Internet readers read differently than print readers. Most web readers don’t read every word of your website, blog and sales letters and instead, scan your adcopy quickly and efficiently.

The internet readers who land on your website are in a hurry. They’re looking for specific information and don’t have the time to hunt through screen after screen of text to find what they’re looking for. If your web copy is a hassle or struggle to read, your readers will quickly abandon you and move on.

Therefore, when you are writing for today’s internet audience make sure that your information is easy to understand, easy to find and easy to follow.

Here are 10 Golden Rules when writing for the internet:

1.  Always include a compelling headline. You only have three short seconds to capture your prospect’s attention, so spend plenty of time creating a headline that sells itself.

2.  Make sure to include the most important information at the very beginning of your page. Think of this as an “inverted pyramid.” Internet readers need to find out why your product or service is important to them immediately.

3.  Write short sentences of 20-25 words.

4.  Your paragraphs should only consist of 3-5 sentences each.

5.  Break up your content with bullet points, dashes, numbered lists, etc.

6.  Use sub-headings within your writing to separate ideas for the reader. This keeps your pages more scannable and it is easier for readers to move from idea to idea.

7.  Use action words to keep your writing actively moving forward.

8.  Avoid hard-to-read italics and mixing too many fonts.

9.  Write directly to your reader.

10.  ALWAYS proofread and spell check your work.

Successful marketers understand that all ad-copy, whether it is part of your website, emails, or sales letter, starts with a compelling headline. That simple, little headline at the top of your page is absolutely vital to your success, for its job is to reach out and grab your reader’s attention and keep them reading.

Well, there’s good news and bad news. Here’s the bad news: you only have three seconds to grab your reader’s attention. If your headline isn’t exciting, intriguing and interesting, your reader will stop reading and soon forget about you.

But, here’s the good news: I am going to share with you seven “headline templates” that have proven to work time and time again, producing eye-popping results.

Here they are, in no certain order:

1) The “How-to” Headline
“How To Stop Smoking In 7 Days”

2) The Testimonial Headline
“I Was Able To Tap Into Pam’s Marketing System and Double My Profits Overnight!” – John Brown, Lansing, MI

3) The Headline That Offers a Benefit
Find Out The Secrets of Throwing Away Your List Of Tired Old Leads and Instead Have Prospects Chasing You!”

4) The Question Headline
“Do You Toss and Turn All Night Long?”

5) The Headline That Provides a Solution
“Your dandruff will disappear after one shampoo”

6) The Personalized Headline
“Mary, How Would YOU Like To Lose 5 Pounds This Week?”

7) The Headline That Offers A Guarantee
“I Guarantee That You Will Make An Extra $500 Or I Will Personally Write You a Check For Double Your Money Back!”

Another simple trick is to use “power words” in your headlines. These words create an emotional connection with your readers and dramatically increase the success of your headline. Caution: only use these power words if you are looking for BIG results!

• Amazing
• Announcing
• Advice To
• At Last
• Bargains
• Breakthrough
• Discover
• Do You
• Enormous
• Facts
• Finally
• Free
• Great News
• Guaranteed
• Here
• How Much
• Inside Secrets Of…
• Innovative
• Love
• Only
• Proven
• Sale
• This
• Which
• Yes

 So, the next time you sit down to write a headline for your landing page, online newsletter or blog, take the time to create a dazzling headline that instantly captures your reader’s attention.