How to effectively write for online
By Phoebe Montague of Lady Melbourne

Writing for blogs or online content differs vastly to print and if you want to set your blog apart and maintain consistency there are some vital rules you need to follow.

Like all journalism, writing and reporting for online is all about catering for your audience.

To cater for an online audience we need to consider:

• What our story looks like (formatting, is it easy to read)
• Content (using the medium to provide the best possible content)
• What other information can we provide (links)

Text formatting

• Short paragraphs – Easier to read, takes less time.
• Headings – The heading at the top of the page should make absolutely clear what the page contains or concerns.
• Subheadings – If the page text exceeds 300 words, subheadings will help the reader scan the page efficiently.

Linking

• Linking is one of the key elements of online reporting.
• It allows a reader to navigate a story and get a complete picture.
• Are there original documents you can link to?
• Are there any photographs (related videos, sound files,slideshows)?
• Can you gather past stories together and link to them?
• Can you post the audio or video of an interview relevant to your story?
• Can you direct readers to an authoritative (external) site for more info?
• Can you invite comment or start a conversation?

If you’d like to include regular features such as look of the day, must-have item of the week etc, choose a particular day you’ll include these features, and stay consistent. Plan a time of day people can expect to see your latest offerings. Do you want to reveal your masterpieces in the morning, in the afternoon? Make the most of automatic or scheduled post features that is inherent to most blogging platforms.

If you have a topic you would like covered, simply leave a comment and I’ll do my best to cover it off.

Happy blogging!

Lady Melbourne
You can check out Lady Melbourne’s blog at www.ladymelbourne.com.au