Key details

Writing for the Web training, looking at the priorities and practicalities you should consider, and teaching techniques for producing effective online content.

An engaging website with a clear, concise message is an essential tool for any business. Key to this is content that is easily understood and consumed when read on-screen.

Writing for the Web training is ideal for people who are new to writing for online consumption, and those looking to improve ‘hits’ to their web site or the sales generated from it. Typical delegates include technical writers, advisors and information officers, press/communication officers, and others.

You’ll learn how to:

• Write content that can be easily read and interpreted when read on-screen.
• Overcome the challenges of Web writing.
• Get your message across clearly.
• Edit and proof-read effectively.

Writing for the Web training is arranged on-request, i.e. one-to-one training or a ‘closed course’ for your group. Your training can be tailored to take into account any existing knowledge you have, and the work you’re going to be doing.

In-class or online

This course is available in-class at eight centres or live online.

Expert trainer

Writing for the Web courses are hosted by a highly experienced instructor who has over twenty five years’ experience in a varied range of writing roles. For details, see Expert trainer.

How will I learn?

Training combines lecture, demonstration and hands-on practice.

Exercises provide activity-based experience and help build delegates’ confidence writing effectively. These exercises can be tailored to deal with issues specific to your business.

You have ample opportunity to discuss specific requirements with the trainer.

Training guide and certificate

Course delegates receive:

• A comprehensive training guide for Writing for the Web, to refer to throughout the course, and to use as a refresher back in the work-place.
• An e-certificate confirming successful completion of a Writing for the Web training course. Click here to see an example of the certificate you receive.

After course support

Following Writing for the Web training, delegates are entitled to 30 days’ email support from their trainer to help with any post-course issues. For further details, see Support.

General information

Course times

Standard course times are 9.30am–4.30pm.

As we’d be hosting this as a ‘closed course’ for you/your group, there’s usually flexibility to change these times to suit you, e.g. start or end 30 minutes earlier or later.

Payment

Payment for business writing training can be made by:

• Bank transfer. Please call 01527 834783 for our bank details.
• Card. All major credit and debit cards accepted. Payment can be made securely online or over the phone. Card payments are processed by Stripe. Armada doesn’t record or store your card details.

Purchase orders

We accept purchase orders from UK-registered companies and public sector organisations.

Accommodation

See Accommodation local to our training centres.

Cancellations and postponements

If an on-request Writing for the Web course booking is cancelled giving less than 20 working days’ notice, a cancellation fee is payable. View cancellation terms.

If an on-request Writing for the Web course booking is postponed giving less than 20 working days’ notice, a postponement fee is payable. View postponement terms.

Terms and conditions

Expert trainers

Robert Bullard

Robert has over twenty five years’ experience in a varied range of writing roles including technical author, copywriter, feature writer and freelance journalist.

He has worked for several national newspapers and magazines including The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Local Government Chronicle and Community Care, and has experience in the PR and media industries having ventured into national and regional radio, giving interviews and writing press releases.

Robert also carries out regular training course development work, and he delivers a variety of training courses in all aspects of writing for business.

He particularly enjoys relaying the knowledge he has acquired in his extensive and diverse career.

Course content

Thinking before writing

• How readers use websites
• Elements of a high-impact website
• Key differences between printed and online text
• Connecting good and bad Website characteristics to the writer’s responsibilities
• Profiling your readers with user personas

Structuring your content

• Organising information to answer user questions
• Capturing and focusing the reader’s attention
• Designing from the bottom up
• Chunking information into topics with LATCH
• Integrating the inverted pyramid principle
• Structuring for clarity and flow
• Applying a Web writing process

Writing effective site content

• Creating pages that serve the audience
• Communicating your message with effective text
• Maintaining focus
• Building effective sentences

Keeping the audience reading

• Constructing sentences with a user focus
• Crafting a powerful message
• Practicing concision
• Designing for clarity

Writing for the world

• Composing English content for a global audience
• Reducing ambiguity and complexity with controlled English

Enhancing usability and access

• Distinguishing between usability and accessibility
• Applying W3C and 508 accessibility guidelines to content
• Highlighting writing techniques that target accessibility
• Adding text to graphics for increased search results

Live online training

Live online training lets you participate in a course from your place of work or home.

We do everything possible to make your online training experience as close as possible to actually being in the classroom. You can:

• See and hear our trainer, and the other delegates participating in the course…
  
• Interact by speaking, using chat, or raising your ‘virtual hand’ if you need assistance.
• Share your screen with our trainer, and allow them to take control to explain something.

Like our in-class courses, online courses…

• Are presented by expert instructors.
• Give you plenty of opportunity to carry out assisted, practical exercises.
• Offer 30 days’ email support from your trainer.

All you need is an Internet-connected computer with a webcam and audio capability. We provide everything else…

• Links to download the files, resources, etc. you’ll use in your course.
• A training guide. For most courses, you can choose from a printed copy that we post to you, or a PDF.

In the week before your course, we’ll send you an email containing everything you need to prepare for and participate in the training. Then, a couple of days before your course, we’ll give you a courtesy call to make sure you have everything in place and answer any questions you may have.

Please note that we are not able to record scheduled online courses for privacy reasons.

When you attend live online training, you’re participating in a real course, hosted by a real trainer, in real time