Even websites with very little text cannot do entirely without text. Without text, there are no answers to questions like:
- Why does this website exist?
- What goal does this website aim to achieve?
- How can I get in touch or start a dialogue?
Writing Website Text with Stopping Power
When you meet someone for the first time, the first impression is crucial. We are extremely quick, within one second, at forming an impression. Research shows that this first impression determines 80% of what you think about someone and is difficult to change. A “wrong” impression can abruptly end or complicate contact. Online is no different. One wrong message, and visitors to your website are gone in the blink of an eye. However, if your message has enough “stopping power,” they are truly engaged, giving you the chance to persuade them.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
We just discussed the importance of text on your website once visitors have found it. However, text also contributes to your discoverability. Search engines exclusively use the text on a website to determine its relevance for a specific search query. Factors like keyword density, word count, uniqueness, etc., determine its ranking in search results. Only 10% of traffic goes to search results beyond the top 3, so considering SEO in your website text is essential.
Conclusion
Whether a text is short or long, catchy or very informative, text is the core of every website. While in real-life encounters, you can convey non-verbal messages, it’s challenging with a website. Without text, there’s no communication, and without communication, there’s no connection, dialogue, or business. How do you handle website texts? Do you write them yourself or have them done by someone else? We’d love to hear from you on Twitter and LinkedIn. Need concrete assistance with website text writing? Contact us.
A beautiful example of a website with lots of visuals (design) and minimal text: http://www.bienvillecapital.com/
Next week, we will explain why many website builders often deliver websites with little text and how you can deal with it. Interested in another aspect of website text? Check our overview of articles we’ve already written or plan to write.