A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of writing content reviews for a small number of web sites, some of which needed a bit of assistance. Following the review, I was overwhelmed with an avalanche of requests from other web site creators asking for content reviews of their sites. As I tackled the challenge of evaluating the number of sites submitted, I was pleasantly surprised to discover phenomenal services, products and ideas that truly deserve applause, but more importantly I discovered numerous sites that illustrate the use of good web site content.
Although I am not a web master, I do have some specific criteria for deciding which sites make it into my “Best of the Best” list and which ones don’t. With that in mind, I evaluated the sites by what I experienced when visiting them. Did the site’s content inspire me to stay or did I lose interest immediately? Would I trust and use the services of the sites I reviewed? Did the site’s text carry a message of originality?
No matter how lovely a site or impressive the technology, the site has to communicate something that encourages one to stay. The following few sites get an A+ for creating content that communicated something interesting, credible and original. Some are not extravagant in design but deserve recognition for their tone, innovation and excellent choice of verbiage.
hannabery.com
My first thought as I typed in the URL for the hannabery.com site was ‘what could possibly be interesting about an HVAC site?’ I was in for a surprise. Filled with hot tips and cool products, this heating and air conditioning site goes above and beyond what one would expect at an HVAC site. This site’s content conveys warmth, excellent customer service and business integrity. If the site content is any indication of their customer service, it’s easy to see why they have been chosen Eastern Philadelphia’s premier heating and air conditioning contractors.
http://www.hannabery.com/
huronhardwoods.com
Every chef knows that wooden cutting boards are better than marble or plastic, which is what the Huron Hardwoods site is about. Once again, the originality and interesting copy used to explain simple, yet useful wooden products intrigued me. Using imagination and originality to share their products, Huron Hardwoods achieves the goal of creating effective, dynamic copy. Just after 9/11 the two creators were laid off from long standing jobs but instead of focusing on the negative, they put their heads together and developed something original and unique.
http://www.huronhardwoods.com
menessentials.com
This web site is chock full of interesting content geared specifically for men only, although I believe women will add the site to their favorite list as well. As pioneers of the exclusive men’s grooming site, menessentials introduces the male population to the finest skin care, hair care, shave/shower products, skin care tips and grooming advice. As with all good web site content, the site is brimming with well written tips, suggestions and great advice. Keeping each section brief and to the point, the site uses simplicity to get their message across. I believe most men will enjoy browsing through all the good articles, great grooming advice and innovative products.
http://www.menessentials.com
skinewgen.com
Anyone interested in learning to ski will love this site. Obviously, the individual coaches are passionate about skiing, snowboarding and teaching, but more than that, past visitors exuberantly sing the praises of the ski school. Taking advantage of their numerous testimonials, the creators of this site use good references as a means of increased credibility. Besides all the well written content and positive tone of the site, great comments from the media adds to the trustworthiness of the New Generation Ski School in the French Alps.
http://www.skinewgen.com
bugbog.com
An independent, impartial travel guide, bugbog is jam packed with important tips and travel advice for those planning a holiday or vacation. The well written travel portal leaves no stone unturned in regard to travel information along with guides to safaris, exotic spots, beaches and resorts around the world. Chock-full of excellent tourist information that includes festival dates, travel pictures, health & safety advice, plus thousands of useful links for the traveler, the well thought out site explains in detail exactly what one needs to know when making an informed travel decision.
http://www.bugbog.com
jspbooks.com
A schoolteacher for many years and now a published author, Saundra introduces us to William the Westie, Marla the Cat and Sheba the Cockatoo, characters created with children in mind. Although there isn’t a lot of copy on the site, I believe it is a great example of how less can often be more. As you scan over the adorable animal personalities you’ll find interesting copy about the charming characters. The simplicity of the site works well and the winsome characters are fun to observe.
http://www.jspbooks.com
countrycousins.co.uk
The creators of this site opened my eyes and my heart to a special corner of the unspoiled French region of Roussillion, and the Eastern or Mediterranean Pyrenees. Using words and phrases that whet my travel appetite, the site’s content is brimming with tales, tips, photos and informative articles. The warm, inviting descriptions depict the best mountains, plains, rivers and beaches in a part of the world that has remained a guarded secret for far too long.
http://www.countrycousins.co.uk
I hope you enjoy visiting the interesting sites that I’ve reviewed as much as I enjoyed reviewing them. Once again I want to reiterate that the most important aspect of good web copy is to build consumer confidence. Some people make the mistake of trying to include too much information which can act as a deterrent. A good rule of thumb when writing content for your site is to use captions to highlight paragraphs, create brief sections with added bulleted phrases rather than long explanations, and most importantly, keep it simple. What you say and how you say it is the key to a successful web site.
Charlene Rashkow brings 15 years of experience as a Writing Stylist and Author to her creative efforts as a freelance business writer/consultant. She has successfully helped companies and individuals reach their objectives by writing outstanding press releases, bios, articles of interest, business plans, resumes, web site content and all other forms of marketing material. To speak with Charlene you may contact her at http://www.allyourwritingneeds.com or write her at info@allyourwritingneeds.com. You can also call her directly at (310) 514-4844
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