More articles on writing for websites, email and newsletters - by Nick Usborne

Occasional articles that don't appear in my newsletter

 

How to Overcome Procrastination
If you procrastinate about weeding the garden or repainting the bathroom, the consequences of any delay probably won't cause a problem. However, if you write for a living, it's a very different story. procrastination can cut into your bottom line and undermine relationships with your clients.
March 2005

 

RSS Explained
If you keep hearing about RSS and how great it is, but still haven't managed to wrap your brain around what it is exactly, and why it's imprtant - this article is for you.
March 2005

 

How to Write a Landing Page
Landing pages are build to generate high conversion rates. And to achieve good conversions, you have to write and design with the mindset of a direct marketer.
Feb 2005

First published by Constant Contact

 

Make Your Promotional Emails Worth Reading
There are three ways to develop content for your marketing emails. You can make it purely promotional, informative and promotional or entertaining and promotional. The choice you make can have a big impact on your bottom line.

 

 

First published by iMediaConnection.com

 

When Keywords Don't Deliver
There are times when you optimize a page with great keywords, and attract what seems to be a flood of interested visitors. But sometimes your conversion rates prove to be very disappointing. Here's why...
March 2005

 

How Many Words in a Text Link?
What is the optimum number of words for a text link on one of your site pages? Is there a golden number? And what factors should be considered?
November, 2004

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First published at alistapart.com

 

Helping Your Visitors: a State of Mind
Before you start selling, stay focused on helping your site visitors find what they are looking for.
February 2004

 

A Fairy, a Low-Fat Bagel and a Sack of Hammers
Never underestimate the importance of words on the web.
November 2003

 

First published at MarketingProfs.com

 

Say Something Worth Talking About
Where is the really exciting writing? Where are people writing in a way that is unexpected and surprising? When did the text on a commercial Web site last make you smile or laugh?

September 2003

 

Tell Them What's In the Can
If your Web site were up on a shelf among tens of thousands of others (it is!), do you tell people what's in the can? How quickly can a first-time visitor find out exactly whats in your 'can'?

December 2002

 

The Art of Being Human
Site visitors crave the sense that someone is there, within and behind Web pages, emails and newsletters. But for many Web sites, we simply plug in and play the bare technology.

October 2002

 

3 Steps to Great Copy
To say a writer could write good copy simply by having access to exact words suggests that having access to Picasso's *exact* set of brushes and paints would beget a great masterpiece.

October 2002

 

The Power of Saying 'You Can'
When you are faced with a tough career challenge, it's still reassuring to have someone put a hand on our shoulder and say, 'You can do it'. With this in mind, consider some of the copy you write on your Web site, and in your emails and newsletter.

August 2002

 

Web Users Crave Familiarity
The sad truth is, general Web users would love it if all our sites looked like Amazon.com. The trouble is, the creative spirit hates to copy the work of others.

June 2002

 

Tell Site Visitors What to Do
There is such a thing as too many choices...at least when it comes to web sites. Give your visitors a roadmap of where to go when they visit your pages. April 2002

 

It Takes More Than a Writer to Get the Message Right
When writers have the insight and skills to create a great message, but lack the authority to do so, it's a problem. What can you do?

March 2002

 

If you would like to reprint any of these articles, the answer is usually yes -- but please email me first at nick@excessvoice.com.

 

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