Surely you’ve heard of “low-hanging fruit.” Somebody invariably says it in a planning meeting … “What’s the low-hanging fruit?” meaning what opportunity is there to achieve/complete/do something quickly and easily that will have a positive payoff.
I use this same principle when approaching web copy. Working from a site map (and if you’re not using an information architect or IA, you’re nuts, plain and simple), I NEVER start with the home page; rather, I start with the low-hanging fruit.
I’ll write the Contact Us page and the About Us section first. Why? Because they’re usually simple, straightforward and an easy way to get me in the mindset and find the voice and tone of the company or brand. Only after I’ve built some momentum do I tackle other, more challenging pages.
There’s also something encouraging and freeing about checking off three, four or five pages of copy. And every time I share this tip in my workshop, people go nuts.
That’s the beauty of a simple, but powerful solution.
January 26th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Great tip! Plus, those are vital pages on any website or blog. There’s nothing more frustrating for a reader than to not have a means of contacting the webmaster, author, blogger, whatever…
And an “About” page gives your audience some idea of who you are, what you’re about, and why they should listen to you. Even on a site that’s not intended for profit-generating, I still consider this a key element.