Writing and Editing for the Web

Users visit your website primarily for its content, not for its technical brilliance, and the editor's role is crucial in creating and maintaining this content. This two-day course will provide guidance and techniques essential to keep users coming back to your site time after time.

It will enable editors and writers to:

  • edit text published in other media so that it can be published online
  • understand the jargon that web designers and technical staff use
  • understand the capabilities and limitations of web technology and how to exploit these as an editor
  • understand how to organise and structure content
  • develop a site that draws visitors in and keeps them coming back.

Programme

Day One

  • The web reading experience
    • Differences between the print and web reading experience
    • Eyetracking studies and the implications for web text
  • Connecting with readers
    • Finding the right style
    • Powerful weapons for web writers
    • Focusing on the reader
    • Changing your perspective
    • Understanding your readers¹ missions
  • Getting the words right
    • Boosting readability
    • Writing effective opening paragraphs
    • Things to eliminate
    • Writing key web pages
  • Writing for navigation and interaction 1
    • Summaries and blurbs
    • Navigation and site structure

Day 2

  • Writing for navigation and interaction 2
    • Links
    • Interactivity
    • Persuasive writing
  • Search Engine Optimisation for web writers
  • Accessibility issues
  • Social media and web writing
    • Creating sharable content
    • Writing for social media
    • Competing with social media
  • House style guides
  • Repurposing for the web
  • Website critiques exercise

Who will benefit from this course?

Editors, writers, publicity and marketing staff who have a responsibility for web content and site design.

Your Tutors

Sue Davis has been a freelance web consultant for more than ten years. She has advised organisations including Channel 4 Television on editing for the web; designed websites for UNICEF, the BBC, Channel 4 and many other businesses and charities; and presented TV programmes about the Internet for BBC2 (Computers Don't Bite) and Sky TV (Download).

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Nancy Duin is a freelance copywriter, editor and trainer. She initially worked for book publishers on a wide range of subjects, but later expanded her repertoire to structuring, writing and editing websites for television companies, businesses, and government agencies and departments. She is an editorial consultant to Channel 4 Television and internet director of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders.

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Bev Legge is a professional copywriter who has worked in journalism, publishing and advertising for more than 25 years. In the past decade he has run some 200 writing and editing courses for businesses and government departments in eight European countries, including the UK.

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Note that most of our short courses can also be run as in-company events.

  • Dates: 27 June 2012, 18 October 2012, 04 December 2012
  • Duration: A two-day course
  • Price: £755+VAT
  • A number of discounts are available

Provisional Booking Form

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If you are entitled to one of our range of discounts, please select one of the following. To check your eligibility, visit our Discounts and Funding page.




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