Don’t Let Crappy Content Ruin Your Website: Lessons from DrupalCon
I attended a session at DrupalCon that focused on content being the key to a successful website. A website will do you no good, even if it looks amazing, if it is loaded up with bad content.
The harsh reality is that the content on your website will make or break your business. No pressure, right?
While good content is important, it can also be relatively simple. But the road to simple, strong content takes planning, educating, and robust resources.
Here are the main takeaways from the session:
Plan ahead in order to ensure that all components (copy images, graphics, taxonomy, videos, etc.) are working well together.
Ask yourself the same questions when creating every page. This will ensure consistency and flow throughout your site.
What is the goal of the page?
Who is the audience?
What is the call to action on the page?
Create guidelines, whether that be for the number of characters on each page or for image sizes, the guidelines will streamline your process and once again promote consistency across all pages of your site.
Avoid the little things that send site viewers running for the hills:
Type that is too small to read will quickly turn your audience away. Use large text and headers to draw people in.
Long, rambling paragraphs are difficult to read, break up the content using headers and visuals.
Don’t use redundant phrases; they will discredit you to your audience.
Banner blinders should be avoided at all costs. Nothing will send your audience running away faster than being bombarded the moment the enter your site.
Break the Rules:
Structured content can be better than flexible content if done right.
Sentence fragments have a place online. Getting to the point is often appreciated.
Use numbers (1, 2, 3) in text rather than spelling them out.
Paragraphs don’t have to be the usual 3-5 sentences long. Longer or shorter, don’t be afraid to use that enter button whenever it feels right!
Hopefully these takeaways will help you avoid the bad content plague! If you have other ideas, or any questions, we would love to hear from you in the comments section below.
P.S. If you need copywriting help, let us know!