How to Write Technically for the Lay Person
Different types of topics would demand different types of writing skills and flair to reach its target audience. This is especially true for technical contents unlike writing fiction or biographies which may inspire a lot of flowery language, metaphors and allegories. Elements such as striking words, phrases and idioms could be found in long sentences to make the contents more attractive and catchy to targeted readers.
Technical Writing Style
However, it is not the same with technical writing where the contents are different. Website contents need to be presented in a different manner that would interest intended readers who are potential business customers or buyers. Websites contain information pertaining to the brand and its services or products which must convict readers into call to action responses.
Technical writing is not as simple as with other forms of writing; there is the need to present the contents aptly for the understanding of readers to make decisions. The web content needs to be clearly representative of the brand and the company on its products and services. Technical writing is applied to web content presentations as good contents at the websites are instrumental in winning over the likes of search engines such as Google with its SEO elements and nuances of content marketing. There are backlinks included to direct potential business leads to the website that would boost sales and profits for the company.
Any website content or online business application requires a strong technical presentation that would convey the business message aptly for the lay person to make a favorable purchase or support decision to the brand or company. There are certain tips which could be applied to ensure the right writing structure observed for the best of business results.
1) Know Target Audience
It is vital for the technical writer to know the intended or target audience for any web content to be presented on the site. Every business or brand would have its targeted audiences at different times or seasons depending on the business objectives and products or services promoted.
Knowing the target audience helps the technical writer stay focused on the task at hand. It could be business investors or corporate clients who require the best of business information told at their level as they are all lay persons. They are busy and not technically inclined to decipher strong technical terminologies or explanations. Hence, the vocabulary in any technical writing must be outright simple, if lay readers are the focus of the article.
There should not be too many technical words or flowery constructs used in the article which could confuse the lay reader. A clear and simple presentation for the intended reader would be the best approach in the technical writing of website articles.
2) Discover Not Dictate
Technical writings do not need to dictate or describe everything in detail concerning the products or services. The readers would want to discover the intended treasure gradually as they proceed to the various pages as directed by the web contents if presented in an interesting manner.
Such technical writing would stir up the curiosity of the readers with a stronger persuasion to follow the listed instructions in visiting more pages on the site in a session. This would increase the length of time spent on the site to reduce the bounce rate. This also increases the chances of a purchase or proper call to action by the reader.
It is the nature of consumers to discover and not be dictated in what they should buy or support in this era where information is so readily available to them at their fingertips.
3) Simplicity in Sentences with Active Voice
Every website is set up to attract potential business customers or investors; hence, it is unnecessary to over elaborate technical contents of this space as most web visitors are mainly busy consumers who tend to skim over the contents to catch the gist before making a decision on the brand or company.
It is better to keep contents written in a simple manner such as short sentences which would capture readers’ attention and create better understanding of the contents than generating confusion with long sentences. Many consumers lose their focus over long sentences, especially with technical terms included.
The use of active voice in a sentence helps direct web readers’ attention as it would seem that a personal connection is being activated. This makes the web readers feel special and important as they read the web contents. They are likely to make favorable decisions on the brand and company.
4) Be Assertive
It is necessary for the content writer to be assertive instead of assuming that every visitor should be informed of the brand or company. There are many web visitors who are ignorant of the brand or company; much less of the products or services offered. Hence, it is important to write confidently about the brand and company with absolute authority and command that impress the readers.
A strong but professional assertion would attract potential business leads seeking for further information and solutions to their needs and wants. There is confidence oozing out of a professional assertion to win over consumers searching to satisfy their needs.
5) Avoid Use of Jargon
The website is meant for lay persons seeking information or solutions for a need or purpose. Hence, the use of jargon should be avoided even in a technical article. Website writers need to bear in mind that not every web visitor understands bombastic words or technical terms as they are non-specialists in language or industry.
The necessity of jargons such as technical or niche terms should be clarified simply or through hyperlinks for further information.
6) Compliment Images with Text
Images are highly impressive on a website, but images without text description could be meaningless or confusing. The web readers may not understand the image displayed without proper text to explain it.
Relevant text should be included with the image regardless of how short or simple the text description may be. This would enhance the visuals to make the site or contents more captivating for readers.