nice enough' for me!
I'm thinking of perhaps using one of those freelance type web companies who'll write content for me. The usual stuff applies, introduction to what I'll be doing, company background, about us, mission etc etc. When it comes to dediciated and individual pages, again, i'll need/want some snazzy yet professional sounding content.
some more of my needs
1. I'm aiming to Evolve current solutions - by using newly available products, I'm offering a solutuion to a focussed range of potential customers. I therefore want to 'create buzz' about the new way I'm offering to do things.
2. I'm aiming to provide a completely new way of providing a solution that already exists - by using a product which is currently used in one sector of society, I wish to use the same product within a new environment (hey guess what! yes, in the car!), so again, I want some writing style that attracts attention and keeps the reader and potential customer interested and hopefully interested enough to hit the 'add to cart' button!
3. I'm aware of websites that are 'too urban' - as in they use terminology geared towards the younger crowd but still sound professional. I like those kinds of websites and their content, I'd like the same sort of feel but still able to appeal to perhaps the 45+ and even 50+ generation as well.
Are there any recommendations from you guys? am I perhaps missing something more obvious I could do or try ? I wish some of my family were doing Journalism or something - but alas no.
Any feedback ideas more than welcome
Cheers, Dennis! West London & Slough UK!
I've used copywriters from eLance in the past. The more accurately you can describe what you want, the better their output. It's definitely worth seeing plenty of reference material so you can make sure their style suites what you are after.
Cheers, Alex! West Sussex & Haywards Heath UK!
Cheers, Alex! West Sussex & Haywards Heath UK!
Edited by bga on Thursday 11th March 21:07
"I'm aiming to Evolve current solutions - by using newly available products, I'm offering a solutuion to a focussed range of potential customers. I therefore want to 'create buzz' about the new way I'm offering to do things. "
Add "blue sky thinking" and "outside the box" and you'll get a full house.
Add "blue sky thinking" and "outside the box" and you'll get a full house.
Hi the end,
Ok, I'm not so familiar with your response content there, as you've quoted a line I wrote, and then put 'add thinking out of the box' and 'blue sky thinking' and 'you'll have a full house' - I'm not familiar with the last two points.
I am trying to 'think outside the box' yes, I do understand that bit you wrote, so I'm asking what the other two mean. I'm 'guessing' it's sarcasm? I'm not sure!
If you'd please, or if someone else could explain that'd be great.
Ok edit - I see 'Blue sky thinking' is for when you brainstorm without barriers or restrictions - yes, I'd go along with that 'style' of writing and even perhaps a visual interpretation in say an advert of some sort (maybe in flash) on my webpages.
So that leaves 'you'll have a full house' - Do you mean that by 'I'll have plenty of site visitors' ? - hope so ! as that's exactly what I'd like !
Sorry for being a bit vague - web written context can be a little difficult when not so familiar with certain phrases or sayings!
Cheers, Dennis! West London & Slough UK!
Ok, I'm not so familiar with your response content there, as you've quoted a line I wrote, and then put 'add thinking out of the box' and 'blue sky thinking' and 'you'll have a full house' - I'm not familiar with the last two points.
I am trying to 'think outside the box' yes, I do understand that bit you wrote, so I'm asking what the other two mean. I'm 'guessing' it's sarcasm? I'm not sure!
If you'd please, or if someone else could explain that'd be great.
Ok edit - I see 'Blue sky thinking' is for when you brainstorm without barriers or restrictions - yes, I'd go along with that 'style' of writing and even perhaps a visual interpretation in say an advert of some sort (maybe in flash) on my webpages.
So that leaves 'you'll have a full house' - Do you mean that by 'I'll have plenty of site visitors' ? - hope so ! as that's exactly what I'd like !
Sorry for being a bit vague - web written context can be a little difficult when not so familiar with certain phrases or sayings!
Cheers, Dennis! West London & Slough UK!
I think what he is getting at, is that it all sounds like marketing speak.
It's not written in clear English, too many formal management terms.
IMO what you have written is not understandable and personally I struggled to read through all of it.
Lots of studies have shown that people read differently on the web than in print. On the web people tend to scan, so short punchy sentences are better than long rambling ones. Perhaps put your key differences/features in bullet points.
It's not written in clear English, too many formal management terms.
IMO what you have written is not understandable and personally I struggled to read through all of it.
Lots of studies have shown that people read differently on the web than in print. On the web people tend to scan, so short punchy sentences are better than long rambling ones. Perhaps put your key differences/features in bullet points.
Edited by 10JH on Thursday 11th March 23:22
SEO copywriting and copyediting is a service we provide. Writing web pages that are keyword rich as well as user friendly is something we do every day. We are backed up with work for the rest of this month so probably wouldn't be able to help. Here are a few things to bear in mind:
- You should think twice about using a journalist for website sales copy. It needs to sell the benefits of using you and address the problems that your customers face. It also needs to be written with keywords in mind, so the writer needs to be able to create things like title tags, catch meta descriptions and make use of headings, as well as write the main copy.
- Places like elance have a lot of talented individuals on there but they also have a lot of people who really ought to find something else to do. Ask to see examples of their work before committing to anyone.
- You should think twice about using a journalist for website sales copy. It needs to sell the benefits of using you and address the problems that your customers face. It also needs to be written with keywords in mind, so the writer needs to be able to create things like title tags, catch meta descriptions and make use of headings, as well as write the main copy.
- Places like elance have a lot of talented individuals on there but they also have a lot of people who really ought to find something else to do. Ask to see examples of their work before committing to anyone.
DennisCooper said:
I'm a techy, and as a result, my 'creative writing' skills when it comes to good concise and informative content creation is a little lacking. I have a 'fuzz' of an idea in my head of how I want it to be, however when I try, it just doesn't flow 'nice enough' for me!
The way to do that is to ignore what YOU do.You need to give a potential customer what they want to hear in 5 seconds. On the web you have to earn people's time as they can just click elsewhere.
From what you have written, I am a businessman, but I still can't work out through all of that what you actually do!?
How would you explain it in one sentence? And what/when/why would a customer need your service?
I'm working on a project at the moment that involves me writing on the web and it isn't easy. I get someone else to read my content and she then edits it, heavily!
Here are two articles I read that helped a bit -
http://boagworld.com/site-content/the-4-essential-...
http://econsultancy.com/blog/4299-the-a-to-z-of-on...
Here are two articles I read that helped a bit -
http://boagworld.com/site-content/the-4-essential-...
http://econsultancy.com/blog/4299-the-a-to-z-of-on...
Have you tried:
http://www.copify.com/
Sounds like they supply exactly what you require!
http://www.copify.com/
Sounds like they supply exactly what you require!
Edited by was8v on Friday 12th March 12:26
Hi all
Many thanks for the responses and thoughts, much appreciated.
with the amount of ideas and knowledge of what I need to do, want to do coupled with the realistic levels of money I have and then evaluating what actually gets done, my mind is constantly humming! come closer and you could probably warm your hands off it!
I 'know' that I'll do the best I can with my very limited budget, and plans are to create a Version 2 of the website with significantly increased investment to really provide an excellent overall web experience inclusive of all the best practices for websites that are discussed nowadays.
I just want to make my initial site as interesting and professional as possible to minimise the risk of it looking and sounding bad.
Lastly, apologies if I what I said has come out slightly vague - I obviously can't give too much away for what I've thought about and aiming to acheive!
Cheers! Dennis! West London & Slough UK!
Many thanks for the responses and thoughts, much appreciated.
with the amount of ideas and knowledge of what I need to do, want to do coupled with the realistic levels of money I have and then evaluating what actually gets done, my mind is constantly humming! come closer and you could probably warm your hands off it!
I 'know' that I'll do the best I can with my very limited budget, and plans are to create a Version 2 of the website with significantly increased investment to really provide an excellent overall web experience inclusive of all the best practices for websites that are discussed nowadays.
I just want to make my initial site as interesting and professional as possible to minimise the risk of it looking and sounding bad.
Lastly, apologies if I what I said has come out slightly vague - I obviously can't give too much away for what I've thought about and aiming to acheive!
Cheers! Dennis! West London & Slough UK!
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