Putting words on your web site (and other stuff)
If you need help coming up with your copy, please consider hiring a writer. That’s what they do. Your focus should be on your thing and they can interview you and write about your thing.
Before you begin work, release your fear. Fear seriously curtails creative thinking.
The content for a web site is the same for any type of effective communication. It is to answer the following questions:
- Why — what’s in it for me (the customer is the "me")?
- Who — who are you?
- What — your services and the benefits of those services
- Where — contact
- When — if you give seminars or events
WHY is the most important. Do your very best to answer the question of "What's in it for me?" from the perspective of your potential clients. Keep the answers short and to the point.
If the poop hits the propeller, why would I need your legal services? What sets you apart? What can you do for me? If you are a pet groomer, do you have more convenient hours? Do you also give doggy massages and Reiki treatments? I’m serious. Don’t laugh ;-)
The rest of a site is back to the main "Why" point. If you are writing about your experience in the "Who" text, then links to some of the points might be added to the "What" text.
Can you sum up your business in one short paragraph? It’s a great exercise.
If you were your own client, what questions would you ask? Answer those questions for a FAQ section on your site. Run them by your customers too. Ask your customers for help. Having an FAQ will save you a lot of time in the future, give you content for your other material, and use all kinds of key words that search engines nosh on.
Comments (0) April 17, 2008
