Utilizing space and time to connect with web users
Did you start your career as an online editor, or have you made the shift from a print background?
In each case, there are details specific to the job. There are also similarities shared by both.
Today, I want to run through a few considerations that should be made while engaging in your duties as an online editor. Some of these are often overlooked, but may lead to better writing and a high quality of content that your audience members are sure to appreciate.
3 tips for becoming a better online editor
-Time: The amount of time you have to complete a project often dictates the quality and length of the end result. The longer you have to critically look at your draft, the better opportunity you have to condense or remove unnecessary parts.
In an online world with Twitter, having a tweet limit of 140 characters, it’s necessary to learn how to write succinctly. Taking time with your writing is the first step in this process.
[text_ad]
-Space: The inspiration for this tip for becoming a better online editor comes from a recent article on Poynter.com. In this article, Roy Peter Clark writes:
“It may seem as if discussion of space would not apply to the almost infinite space of the Internet, capable of containing whole libraries of texts, on devices that can fit in your pocket. But impatient online grazers, surfers, and linkers may shrink the available message space to the size of a single screen, sometimes less.”
Writing in regards to the space you have to work with relates back to the need of writing succinctly, or you may lose you audience in translation.
-Type Size: Using a smaller font size can help you meet space requires easier. However, make sure your text is big enough so it can be read.
Remember; always consider the platform your using when writing, and the devices that will be used to read your content on. For devices with smaller screens, your most important content must be able to fit accordingly.
