How to Write News Updates for a Website

Create a vibrant homepage with well-written, concise news items. Information on the Internet needs to be straightforward, clean and a bit clever.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Keep it simple. Short, succinct sentences work best on a website. Do not structure complex sentences that are hard to get through.

2. Write short paragraphs. Generally, do not include more than three sentences per paragraph.

3. Get to the meat of the topic, quick. Do not use any filler introductions such as "believe it or not," etc. People reading news on the Internet want information that's to the point.

4. Communicate the most important details at the beginning of the news item. Online readers move from article to article rather quickly. Say what you need to right away.

5. Structure news items so they are easy to scan. Many readers simply scan for the details they need. Organize information with numbered or bulleted lists for better readability.

6. Write snappy headlines. Draw the reader in so he wants more information and details.

7. Be sure your headline indicates exactly what the reader can find in the article. Vague headlines are usually ignored and scanned over.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have limited space on your homepage, create links to pages with more information. News items can be a bit longer in nature, just easy to navigate and read.
• Be sure a news item or web article is timely. Change news items frequently to create a lively and relevant website. Provide updates at least once every two days.