Presentation for edUi 2013 in Richmond, VA. Presented by Samantha Barry and Rebecca Blakiston, University of Arizona.

1. Simply Smart:
Web Writing with Users in Mind
Samantha Barry
Rebecca Blakiston
#edUi_smart

2. How users read on the web

3. We visit websites for
information.
How much is tuition?
When do I register for classes?
Can I checkout a laptop?

4. The usability of your web writing is
important.

5. Users scan information.

6. Make your content accessible.

7. Writing for usability
Writing for usability

8. Use conversational style.

9. Use conversational style.

10. Use conversational style.

11. Relax.

12. Relax.

13. Relax.

14. Be direct and simple.

15. Be direct and simple.
Jargon
Simple language
Interlibrary loan
Borrowing from other libraries
Periodical databases
Articles
Pathfinders
Research by topic
Databases
Finding an article
Library catalog
Finding a book

16. Before

17. After
Learn how find print, electronic, and multimedia resources.

18. Before

19. After

20. Be trustworthy.

21. Organizing copy

22. Include only
what is
necessary.

23. Before
After

24. Instructions
must die.

25. Use
meaningful
headers
to create
structure.

26. Before

27. After

28. Use the power of parallelism.

29. Don’t hide links
in paragraphs of text.

30. Use links wisely.

31. Use tables for organizing
related content.

32. Use numbers for steps in a
process.

33. Share your love for
web writing

34. Give staff guidance.

35. Ensure consistency.
Reviewer edits
the page
Provider
talks to
Content
Manager
Requestor
talks to
provider
Content
Manager
creates the
page
Publisher
launches the
page

36. Questions?
Samantha Barry
samantha.l.barry@gmail.com
@az_barry
Rebecca Blakiston
blakistonr@u.library.arizona.edu
@blakistonr