Using Hypertext Wisely

Hyperlinking is a powerful and important tool for writing for the web. David Walbert from www.learnnc.org calls links the soul of the internet. But where and how do you link to support your content? 

What should be linked?

If users may want to go to another Web site (or another page within your own site) based on something you have written, then you should provide a link. For example, if you mention any companies or organizations, you could link to their websites. When you want to reference other articles, linking to them gives readers the option of learning more about the topic before going on with the current article.

Where to link?

There are several factors to consider when deciding to embed your links or set them aside.

what type of content are you providing?

• embed your links, if the web page is mainly providing quick bites of information
• consider moving the links to the side, the end,  or another page entirely when providing a longer explanation of a complex idea

who is in control?

Plentiful and obvious links let readers find their own paths through hyperspace and make their own connections among content. If you want readers to follow your agenda, provide links to helpful information at the end.

how closely related the link is to your main topic?

• if you’re linking to a website about a similar topic just in case your readers are interested, you may want to save it for a sidebar or the end of the article. 
• if you link from the article to an opposing viewpoint, do it in a sidebar, because you would want readers to finish reading the article first.

What text should you link?

• Links should be brief but descriptive. 
• If links are included within the text, simply pick the words that describe the link. 
• If links are separate from the text, for example at the end of an article or on a separate links page, it's standard to link the title of the website, and then include a brief description.

How to Choose the Right Font

When designing a website, make it readable and make it stand out. One way to achieve this is through typography styles, or fonts.

Making your website readable will generate good conversation with your site visitors. Whether you choose sans serif or serif fonts, make sure, when using multiple styles, that they pair well together and reflect the overall design of your website. As a general rule, keep font sizes at least 12 points. Sometimes bigger isn’t always better. Color, weight, and placement are all equally important to establishing a clear visual hierarchy to your website’s design.

Making your website stand out can set you apart from the norm and let your uniqueness shine. When choosing a front, you should always consider the feeling of the design. How does it feel different or look different? Be unorthodox. See what others are doing and do the opposite making sure to match the design of your content.

For more tips and information on designing your website through fronts visit:

Choosing the Right Font: A Practical Guide to Typography on the Web

10 Tips to For Perfect Headlines

Is their a set of rules to follow for writing a perfect headline?

The answer is yes, if you follow these ten steps in writing a headline. A step by step process or checklist to building a professional headline, also a great outline if you are revising a headline as well. The following link http://klariti.com/business-writing/checklist-headline-writing/ has the ten steps to perfect headlines. I hope the article helps you as much as it helped me, give it a look.

Again the link to the article is http://klariti.com/business-writing/checklist-headline-writing/ 

By 

   Drake White

Properly formatting lists

Properly formatting lists

Follow these simple rules to correctly format a list:

Number your list if order is relevant

            If you use numbers it implies a prioritized sequence.

Don’t use bullets

            If you use a dot or a symbol to lead items in an unnumbered list, it is known as bullets.

Use an introductory sentence

            If your list is numbered or unnumbered you should use an introductory sentence.

Be consistent within your list

            If you use a list of single words, a phrase, or a complete sentence, keep it the same.

Use proper punctuation

            If your set up is incomplete, use a phrase that completes the sentence and end it with a period.

Insure a list is the best choice to display your information

            If you are formatting a list, make sure that a sentence or a paragraph is not a better choice.

Avoid separators

            If you are using words such as “I” or “a” try to rewrite the list to exclude these separators.

https://www.dailywritingtips.com/7-rules-for-formatting-lists/

Make lists helpful

How to make lists helpful?

Items to help avoid making lists messy
-The lead-in needs to fit with all list items
-The lead-in needs to introduce each list item
-Categorize items if list gets too long

Also, white space is created by lists, which spread out the text for readers.

Source and Link
Bulleted and Numbered Lists
Provide emphasis and sequence

By David McMurrey
https://www.prismnet.com/~hcexres/textbook/lists.html

When should you insert pictures?

When should you insert pictures?

With everyone competing for the best positioning on the internet, why not use pictures to add to your style? Readers don't always want to read a brick of text and the 60% of readers, are visual learners! 

Breakthrough!

According to Judy Dunn, a contributor to bestbloggingtipsonline.com, using pictures in your posts can:

• Create curiosity
• Convey the feeling of a post
• Complete an analogy or metaphor in your main point
• Complete your headline
• Make your readers smile

So when should you insert pictures? I would say that the answer is fairly obvious, any time you can! Want to see Judy Dunn's article? Check it out here: http://bestbloggingtipsonline.com/5-ways-the-right-photo-can-get-you-more-blog-readers/

Number Lists and Bulleted List

Why should we use numbered or bulleted lists?
Readers do not want to read sentence after sentence before they get to the information they are looking for. By using these lists you shorten the amount of time that readers will need to reach what they are looking for. 

According to Write Content Solutions lists do the following:

• Create white space on the page
• Make your copy shorter
• Show level of importance or sequencing
• Keep related items chunked together

They have many other suggestions onto why lists are the best to use. Also, they give individual reasons why either numbered lists and/or bulleted lists work. 

Just check them out. http://www.write.com/writing-guides/writing-for-the-web/using-numbered-lists-and-bulleted-lists-in-online-content/

Include “Lists” in Writing

Web content can become long and hard to retain for a reader when there is too much information. “Lists” will help organize your content.

 “Think of “lists” whenever you have several options or items.” Letting go of the Words by Redish.

Or change it up and draw attention to the information.

“Numbered lists and bulleted lists draw the eyes of your readers. Text is easier to read and easier to scan in list format.”

http://www.write.com/writing-guides/writing-for-the-web/using-numbered-lists-and-bulleted-lists-in-online-content/

Style Tips for Designing Lists

How do I format my lists?

When writing lists, you have several types to consider.

You can use

• bulleted lists

• lettered lists

• numbered lists 

Within these list options, you have a variety of style options to chose from. When you write bulleted or lettered lists, there isn't a specific order you need to follow. You have some freedom when deciding how to arrange the listed items. As suggested by Quick and Dirty Tips, alphabetizing lists that don't require a specific order can be a useful tip for creating content that is easy to follow. It's a good idea to keep your formatting organized and consistent in all areas of your writing.


Another factor to consider when designing your lists is the style option you want to use for capitalizing. Regardless of writing a complete sentence or a fragment, you have the choice to capitalize the first letter after the bullet. The important thing to remember is to remain consistent with your capitalization. If you choose to capitalize the first letter, do so with all listed items.


While I was researching this topic, I came across a blog called Quick and Dirty Tips, which had an article about several formatting suggestions on lists. The writer explained that most of what she covered were a matter of style preference. I relayed her suggestions to you, but it's important to realize that you don't have to follow it exactly. It's a tool to get you started. When you do your research on the subject, you will find that many style guides have different recommendations. One thing many style guides have in common is being consistent throughout the web page. That concept is one of the only things you need to follow precisely for a website that will bring in site visitors.

Font Types

There are three basic types of fonts:

Serif Fonts

A serif is a little line at the top or bottom of a font that helps to keep your eye moving along the page.

Sans Serif Fonts

Sans serifs are fonts without a serif, the most popular sans serif font is Arial.

Decorative Fonts.

Decorative fonts are fancy and designed to make a visual impact rather than to be easily read.

You should only use three fonts per page, one for text, one for headings, and one for titles. Using more than three fonts per page will confuse your readers. Serif fonts are better for the main text. Sans serif fonts are good for headings because they stand out. Decorative fonts should only be used for decoration. Many people think sans serif fonts are easier to read on a computer screen. There are fonts designed specifically for display on a computer screen, two of those fonts are Georgia (serif) and Verdana (sans serif), there are more web-safe fonts being designed all the time.


http://www.learnnc.org/lp/editions/webwriting/711

Parallel sounds?

If it sounds right, it may be right. In our class, I would suggest we use the parallel structure with items contained in lists or a series sentence and then check for the sounds of similarity. These links discuss, give examples, and are resources for not causing “faulty parallelism.”

• Purdue OWL , a recognized online writing lab, reminds us to “… keep all the elements in a list in the same form.” Owl has us read the words out loud and “Listen to the sound of the items in a list or the items being compared. Do you hear the same kinds of sounds? For example, is there a series of "-ing" words beginning each item? Or do you hear a rhythm being repeated? If something is breaking that rhythm or repetition of sound, check to see if it needs to be made parallel.” 
• Towson University  , an online writing support, advises against the error of "faulty parallelism." Towson has us listen for the parallel sounds. “…a series whose components are not in parallel format sounds awkward and may cause misunderstanding.”

As we write on the web, we need to keep our site visitors in mind. The ease of skimming through our message via parallel styled lists and series sentences will reduce the reader’s time spent searching to find what they may need.

Feel Good Fonts

Does the font you use make you feel good? Many things have changed in writing content with the right font size and style. The new size font is 16 point in contrast with the old size font of 12 point. Size, font and layout also impacts how you read online. What you read should call you to action, create good feelings, and inspire you. Fonts, style and format allows you to make a connection with what you read. In using the right font size and style is should create these outcomes:

• higher cognitive focus

• efficient mental process

• stronger sense of clarity

The authority sited is from crew. com. The article is "The Psychology of fonts and how they make you feel,"  written by Mikael Cho , March 2014. https://crew.co/blog/the-psychology-of-fonts/

https://plus.google.com/115818730331522196644/posts/Wu625rYyRkC

FONTS

DEFINITION:

·      FONT – Particular size, weight, and style of typeface

·      SERIF – Small lines tailing from the edges of letters

·      SANS SERIF – Typeface that does not have the small lines

American Writers & Artists Inc. suggest for online use sans serif. The site states that the Software Usability and Research Laboratory concluded that:

·      The most legible fonts were Arial, Courier, and Verdana

·      At 10-point size, participants preferred Verdana

·      At 12-point size, Arial was the preferred font

·      Preferred font overall was Verdana

Verdana is the font I propose to use.