Content Quick Tips

Owned by Catherine Foss (Unlicensed)
Jan 22, 2021
2 min read

Use exclamation points sparingly

Limit the use of exclamation points. Do not use in a page title or page name. 

Edit Article

Use adjectives sparingly

Nouns and verbs are easier for web readers to digest. Remove all non-essential adverbs and adjectives to make writing easier to read on the web.

Edit Article

Spell out confusing acronyms

 Provide a glossary for unfamiliar acronyms. If there are several terms that may be new to many audiences, include a glossary with a short definition for each word.

Edit Article

Press release archives

Archive or remove press releases more than 12 months old.

Edit Article

One main idea per page

Improve focus of webpages by having fewer main ideas/actions for the user to take. Remove content that may distract the user from what you want them to do.

Edit Article

Limit headlines to 250 characters

Headlines: 250 characters maximum

Edit Article

Keep web content concise

Aim for articles that take 7 minutes or less to read. 

Edit Article

Keep subtitles under 150 characters

Use a subtitle that complements but does not duplicate the title. Keep it short (approx. 150 characters).

Edit Article

File naming

PDF names should be lower case with dashes, no spaces. dental-handout-2017.pdf

Edit Article

File extension names

Capitalize all the letters for a file extension (and no period at the beginning), such as: e.g. PDF not .pdf or .PDF

Edit Article

Do not use vague links (click here, read more)

Vague links are bad for usability and also don't provide users with adequate information to complete an action. Use specific links such as "Download the "Practice Tips" Article (PDF)" or "Visit the Dental Practice Website".

If you must use a vague link, make sure to at least distinguish between downloading a file, visiting an external website, or visiting an internal page.

Edit Article

Do not open new windows on click

Clicking on a hyperlink should open in the same window, including internal links, external links, and PDF documents, unless there is a particular reason why opening in a new tab will improve usability.

Edit Article

Be clear, not clever

Use headlines that are direct, not clever.
“New assisted-living home will be built on Knights of Columbus property” vs
“A New Destiny for an Old Landmark”

Edit Article

Archive articles over two years old

Archive or remove news articles more than two years old.

Edit Article

"Chunk" content to improve readability

 Make it easier for readers to skim content by using subheadings and short paragraphs.