Web Site Content Management

What do I write and how do I write it?

Managing your web site content is just another step by step process. It seems like such a huge job at first. Once you get started, you will find it all flows together very easily. I usually have a problem stopping. Follow these steps:

The first thing you should do is brainstorm. How do you do that?

Think of what you know. What are you going to build your website about? Let's go back to computers. You are not going to build your website about computers, I am using this as an example to show you how to get started.

Get a piece of paper. (Real paper and pencil is better than notepad. You will need to add things here and there and it's much easier to draw arrows and cross things off if you use real paper.) Write your main idea at the top of the paper.

I am writing computers at the top of mine.
Now under computers write words that relate to computers.

• hard drive

• mouse

• software

• keyboard

• monitor

• media

• video

• dvd

• cd

• memory

• cables

• broadband

• dsl

• speakers

• microphone

• etc...... this is not a complete list, only an example.

Write as many things you can think of. Don't count, just write. When you first start this, you will be thinking faster than you can write. When you get a good long list and you start to run out of ideas, stop.

Look at your list. Are there certain things that can be grouped together? On my list I am thinking mouse and keyboard will go together. Draw an arrow from one to the other or number them both with a number 1.

• This number does not mean this is most important or the order to present them on the site it is only the first thing I noticed that could be grouped.

Look again and find another group. What about broadband and DSL. I could also add modem, 56k, and a few others that would probably be on my list. Draw your arrows again or number these all 2.

Continue this process until you have several groups. Add more ideas as they come to you. Try to come up with a good 15 to 20 groups. These are the things you will write about.

Now that you are better organized, you can start writing. Remember, write like you are talking to a friend. Make it friendly and inviting. Offer little quips here and there. Add a personal story or two. Make it interesting to read.

Keep your paragraphs short and sweet. One idea per paragraph and try to keep the paragraphs around 5 sentences or less. If an idea requires more than 5 sentences, see if there is a way to break that idea into two or more smaller paragraphs.

Don't use your million dollar words here. If the subject is very technical and you have to use high tech words to say it right, that's fine but try to stay on ground level when you write. The average person reads like an 8th grader. Don't flaunt your vocabulary or you will turn them off. If you make them feel stupid, they will leave.

Don't worry too much about spelling or punctuation right now. Just get your ideas down. If you prefer to do this on paper, that's fine. I suggest using your HTML Editor or notepad for this so you are one step further ahead when you get ready to actually build your website.

Take your time writing. Content building and management is a process and it can take a while to do. Write a page and move on to the next. When you have 5 or 6 pages done, go back and read the first page. Make any adjustments you need to make.

This may sound silly but if you read your page out loud, you will find parts of your writing that don't come out right. Make the repairs and read it again. If you have a good friend that will give you their honest opinion, ask him or her to read it for you. Don't get offended if they aren't overjoyed with your writing. It will be easier to take it from a friend than it will be to get nasty emails from visitors that think you missed the boat.

Take your friends suggestions and make adjustments. Do it with a smile on your face. Your friend is helping you build your empire. Don't make him or her feel bad for trying to help. Make them a cup of coffee and a sandwich. They could use a little something for their troubles. Do you have any of that cake left?

Once you have the first 5 or 6 pages rehashed, move onto creating the next 5 or 6. Continue this process until you have depleted all your groups. Make sure you have developed at least 10 good quality pages written with inspiring information.

• Note: It's likely you will come up with more ideas as you are writing. Always stop and jot these ideas down. They will be gone as fast as they came. Trust me on this one. Write them down right away or spend half the night tossing and turning trying to remember that one great idea that you forgot 2 minutes later.

It's time to start building your pages. If you haven't gotten an HTML Editor yet, you will want to get one now.

Once you are done with this step, move on to Design your Layout. Don't click if you aren't done with your writing. You have to do this one step at a time if you are going to succeed.

Web Site Content Management