Web vs Print

Content is King!

(from my class discussion boards today)
But there is some considerable differences from online content and print content writing. Online readers scan first, then drill down on the information they either were looking for in the first place, or have found interesting. What I have learned about the difference between print copy and online copy goes something like this:

1. Use Headlines: web readers scan and skim until they find the headline, caption or summary that matches what they were looking for in the first place.
2. Use Lists : Breaking down concepts into short lists, capture the scanner and gets the information into the brain quickly before they click away.
3. Top Load your paragraphs: Get to the point right at the beginning of the paragraph and fill in the details toward the end of the paragraph. In other words, start with the conclusion.
4. Don't make them scroll too much: Web readers are not going to read 12 paragraphs sitting on a single web page; break it up into two or three pages. Many online news sites do this.
5. Keep those paragraphs short: Again, reading online is a sprint not a marathon. Readers are not going to stick around for long developing paragraphs, there's too many forces at work. It's slower to read online, and causes more eye fatigue, etc. "War and Peace" will not be read online, but maybe a one paragraph executive summary of the epic will be.

links:

The godfather of usability
Copyblogger
Web Writing vs Print Writing