This new article about writing income-generating Web copy is for your readers who sell products or services from their Web site. Thanks for considering it for an upcoming issue of your newsletter.

Yours,

Scott T. Smith publisher, 'Starting Point' newsletter 800.798.4471 | +1 406.585.0181

http://www.copywriting.net

(624 words)

'Writing Income-Generating Web Site'

Your Web site has a single motive:

To 'ignite' your visitors to take action.

This prime motive is behind every element of your Web site design and content. Start with idea that you have one chance to reach your customers. They will never return to your site unless you make it worth their while, and they will not buy unless you encourage/force/ask them to.

This will impact 3 prime elements working together in any excellent Web site ‹ mechanics, content, and design. Right now, let's focus on mechanics of writing.

Your Template for Success

Here is a simple template for a Web site which you can readily adapt to meet your needs. Use it as a jumping-off point for an income-generating Web presence.

The 3-Part Home Page & MUST-HAVE Button

1. Headline

A strong, enticing headline is most important element of your home page, because it is first impression you make on your visitors. Make it complete enough to provide real food for thought, and long enough for any graphics to load further down on page.

The secret to a good Web headline is that visitors want to read about THEMSELVES, not about you. Their first question will always be:

'What's in this Web site for me?'

That's what you need to tell them right away. State a benefit that clearly enhances their life, using power words such as 'Discover', 'Announcing', 'Breakthrough', 'Facts', 'New', 'Now', 'Save', 'Yes' ‹ all words that are active, grab attention of your visitors, and promise them something.

What is an interactive element? For purposes of this section, I am defining it as a way to cause visitor to a web site to interact with either other visitors or webmaster. Examples include email forms, chat scripts and games. You can also add tools such as dictionary lookup boxes, weather reports and code generators.

If you are a beginning webmaster, if you are creating a simple homepage or if you do not have access to server-side scripting (a method to cause web server to do tasks for you), then what you will need to do is find outside services to host your interactive capabilities. These services can be bought (usually for a minor fee) or will will be free and display ads.

The advantages of free services are that they are free, relatively bullet-proof (usually) and generally straightforward to use. The major disadvantage is that they must make money indirectly through use of advertisements. Sometimes this is just a simple banner, and more obnoxious services remove your visitor totally from your website and plant them on theirs. The other disadvantage is you tend to lose visitors by using these free services, as it is their goal to get them to click on an advertisement, not to get people to stay on your site.