http://www.bethgsanders.com | Grammar errors, bad font choices, misspellings and cheesy stock photos are the Internet equivalent of socks with sandals — they make you look like a major dork. Learn how to polish your publications like a pro with an overview of writing tips, layout pointers and style faux pas to avoid.

1. beth g sanders
social media & online strategy | writing | wordpress
@bethgsanders | bethgsanders.com | gplus.to/bethgsanders
Friday, May 11, 12

2. ,
WOr d S
&
Friday, May 11, 12

3. Get Ready
Friday, May 11, 12

4. Who’s Your Audience?
Friday, May 11, 12

5. Pencil, Paper, Dreams
Friday, May 11, 12

6. Brainstorm
Friday, May 11, 12

7. d S
O r
W
Friday, May 11, 12

8. Friday, May 11, 12

9. Don’t
Be
This
Guy
Friday, May 11, 12

10. Friday, May 11, 12

11. 11 Errors — and a Bonus
I’m excited to be here at TechCamp Memphis!!!
Technology provides opportunities for connection and
alot of learning. Many people are intimidated by there
device’s and think if they ignore technology it will just
go away.
If your here, your probably glad its here to stay and,
other then your family, one of the last things you’d want
to loose is your internet connection.
More Technology-focused programming is needed in
Memphis. Thanks for coming.
Friday, May 11, 12

12. Why Should I Care?
• Consistency
• Professionalism
• User experience
Friday, May 11, 12

13. Friday, May 11, 12

14. Friday, May 11, 12

15. -
!: ,
Friday, May 11, 12
“”
Punctuation

16. !
Just don’t.
Unless you want to be all, “Omigosh, I
went to the mall and he is, like,
sooooo cute!”
Friday, May 11, 12

17. Just don’t.
Unless you want to be all, “Omigosh, I
went to the mall and he is, like,
sooooo cute!”
Friday, May 11, 12

18. ,
Friday, May 11, 12
The Oxford Comma

19. Apostrophes
• Never plural
• Like a toddler: possessive
,
As opposed to apostrophe’s
• Like PB without the J: missing something
Friday, May 11, 12

20. “
Quotes are for quotes.
She said, “Yes.”
Not for emphasis.
“Please Do Not Swim.”
Friday, May 11, 12

21. Friday, May 11, 12

22. Hyphens
Avoid ambiguity or for a compound modifier
• The president spoke to small business owners.
• The president spoke to small-business owners.
• She has a three-year-old child.
Friday, May 11, 12

23. •
Friday, May 11, 12
Bullets
• Consistency
• Emphasize the first few words
• No longer than three lines

24. Capitalization
Don’t Capitalize Everything.
It doesn’t make it look Important.
It makes you look Dorky.
Friday, May 11, 12

25. AP: When in doubt, prefer down & closed.
Friday, May 11, 12

26. Have Pity on
These Poor
Misused
Words
Friday, May 11, 12

27. 11 Misused Words
That Kill Puppies and Make Little Kids Cry
• Tenant/tenet: Which is a principle?
• Affect/effect: Will this _ffect my grade?
• Lose/loose: Which means not tight?
• Mute/moot: Which means purely academic?
• Misconception/misnomer: The same?
Friday, May 11, 12

28. • Laxadaisical: This word does not exist.
• Momentarily/in a moment: Interchangeable?
• Adverse/averse: Which means against?
• Criteria/criterion: Criterion is singular.
• Farther/further: Physical distance?
• Sight/site: Which is a location?
Friday, May 11, 12

29. Use Pronouns Like a Pro
I/Me/Myself
• I: subject of sentence: “I went to the store.”
• Me: object of sentence: “John hit me.”
• Myself: when you are the subject and the object.
“I see myself in the mirror.”
• Never say, “John and myself went to the store,” or
“Call John or myself with questions.”
• The remove John test
Friday, May 11, 12

30. Don’t Slip on These ...
No: For all intensive purposes ...
Yes: For all intents and purposes ...
No: Help your critters produce less litters.
Yes: Help your critters produce fewer litters.
No: Over 60 people came to TechCamp.
Yes: More than 60 people came to TechCamp.
Friday, May 11, 12

31. Friday, May 11, 12

32. Friday, May 11, 12

33. Use Photos Well
• Stock photos are ok, but your own are better.
• Use action shots and interesting angles.
• Be sure photos fit your style.
• Faces pull eyeballs.
• Crop outside the box.
Friday, May 11, 12

34. Friday, May 11, 12

35. A photo is a
great background
for copy,
but choose
colors carefully.
Friday, May 11, 12

36. Friday, May 11, 12

37. Friday, May 11, 12

38. Friday, May 11, 12

39. Type
Friday, May 11, 12

40. Use Type Well
• Stay classy; ban Comic Sans.
• Use novelty fonts sparingly.
• Pay attention to leading/line-height.
Friday, May 11, 12

41. Justification: Unjustified
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,
consectetur adipiscing elit. consectetur adipiscing elit. consectetur adipiscing elit.
Etiam sapien orci, ullamcorper Etiam sapien orci, ullamcorper Etiam sapien orci, ullamcorper
ac convallis vel, volutpat vitae ac convallis vel, volutpat vitae ac convallis vel, volutpat vitae
nulla. Nam a nibh lectus. Class Text
Text
nulla. Nam a nibh lectus. Class nulla. Nam a nibh lectus. Class
aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora
torquent per conubia nostra, torquent per conubia nostra, torquent per conubia nostra,
per inceptos himenaeos. per inceptos himenaeos. per inceptos himenaeos.
Nullam eleifend rutrum ante. Nullam eleifend rutrum ante. Nullam eleifend rutrum ante.
Nam rhoncus est id tellus Nam rhoncus est id tellus Nam rhoncus est id tellus
aliquam interdum. Maecenas aliquam interdum. Maecenas aliquam interdum. Maecenas
vel arcu ac tortor feugiat vel arcu ac tortor feugiat vel arcu ac tortor feugiat
facilisis. facilisis. facilisis.
Friday, May 11, 12

42. Friday, May 11, 12

43. Online Content
• Use inverted pyramid style for copy.
• Bullet points > paragraphs.
• Images are power.
Friday, May 11, 12

44. Please Don’t Autoplay ...
Even if it’s really awesome.
Friday, May 11, 12

45. Don’t Get Me Lost
• Breadcrumbs keep the reader oriented.
• Always have a one-click way back home.
• Make your navigation logical.
Friday, May 11, 12

46. Choose
Color
Carefully
Friday, May 11, 12

47. Integrate
Social
Friday, May 11, 12

48. Feed Me
Friday, May 11, 12

49. WordPress
• Full-featured content management system
• Ability to customize as needed
• Wide variety of themes
Friday, May 11, 12

50. WOr d S
• AP is your BFF. Text
Text
• Mind your Ps and Qs (Not P’s and Q’s).
• Be strong and active.
Friday, May 11, 12

51. • Be real. Text
Text
• Evoke emotion.
• Use white space to highlight.
Friday, May 11, 12

52. • Text
Invert your pyramid.
Text
• Don’t annoy.
• Feed your reader.
Friday, May 11, 12

53. ?
Friday, May 11, 12

54. Friday, May 11, 12

55. beth g sanders
slideshare.net/bgsand
@bethgsanders | bethgsanders.com
linkedin.com/in/bethgsanders | gplus.to/bethgsanders
Friday, May 11, 12