The question then becomes, how do you write incredible content that people will want to read? The answer isn’t quite that simple but what we can tell you is that it starts with a comprehensive content style guide. Taking the initial step to develop a content style guide will help prepare and educate your team on the following important aspects of your website content before you get started:
Define the goals and company: In order to create designs or content for your new website, you need to first define the goals of the website. What do you want to achieve? This question needs to be answered first and foremost. Additionally, you need to know about the company; who they are, what they do, why they do it, and so forth. This information will assist your entire content planning process.
Identify your audience: Besides your goals, this is the single most important aspect of your website content. Who is your audience? You need to have an in depth grasp of your audience in order to establish a style and tone to your content that will appeal to your customers and generate further activity on your website. Also, define the personas of your different target audiences for content that appeals.
Brief your creative vision: Once you’ve figured out your goals and been caught up on the company’s ins and outs, you need to establish your creative vision with a creative brief. The design of the website will play an integral role in the layout and quantity of the copy. What does your sitemap look like? What kind of visuals will be used? These things will all affect the tone and structure of your content.
Refine grammar nuances: Consistency is key when it comes to content. Using good grammar, punctuation, and capitalization can take content from bad to good right away. Different grammar nuances can often be a preference so make sure you establish the grammar rules you want your content to follow upfront. It will save you a great deal of time when it comes to the editing process.
Review your structure: Knowing how you will structure the content on each page of your website will help you do a lot of work up front, as well as plan for how you want to convey your company message, brand, and products/services. This includes text style choices, headers and subheaders, and more. Also, decide on the use of different content structures, like statistics or infographics, before you start.
Learn more about website planning and development by reading up on the “7 Characteristics of a User-Friendly Website” here: www.mill-im.com/websites/7-characteristics-user-friendly-website/.
