 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
"Lots of easy-to-apply ideas to help you write more memorable information."
— Carrie Stallwitz, |
Bookmark It
Our favorite Web sites on revving up readership
- Everything you need to be a better communicator
- Model the masters: Pulitzer.org
- How do people read on the Web?
- Whack those buzzwords
- Ways with words
- Track trends with Cool News
- What are they thinking?
- Feed the hungry
- Submit your favorite site
Everything you need to be a better communicator
Poynter.org bills itself as “everything you need to be a better journalist.” That’s selling the site short. Whether you’re a magazine editor, a PR professional, a business communicator or an online content provider, you’ll find studies, links, columns, tips, opinions and other information you can use to polish your skills.
Model the masters: Pulitzer.org
One of the best ways to improve your own writing is to model the masters. That is, study the work of the best writers in the world to learn their techniques. And one of the best resources for masterful work is the Pulitzer Prize Web site. There, you can look up the winners and, often, click a link to read their award-winning stories. The next thing you know, your copy could be winning prizes of its own.
How do people read on the Web?
They don’t, says Web guru Jakob Nielsen. Instead, they scan. In fact, only 16 percent of Web users actually read every word. That means you should write only half as many words for the Web as you would for the printed page. Learn more about making your Web site useable at Nielsen’s site.
Whack those buzzwords
So you can’t understand what your source is talking about — or, worse, you’re afraid your readers can’t understand you? Check out BuzzWhack, the Web site dedicated to demystifying buzzwords. Translate everything from ASP to Yetties.
Ways with words
Simply plug in a word, and WriteExpress Online Rhyming Dictionary will list words with end rhymes, beginning rhymes, first-syllable rhymes, last-syllable rhymes and double rhymes. Use the rhyming dictionary to write a headline, coin a phrase or create a jingle.
Track trends with Cool News
Need an easy way to track trends? Try Cool News, a daily e-mail newsletter packed with marketing insights and trends from the day’s headlines. Find out which hot, new demographic group you belong to (Does “Stressed by Life” hit a chord?), how Yahoo! plans to go global, even which color is supposed to be hot next year (I feel orange coming on). To get your daily issue, hit “subscribe.”
What are they thinking?
Need to keep up on the latest — and I mean LATEST — trends? Check out Lycos 50. It’s a weekly look at the top fifty topics people are asking about online. Find out what people are interested in right now. You may find just what you need to add a timely spin to your next piece.
Feed the hungry
Every 3.6 seconds, someone dies of hunger. The Hunger Site offers an easy way to help. It sends a cup of food to someone who’s starving every time you click a button. Sponsors pick up the tab in exchange for showing you their banner ads. You can only click and feed once a day, but you can do it every day. It’s an easy, every-morning ritual for doing good while reminding yourself how lucky you are.
Submit your favorite site
Do you have a site that’s especially helpful in your writing, editing and communications? E-mail it to me. I’ll post your best suggestions in my free e-mail newsletter or on this site.
