I haven’t included any aspect of design in this list, but please let me mention that comic sans is strictly out of bounds (except for 11 year old girls).

1. Welcome!… to the company name website
   This is just so unnecessary.
2. Click on this link
   This takes up so much space and isn’t very accessible. You need to tell the user what they’ll find and should make sense when read out of context. The W3C provide some clear guidance if you need help.
3. Check it out!
   This was a favourite of a former colleague – as in she hated it, too. I suppose if your site appeals to the yoof then that might work. As a rule – if you wouldn’t say it out loud, don’t write it.
4. Internet (with a capital I), Web-site/Web Site or E-mail
   The net’s been around long enough for us to be able to comfortably drop the caps. I don’t even like the hyphen in email, but will probably be a local style issue on your site.
5. This website aims to provide…
   This feels old fashioned because the navigation really ought to show you what the site provides. If you can’t see at a glance what the site provides then you might have a design or information architecture problem.
6. We will try to keep the content of the website fresh and interesting
   Frankly, if you have to tell me that, I don’t believe you will.
7. And saying the same thing several times
   It’s just irritating when people don’t get to the point. In fact, it’s pointless as people don’t read that much online anyway.
8. Acronyms (without explanation)
   Because it helps if you know what you’re reading about. Or you can use this acronym finder. Using acronyms slows down the reading speed of the user if they’re struggling to work out what it means. Discarding – or explaining – them will provide the added benefit that it will help search engines read your site as well as humans.
9. “We’re switched on”
   Course you are, Grandad.
10. ‘Signing’ the page.
    We know it’s you – we’re reading your website.

Thanks for reading! Whoops, another one sneaked in (not to mention that naff exclamation mark).

Christine. Oh hell, I just can’t stop myself.

This post was originally published by Christine on Mon, 03/02/2009

So why does your ‘stuff’ get so complicated? Damn – you forgot to call someone. You didn’t read that email properly and you can’t remember if Sunday comes before or after 4 o’clock.

I’d like to apply this confusion that we face in our day-to-day work and home dealings with all the information available on the web. Not everybody organises the ‘stuff’ (content) on their websites. Of those that do, not all do so in a logical way. If websites aren’t organised how will your user know how to find their way around? You wouldn’t go on holiday without leaving your work affairs in some sort of reasonably-easy-to-follow state.

The same idea applies to the content on your website. You’re out of the office so your website is picking up the initial enquiry. Bear this in mind when you’re designing and adding to your site. Your user should be able to follow links and instructions without getting confused or annoyed.

Remember the golden rules of writing for web:

• Use short words in short sentences (one point per sentence)
• Use plenty of bullet point lists to allow user to scan the page
• Try not to present too much text – break it up with pictures, sub headings and paragraphs
• Users don’t like scrolling so try to keep your content within one screen length
• You don’t have to be too formal, use “it’s”, “won’t” and “can’t” – it makes for more natural reading.

Your user doesn’t know your company or website inside out like you do so don’t assume anything!

This post was originally published by Christine on Mon, 10/27/2008

Throat clearing goes like this: “At a time of desperate global economy worries, many homeowners are facing financial meltdown as they struggle to meet with the increasing cost of living.”

Now read the sentence again starting at “many”. It still says the same thing doesn’t it?

I don’t like waffling on. I don’t want someone’s opinion on whether an interviewee ‘sighed’ or ‘seethed’. They just ‘said’. Stop getting in the way of the story and give it to me straight. I’m a big girl, I can take it.

So here are a couple of rules I’ve picked up along the way which I’d like to share with you:

• People ‘say’ or ‘said’. Nothing else
• ‘Inverted pyramid’ writing applies wholeheartedly to web – give me the who, what, where, why and how, then the quotes, then the background
• Keep to one clause per sentence if possible
• If your sentence sounds/means the same with any words or clauses taken out – take them out!
• Limit your adverbs. Did he menacingly look, or did he look?

This post was originally published by Christine on Tue, 03/18/2008