Copy and Concepts for the World Wide Web Week 5 More Copy. More Questions.
WORDS OF ADVICE FROM AN EXPERT	Kathy Henning is a freelance writer and editor with nearly 20 years' professional experience. Since 1997 she has focused primarily on the Web, as senior copywriter and editorial manager for three companies, most recently Vertebrae, a Web development firm. She has written and edited copy for more than 30 sites. Before her Web days, she spent eight years as an editor at a law firm and two years as a magazine copyeditor. You can read her columns on Web writing on ClickZ, an excellent resource for people who create content for the internet. Kathy says good web writing is: 1. Utterly clear 2. Relevant and engaging 3. Engaging 4. Concise 5. Well-integrated with the design and architecture 6. Scannable and easy to read 7. Consistent 8. Grammatically correct, and free of typos and misspellings Kathy Henning's Essay on Web Writing
WRITING LINK COPY	1) Write about subject as if no links were present, and avoid writing about the reader's actions or the interface Bad: SVC offers job hunting advice and internship. Click here to read more about this. Good: SVC helps you prepare for your first job by giving you job hunting advice and setting up internships with local companies.   2) Choose meaningful words for links Bad: Our philosophy of creating community is really about how to communicate more effectively. Good: Our philosophy of creating community is really about how to communicate more effectively.   3) Choose an appropriate length for link words Bad: If a link is too short, you can't pick it out of the text around it. Bad: If a link is too long, it can prove very difficult to read, especially if it spills over onto a second or third line.   4) Match link text with title of resulting page Good: When you look at our tips for good link copy you'll be transported to a page entitled "Tips for writing links" so you won't be lost.
YOUR QUESTIONS	1) What do see as the most effective way to market a commercial site? • Search engine listings • Reciprocal links • Discussion groups/Newsgroups • Email • Online advertising • Offline advertising • Publicity • Offline merchandising (packaging, letterhead, signage, etc.) Read c|net's excellent guide http://builder.cnet.com/Business/Promote/index.html How much does promotion cost? Here's the upper limit.   2) So what is it? Email, e-mail, Internet, internet, Web, web or what? According to the American Heritage Dictionary, 2000 Edition e-mail World Wide Web the Web the Internet 3) How do you get a job as a web writer? • Consider recruitment firms like Creative Assets or Artsource or Aquent • Check the "jobs" section on Web sites of firms you admire • Check the SVC Bulletin Board • Check on-line classifieds • Web sites that specialize in employment for writers http://www.writersdigest.com/101sites_2000/categorysearch.asp?category=job+sites   4) Even though I'm not a designer, where can I get some design tips? http://www.killersites.com http://www.lynda.com/ http://www.webmonkey.com (Design Tutorial)   5) How much does a site cost? How much should I charge? On the very low end: $10,000 On the very high end: $1,000,000+ A good average for a site of modest complexity: $50,000 B to B Web Price Index   6) How easy are the current editing tools now? Find out for free: Dreamweaver http://www.macromedia.com/software/dreamweaver/download/ NetObjects Fusion http://www.netobjects.com/products/html/download_nf.html Adobe GoLive http://www.adobe.com/newsfeatures/tryadobe/main.html#golive   7) How do I know if my web site is working? Learn to read a stats page and/or pay for tracking software. A simple stats page
ASSIGNMENT PRESENTATIONS	Everyone should present a sample of your copy
COURSE EVALUATIONS	Speak honestly