As a writer who is fairly new to the startup world, I had a lot of catching up to do. Gateways, coding and platforms were things I never thought I would write about. Don’t get me wrong, but not every aspiring journalist expects to get her start in technology.

Now I can honestly say I really enjoy my experience writing for startups. I may not be a guru, but I can hold my own. That being said, after a month of self-education, and a little help from your websites, I have a request for entrepreneurs who do their own writing; before you post it, ask your mom if she understands it.

The words on your website are just as important as the coding used to create it. And if every other word is jargon only you understand, that’s going to be a problem. You can’t acquire customers if they can’t make it past the homepage. If your target audience only includes tech-savvy entrepreneurs with advanced knowledge of your product, knock yourself out. Otherwise, you’re going to have to rethink your strategy.

Tips for your web writing

Know your audience

Who is looking at your site? Is it someone who works for Google or is it the small business owner down the street? Are they familiar with services you provide, or will they have to learn about it? These are questions you are going to have to tackle before you write.

Use jargon only where necessary

If it isn’t necessary to use technical terms, don’t. People are often intimidated by what they don’t understand. If you need to, offer a brief description. It will go a long way, I promise.

Use simple sentences

The longer the sentence, the more likely it is that you will confuse your reader. Don’t use 28 words when 5 will do. You should be able to describe what your business or software does in less than 5 sentences.

Be consistent

Once you use certain words and phrases to describe what you do, keep it the same throughout the site. The chances of customers understanding your services are much better.

Q&As are your friend

Think about what questions customers will certainly ask, and provide the answers right away. This is the easiest way to clarify details or provide more advanced information for people who have advanced knowledge.

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