Struggling to write perfect copy for your website? Here are 5 books to help guide you. They’re either venerable classics or new on the market – plus, you can have them on your bookshelves or saved in your bookmarks.
Don’t Make Me Think!
Steve Krug
Simple and readable – that’s the digital content that Krug prescribes and also the way this book is written. Ever since its release, this book has inspired those writing copy for the web. It comes with handy tips for writing sites with easy-to-understand rationale. As a bonus, it’s eminently quotable in the face of opposition to your content marketing plan.
Hot Text: Web Writing that Works
Jonathan and Lisa Price
By using before-and-afters, Jonathan and Lisa Price clearly show you how good copywriting improves usability. It’s a useful device and one that you can easily show to colleagues and clients. As well as digital copywriting tips, it even gives advice on starting your career in content. Much of the book is available free on the authors’ website.
Fear and Self-loathing in Email Marketing
Dela Quist
Published online by email agency AlchemyWorx, this is a unique take on the particulars of email marketing. Quist has over 20 years of experience in the industry and debunks a few misconceptions – the big one being that unopened emails are bad for business. He argues that unopened emails can be just as effective at increasing awareness of your company.
Letting Go of the Words
Ginny Radish
Radish is a linguistics expert who looks at web writing from a usabilitypoint of view. It’s a great read for newcomers to web writing and comes with examples of best practice. It helps those writing copy for the web with in-depth analysis of wording, typography and layout.
Style: Toward Clarity and Grace
Joseph M Williams
Williams looks at how sentences and paragraphs can be arranged for the best outcome. His analysis of syntax leads onto a discussion of how to focus your writing on the key points. By doing so, you can emphasise certain areas and write clearly for your audience.