This link has been bookmarked by 199 people and liked by 1 people. It was first bookmarked on 09 Jun 2008, by someone privately.
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14 Aug 14
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24 Oct 12
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On the Web, users are engaged and want to go places and get things done. The Web is an active medium.
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The headline lacks keywords — such as "airline seat" and "hotel bed" — that are important for search engine optimization (SEO). No one will search "curse" when trying to find out which hotel chains offer extra-long beds or which airline seats are the least unpleasant for long-legged travelers.
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The Web rewards comprehensive coverage that's more specific than print content.
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This more detailed approach works online because the content is searchable and you can sort and present it in personalized views for each user.
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Print publications — from newspaper articles to marketing brochures — contain linear content that's often consumed in a more relaxed setting and manner than the solution-hunting behavior that characterizes most high-value Web use.
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Instead of a predefined narrative, websites must support the user's personal story by condensing and combining vast stores of information into something that specifically meets the user's immediate needs. Thus, instead of an author-driven narrative, Web content becomes a user-driven narrative.
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In linear media — such as print and TV — people expect you to construct their experience for them. Readers are willing to follow the author's lead.
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In non-linear hypertext, the rules reverse. Users want to construct their own experience by piecing together content from multiple sources, emphasizing their desires in the current moment.
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12 Oct 12
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13 Sep 12
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08 Sep 12
Study NotesWritten in 2008 this article may be a little old, but looks at how the form (the web) alters writing styles in comparison to that of print.
Looks at the different ways we read on the web. Does not go into any detail on social media or other web publishing platforms, is just a general view-
information-carrying content. On the Web, you must start with words like "tall traveler" because users often scan down the left part of a list of items. They never see the last words in a link unless the first few words attract their attention.
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are important for search engine optimization (SEO)
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keywords
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specific to tell users what the story is about.
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Online, the headline alone must provide enough information scent to let users predict what they'll get if they follow the link.
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This more detailed approach works online because the content is searchable and you can sort and present it in
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personalized views for each user.
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In print, you can spice up linear narrative with anecdotes and individual examples that support a storytelling approach to exposition. On the Web, such content often feels like filler; it slows down users and stands in the way of their getting to the point.
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Web content must be brief and get to the point quickly, because users are likely to be on a specific mission. In many cases, they've pulled up the page through search. Web users want actionable content; they don't want to fritter away their time on (otherwise enjoyable) stories that are tangential to their current goals.
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nstead of a predefined narrative, websites must support the user's personal story by condensing and combining vast stores of information into something that specifically meets the user's immediate needs. Thus, instead of an author-driven narrative, Web content becomes a user-driven narrative.
Print's narrative exposition calls for well-crafted, complete sentences. Online, less so. Fragments often let you pull information-carrying keywords to the front, while also reducing froufrou word count. Because Web users read only 18% of added verbiage, cutting words is well worth the accusing squiggles that MS Word will throw at your sentence fragments.
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In linear media — such as print and TV — people expect you to construct their experience for them. Readers are willing to follow the author's lead.
In non-linear hypertext, the rules reverse. Users want to construct their own experience by piecing together content from multiple sources, emphasizing their desires in the current moment. People arrive at a website with a goal in mind, and they are ruthless in pursuing their own interest and in rejecting whatever the site is trying to push
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27 Aug 12
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27 Jul 12
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17 Jun 12
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E-Learning: An Oxymoron?
I continue to believe in the linear, author-driven narrative for educational purposes. I just don't believe the Web is optimal for delivering this experience. Instead, let's praise old narrative forms like books and sitting around a flickering campfire — or its modern day counterpart, the PowerPoint projector — which have been around for 500 and 32,000 years, respectively.I continue to write books, and I continue to develop training seminars, because I believe these media are best for deep learning of new concepts.
We should accept that the Web is too fast-paced for big-picture learning. No problem; we have other media, and each has its strengths. At the same time, the Web is perfect for narrow, just-in-time learning of information nuggets — so long as the learner already has the conceptual framework in place to make sense of the facts.
For example, I dated "learning around the campfire" to 32,000 years ago to coincide with the emergence of high culture and the Cro-Magnons. Not that the Neanderthals didn't have campfires — they simply didn't have the cultural depth of modern humans, so I don't think their storytelling was equal to my seminars. So, did I actually remember that Cro-Magnon culture started 32,000 years ago with the Lascaux cave paintings? No, I looked that little fact up online.
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30 May 12
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- On the Web, users are engaged and want to go places and get things done. The Web is an active medium.
- While watching TV, viewers want to be entertained. They are in relaxation mode and vegging out; they don't want to make choices. TV is a passive medium.
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30 Mar 12
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09 Mar 12
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27 Feb 12
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23 Feb 12
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17 Feb 12
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- On the Web, users are engaged and want to go places and get things done. The Web is an active medium.
- While watching TV, viewers want to be entertained. They are in relaxation mode and vegging out; they don't want to make choices. TV is a passive medium.
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15 Feb 12
Adam OrrUseful information from Nielsen on writing for the web. In addition, just glance at the page and recognize how similar the content style is to many of our forum postings...
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26 Oct 11
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22 Oct 11
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- On the Web, users are engaged and want to go places and get things done. The Web is an active medium.
- While watching TV, viewers want to be entertained. They are in relaxation mode and vegging out; they don't want to make choices. TV is a passive medium.
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The first 3 words have no information-carrying content
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The headline lacks keywords
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The words "tall traveler's curse" are insufficiently specific to tell users what the story is about.
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The Web rewards comprehensive coverage that's more specific than print content.
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On the Web, such content often feels like filler; it slows down users and stands in the way of their getting to the point
-
We should accept that the Web is too fast-paced for big-picture learning. No problem; we have other media, and each has its strengths. At the same time, the Web is perfect for narrow, just-in-time learning of information nuggets
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10 Jun 11
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26 May 11
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21 Feb 11
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14 Feb 11
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- On the Web, users are engaged and want to go places and get things done. The Web is an active medium.
- While watching TV, viewers want to be entertained. They are in relaxation mode and vegging out; they don't want to make choices. TV is a passive medium.
-
In linear media — such as print and TV — people expect you to construct their experience for them. Readers are willing to follow the author's lead.
In non-linear hypertext, the rules reverse. Users want to construct their own experience by piecing together content from multiple sources, emphasizing their desires in the current moment. People arrive at a website with a goal in mind, and they are ruthless in pursuing their own interest and in rejecting whatever the site is trying to push. Banner blindness is only the most extreme manifestation of this selfishness.
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22 Sep 09
AlyxGormanThis piece compares the different strategies one uses when writing online, and writing for print. It argues that, while online writing should seek to be simple, informative and easy to skim, print writing should aim to capture and keep an audience through more complex, narrative and evocative styles.
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25 Jan 09
pirkkaaunolaLinear vs. non-linear. Author-driven vs. reader-driven. Storytelling vs. ruthless pursuit of actionable content. Anecdotal examples vs. comprehensive data. Sentences vs. fragments.
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17 Jan 09
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04 Jan 09
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31 Dec 08
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26 Nov 08
Mark GearyUsers want to construct their own experience by piecing together content from multiple sources, emphasizing their desires in the current moment. People arrive at a website with a goal in mind, and they are ruthless in pursuing their own interest and in re
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11 Oct 08
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26 Sep 08
Alex HorstmannLinear vs. non-linear. Author-driven vs. reader-driven. Storytelling vs. ruthless pursuit of actionable content. Anecdotal examples vs. comprehensive data. Sentences vs. fragments.
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03 Sep 08
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20 Aug 08
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16 Jul 08
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14 Jul 08
xavier de stoppaniretour sur ce qui différencie l'actu print, tv et Web, du pape de la usability
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09 Jul 08
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30 Jun 08
jezchatfieldUsability and writing style - tips for web copywriting.
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26 Jun 08
michelemmartinUsers want to construct their own experience by piecing together content from multiple sources, emphasizing their desires in the current moment. People arrive at a website with a goal in mind, and they are ruthless in pursuing their own interest
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25 Jun 08
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24 Jun 08
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21 Jun 08
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19 Jun 08
sandra rogersE-Learning: An Oxymoron?
I continue to believe in the linear, author-driven narrative for educational purposes. I just don't believe the Web is optimal for delivering this experience. Instead, let's praise old narrative forms like books and sitting aroundeducation media design writing e-learning CTET_COP for:bjeib for:iningchao 2010_12_16_delicious_import
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18 Jun 08
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Adriana Lukasexcellent tips for writing etc. but disagree that the web is not good for big picture learning - I think it's much better at that than old style education or narrative. More complex and non-linear and thus closer to the nature of reality. And often unmedi
writing communications copywriting creative howto jakobnielsen reading publishing style resources usability delicious
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17 Jun 08
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Lynne Jones"Linear vs. non-linear. Author-driven vs. reader-driven. Storytelling vs. ruthless pursuit of actionable content. Anecdotal examples vs. comprehensive data. Sentences vs. fragments.
by zaidlearn " -
Zaid Ali AlsagoffLinear vs. non-linear. Author-driven vs. reader-driven. Storytelling vs. ruthless pursuit of actionable content. Anecdotal examples vs. comprehensive data. Sentences vs. fragments.
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16 Jun 08
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Web content must be brief and get to the point quickly, because users are likely to be on a specific mission.
-
Web users want actionable content
-
Fragments often let you pull information-carrying keywords to the front, while also reducing froufrou word count.
-
Web users read only 18% of added verbiage
-
We should accept that the Web is too fast-paced for big-picture learning.
-
the Web is perfect for narrow, just-in-time learning of information nuggets
-
People arrive at a website with a goal in mind, and they are ruthless in pursuing their own interest and in rejecting whatever the site is trying to push.
-
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Ian UsherJakob Nielsen doesn't get e-learning. Oh, and apparently PowerPoint is potentially thousands of years old... or maybe it just feels like that.
media communication webdesign usability web writing copywriting elearning e-learning bogus misunderstanding
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15 Jun 08
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Writing Style for Print vs. Web
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14 Jun 08
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On the Web, users are engaged and want to go places and get things done. The Web is an active medium.
-
Web content must be brief and get to the point quickly, because users are likely to be on a specific mission. In many cases, they've pulled up the page through search. Web users want actionable content; they don't want to fritter away their time on (otherwise enjoyable) stories that are tangential to their current goals.
-
support the user's personal story by condensing and combining vast stores of information into something that specifically meets the user's immediate needs.
-
Web is too fast-paced for big-picture learning. No problem; we have other media, and each has its strengths. At the same time, the Web is perfect for narrow, just-in-time learning of information nuggets — so long as the learner already has the conceptual framework in place to make sense of the facts.
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13 Jun 08
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12 Jun 08
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11 Jun 08
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Andrius MazeikaLinear vs. non-linear. Author-driven vs. reader-driven. Storytelling vs. ruthless pursuit of actionable content. Anecdotal examples vs. comprehensive data. Sentences vs. fragments.
usability web writing media print comparison article content communication
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posavasosLinear vs. non-linear. Author-driven vs. reader-driven. Storytelling vs. ruthless pursuit of actionable content. Anecdotal examples vs. comprehensive data. Sentences vs. fragments.
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