This article is focused on helping new writers switching from the offline world to online world. If you are already a great writer in the offline world, for example magazines, you need to adjust a bit when writing online content.  Do not be afraid, online content writing is quite easy. Most of the differences relate to articles being easy to read and skim. Biggest differences are in the structure, but there are also textual differences.

Structure Differences with Online and Offline Articles

Online articles are shorter
It is common that online articles have only 200-500 words per article. In magazines articles often have a thousand or more words.

Online articles have shorter paragraphs
People online have shorter time spans and people often search quickly for answers. This means that concentrated posts are better. Short paragraphs are easy to read.

Links and embedded content
In online articles you can add links and other embedded content to make your article more interesting. In the offline world you can only use pictures.

Textual differences

Online articles are more informal
Normally the tone in online articles is more informal and the articles are more subjective. Writers can express their own opinions more freely in online articles than in offline articles.

High points are often highlighted
Often, noteworthy points are highlighted to help finding the essence of the article.

Online articles contain lists
Lists are easy to read and to comprehend. That is why online articles have a lot of lists.

Conclusion

  • Online articles are easy to skim and read fast.
  • Maximise the ease of your readers to be a good online writer
  • Write the essence and nothing more