15 Tips to Write Persuasive Web Content That Always Works

Why is it that in the sea of content, some web pages hit the bulls eye while some fail to make a mark?

Writing a persuasive content is not as easy as it seems. There are many things that web content writers should keep in mind to create flawless and impressionable web content that delivers. This post provides 15 web content writing tips that can help you fix your web content strategy, and give it a new lease of life.

1.    Focus on Keyword Research

There are no takers for content which does not rank! Writing an informative web content is worthless if can’t find any audience. Web content has no life without a well-executed SEO strategy, so before you plunge into writing web content, focus on keywords which can help you rank and get noticed.

2.    Avoid Keyword Stuffing

Adding multiple keywords in a line just for the sake of SEO is not going to fetch you any goodies, rather it will make your content look fake and unpolished. Smartly add keywords if it logically goes with your content flow. If the reader can spot a word put randomly in a well-meaning sentence, you have lost your plot!

3.    There is No Substitute for Credible and Exhaustive Research

The amount of research put into writing, differentiates a page from good to bad. Readers are smart enough to analyze content quality with just a glance, so, it’s better to put your best foot forward if you want to create a lasting impression. Personal tip – I give 65% of my time to research and 35% to writing, and trust me, it works!

4.    When in Doubt, Look it Up

Giving incorrect and unverified information in your content is a crime. Whether it is checking word context, spelling, grammar, or usage, if you are not sure, look it up. It’s always better to know your follies first-hand and correcting them right there, rather than making a fool of yourself.

5.    Pay Utmost Importance to the Beginning and the End

Visitors don’t read each and every line they see on the page online. They read the introduction, and if it’s good enough, glance through the content body, and finally read the CTA. Like a good movie, beginning and end is what defines the content, if you go wrong here, rest seldom matters! So, pay great attention to these parts.

6.    Mind the Content Flow

Aristotle’s quote seems perfect for a well-thought out content strategy - “the whole is greater than the sum of its parts." The key to writing an interesting piece of web content is to ensure that all different smaller pieces of your narrative combine effortlessly into a bigger piece to form a cohesive story.

7.    Let Go the Style Guides At Times

Style guides keep evolving with time, and it’s important to use “popularly accepted words and phrases” rather than the ones mentioned in the style guides, so that your web content doesn’t look jaded

8.    Use Simple and Easy-to-understand Words and Phrases

Calling Banana a sweet yellow elongated fruit which comes in various sizes doesn’t always make you sound intelligent! Overtly using words straight out of the Thesaurus will prove you have a good vocab, and perhaps an MBA, but may not hold your reader’s attention in the long run. Don’t write to showcase what all you know, but to explain what others should know!

9.    Write What Your Audience Expects You to Write, but Occasionally Surprise Them

Each writer has a style which becomes synonymous with their identity, and makes people coming back for more, each single time. It is, therefore, natural to fulfill your clients’ expectations and write for them, but, once in a while, experiment. Surprise your loyal audience with something that sweeps them off their feet. It not only will help you hone your craft but may encourage you to discover and master a new style.

10.Brevity is the Key When it Comes to Web Content Writing

The sooner you realize that online visitors won’t READ each line you write, the more you will appreciate brevity! Your audience will parse your web content, so WRITE FOR SCANNERS.

11.Establish Yourself As a Thought Leader

In an age where everyone is producing Zettabytes of content, it’s important to have a distinctive, sensible voice, else your hard work will be lost in the sea of overflowing content. Speak when you have something new to offer, and speak with facts to establish your domain authority.

12.Stay Away from Crutch Words

Overtly using fillers reflect poorly on your language skills and can ruin your web content. Know which 15 crutch words can ruin your well-framed sentences.

13.Always Cite Your References

Plagiarism is a formidable sin. It’s not cool, period. You need to give credit to get credit. Citing references is not only morally and legally right, but providing source also increases your credibility as a writer, so ALWAYS add references at the end of your page.

14.Interlink Intelligently

Intelligent Interlinking can help you make your content user-friendly and informative. It’s also an excellent way to promote related articles, and add years to your content and prevent it from turning it into an orphan. You can try these handy tips to extend your content’s lifespan & get rid of orphan content.

15.Spare a Day Between Writing and Publishing

You are so convinced about your thoughts and content that you are most likely to ignore errors while writing, so, sparing a day between writing and publishing is a boon for writers. It helps you review your content objectively and find errors (if any).

Apart from being persuasive, it’s also very important to create user-friendly web content. Read 5 Rules to Create User-friendly Web Content that Delivers. These are time-tested tips which have helped me over the years, and I genuinely believe can be of great help if you want to improve your content strategy.

Happy Blogging!

Love and live,

Neha Agrawal

About the Author: A wordsmith and a storyteller who fell in love with information technology and did masters in computer applications, only to go back to her first love, writing! She is among the privileged few who know how to think and ink; loves her craft only second to her lovely daughter. Her friends and family love her funny side, which acquaintances seldom get to witness.