The 5 Point Content Checklist

Website design By BotEap.comWebsite content is a bit like a retail storefront – it needs to be constantly updated to attract customers and keep up with the competition. However, many start thinking about their content only when site rankings drop or conversion rates drop.

Website design By BotEap.comManaging your content on a regular basis is time consuming, especially when search engines change their algorithms and site administrators have to come up with a new optimization strategy. Here are some things you can do to verify the effectiveness of your web content and to ensure that you are not sending visitors to your site to your competitors.

Website design By BotEap.comIs there too much text on the page?

Website design By BotEap.comWeb users are often put off by too much text on a page, especially if it’s not properly formatted—that is, if it’s not organized into digestible chunks, separated by headings and lists. Information-rich pages can be confusing for users who want to quickly find what they are looking for instead of having to search for it. If you need to put a lot of content on one page, consider using links to other pages, accordions, or be ruthless and remove all the ‘fluff’, or as usability guru Steve Krug says, ‘Remove half the words in each page, then get rid of half of what’s left.’

Website design By BotEap.comIs your content easy to understand?

Website design By BotEap.comWhen writing web content, it’s best to stick to plain English, as words and phrases that are familiar to the author may not be familiar to the client. Industry language can confuse readers and should be avoided in favor of simple terminology. One way to check for readability is by using the Show Readability feature in Microsoft Word. Aim for a Flesch Reading percentage of 60% or higher, which would be the reading level of a 12-year-old.

Website design By BotEap.comAre your calls to action clear and prominent enough?

Website design By BotEap.comCalls to action can sometimes get lost on “busy” web pages. This is certainly not a good thing, as they are often the most important elements on the page. Once you have your visitor on your site, you want them to take the next step, which usually involves purchasing a product or signing up for a mailing list. Buttons should be placed very close to the product and have enough white space around them to make them stand out. The more descriptive the call to action, the better, since the user is more likely to click when they are absolutely sure what that action entails.

Website design By BotEap.comDid you choose the appropriate format for your content?

Website design By BotEap.comThere are tried and tested formats that are extremely effective when presenting particular types of content. Long and complicated pieces of information can be presented in manageable chunks when published in a suitable format. When you need to explain a complex process to customers, using a bulleted step-by-step list helps users follow your instructions more easily. Guides work in a similar way and can incorporate secondary navigation, such as tabs, to distribute content among related pages. Infographics, timelines, and product reviews are also useful formats that can be used to convey your information to your readers in a clear and direct way.

Website design By BotEap.comIs your content up to date?

Website design By BotEap.comMaintaining the accuracy of the information on your website is vital to being considered professional and trustworthy. No matter what industry you’re in, it’s important to review your content regularly and see if it’s still valid. Even evergreen content like guides and FAQs should be reviewed from time to time to make sure it’s providing your readers with relevant and valuable information.