Navigation and Usability

Usability and Navigation are main components to a sites success. If the writing is good, but the usability of the site, like links and search engines, are not working or present then the success of the site is going to falter.

Usability

When writing for Web Based Media, a major thing to remember is to keep the writing scan-able. Readers should be able to process and understand your main points quickly. "Scanners need clues, signposts and highlights, so content should be shaped for scanning. This means, among other things, using headings, deckheads, subheads, hyperlinks, lists and some changes in font or type." Writers for Web Based Media should use the inverted pyramid style writing. This means that the most important information comes first and then trickles down to the details to back up the important information.

Navigation

Navigation within your site or post leads to higher following and more consistent readership. If you add a search engine into your site, then you are allowing your readers higher access to old posts which adds to the consistency and focus of your site.

Links

The reason writers for web based media should provide links:

*link to another article or site are to  provide attribution 
*provides context for your article  
*giving readers extras

Consistency

Remaining consistent in focus and posts allows readers to better understand and return to your writings. When writing a post, redundancy is key. Repeating yourself and going back to main points allows readers to remain focused and remember what you are writing about in the first place.

References:

1. Carrol, Brian. (2010). "Writing for Digital Media". New York: Routledge. Retrieved 29 Oct 2012.
2. Usability.gov." Home | Usability.gov. United State Government, n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2012. <http://usability.gov/>.