Once you have thought about what content you want to offer, you will need to provide the text for your site. Normally, a web designer will expect to receive all text in an electronic format. Whilst there are numerous companies that will write copy and promotional material for your business, nobody knows your business better than you. So if you decide to write your own material the following list of Do's and Don'ts can only help.

• Do target your audience
• Do keep it brief and concise
• Do provide relevant information
• Do put key information near to the top
• Do aim for an easy to read news style
• Do use bullet points
• Do make sure spelling and grammar are correct and appropriate
• Do make it interesting and don't repeat yourself
• Do keep sentences short and punchy, as long sentences can be difficult to understand
• Do try to include a brief introduction at the top of the page and a summary at the end
• Do use headings and subheadings to break the page up into smaller defined chunks
• Do make appropriate use of graphics that compliment the text
• Do look at competitors' sites and determine what is good and what is bad
• Do define your goals
• Do think about your site in the long term
• Do proof read your copy or even better get someone else to do it

• Don't use cliches
• Don't use abbreviations and jargon. If you must use them, then consider a glossary
• Don't make information hard to find
• Don't bury key information in loads of detail
• Don't be afraid to use 'you' when referring to the reader
• Don't make users scroll page after page
• Don't use a web page hit counter.

Remember that the readability of the text on your site can make the difference
between a reader staying for more or going elsewhere.