Guidelines for Writing Content Keep content short and concise. Reducing text ensures the important information is most prominent. Omit needless words and reduce sentences down to the essential information. Format text to support scanning. Visitors tend to scan pages, not read them. Make your pages easier to scan by using the following techniques: use plenty of headings - h2, h3, h4, h5, and h6 (h1 is reserved for the page title) keep paragraphs short (see above) use bulleted lists or tables use inline links where appropriate (ex: “...or speak to an advisor for further information about...”) have clear calls to action, prominent links to guide your visitor to their next logical step Keep your content current. For pages that don’t expect much repeat traffic from the same visitors, changing content arbitrarily is not important. However, it’s critical for all pages to display current, relevant, and accurate information. Frequent checks of your pages will help you ensure that your visitors aren’t presented with outdated or erroneous content. Use conversational tone when appropriate. Remember the audience that you’re writing for (most likely 16-18 year olds) and write in the same tone that you would use in speaking to this audience. Common Mistakes to Avoid Don't use "UAHuntsville" - see UAH Logo & Brand Guidelines Don't capitalize "uah.edu" Don't use blank paragraphs (<p> </p> or double-return) to add extra space between paragraphs Don't use h1 in pages - see above Don't use colons in headings Don't put text in images – it's not SEO-friendly, mobile-friendly, or accessible Don't make links that read "click here" – make link text descriptive, even if read out of context
