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Issue 4original publication: August 9, 2001 last updated: August 18, 2006

Feature Article: Is Your Site's Content Getting Your Message Across? by Deborah Christie, POP Interactive

Q When it comes to content, the most frequent question we hear is how do I create high impact, web friendly copy?

A From your taglines to your text, with a little research and effort you can greatly increase the impact and readability of your site. So if you are looking for a relatively simple way to enhance your site, we suggest you start with your content. To get you started we offer the following resources:

• Network Solutions Articles: Creating A Reader-Friendly Site [http://networksolutions.com/en_US/promotions/articles/landing_friendly.html]
  [Editor's Note: This link is no longer available.]
• useit.com: Tagline Blues - What's the Site About? [http://www.useit.com/alertbox/20010722.html]
• About.com: How to Write for the Web [http://webdesign.about.com/library/howto/htwrite.htm]
  [Editor's Note: This link is no longer available]
• WebTechiques.com: Effective Web Writing [http://www.webtechniques.com/archives/2001/02/kilian/]

And on the lighter side, for those of you who find yourselves completely stumped in developing engaging copy or just in need of a good laugh...

• dack.com: Web Economy B******* Generator [http://www.dack.com/web/bullshit.html]

Do You Know Where To Go To Get Great Content?

Q If you aren't asking where you can great content to enhance your site, our question is why aren't you?

A There are many terrific sources offering everything from cartoons to daily industry news that you can readily add to your site. Below we offer you links to just a few:

• iSyndicate:

  Free Content Service [http://affiliate.isyndicate.com/]

  Fee-based Services [http://www.isyndicate.com/]

  [Editor's Note: This product is no longer available]
• uclick [http://content.uclick.com/]
• ScreamingMedia [http://www01.screamingmedia.com/en/]
  [Editor's Note: This product is no longer available]

QUICK TIP: Is Your (File Not Found) Error Message Showing?

You work so hard to attract visitors. Make sure you don't lose them when they try to reach your site from search engines, links and bookmarks that point at pages that have been moved or removed. If you do not set up a custom page your visitors will automatically be shown the server default error message.

• Sample Custom Page [http://www.microsoft.com/missingpage]
• Sample Server Default Error Message [http://www.internic.net/missingpage]

The typically simple process of creating a custom page will ensure your visitors are never confronted with the decidedly un-(user)friendly error.

• Research Lab: This resource should answer your questions about how to set up a custom page. If you are using shared hosting you should check with your hosting company to see if this can be done and, if so, how to do it. [http://www.plinko.net//custom.asp]

Footnote: In case you are wondering, POP is in the process of moving our hosting so temporarily you will not be able to find our own custom page.

Copyright © 2001 POP Interactive, Inc.
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