List Price: $49.95 Our Price: $26.98 You Save: $22.97 (46%)

Product Description

Redish has done her homework and created a thorough overview of the issues in writing for the Web. Ironically, I must recommend that you read her every word so that you can find out why your customers won't read very many words on your website -- and what to do about it.;-- Jakob Nielsen, Principal, Nielsen Norman GroupThere are at least twelve billion web pages out there. Twelve billion voices talking, but saying mostly nothing. If just 1% of those pages followed Ginnys practical, clear advice, the world would be a better place. Fortunately, you can follow her advice for 100% of your own sites pages, so pick up a copy of Letting Go of the Words and start communicating effectively today.--Lou Rosenfeld, co-author, Information Architecture for the World Wide WebOn the web, whether on the job or at home, we usually want to grab information and use it quickly. We go to the web to get answers to questions or to complete tasks to gather information, reading only what we need. We are all too busy to read much on the web.This book helps you write successfully for web users. It offers strategy, process, and tactics for creating or revising content for the web. It helps you plan, organize, write, design, and test web content that will make web users come back again and again to your site. Learn how to create usable and useful content for the web from the master Ginny Redish. Ginny has taught and mentored hundreds of writers, information designers, and content owners in the principles and secrets of creating web information that is easy to scan, easy to read, and easy to use. This practical, informative book will help anyone creating web content do it better.Features* Clearly-explained guidelines with full color illustrations and examples from actual web sites throughout the book. * Written in easy-to-read style with many ;befores; and ;afters.;* Specific guidelines for web-based press releases, legal notices, and other documents.* Tips on making web content accessible for people with special needs.Janice (Ginny) Redish has been helping clients and colleagues communicate clearly for more than 20 years. For the past ten years, her focus has been helping people create usable and useful web sites. She is co-author of two classic books on usability: A Practical Guide to Usability Testing (with Joseph Dumas), and User and Task Analysis for Interface Design (with JoAnn Hackos), and is the recipient of many awards.* Clearly-explained guidelines with full color illustrations and examples from actual web sites throughout the book.* Written in easy-to-read style with many ;befores; and ;afters.;* Specific guidelines for web-based press releases, legal notices, and other documents. * Tips on making web content accessible for people with special needs.

Customer Reviews:

• Good, but not great
  I actually met Ginny when she gave a presentation at a marketing conference. She was pushing her book and I looked forward to her insight. It turns out, a lot of what she wrote was somewhat common knowledge for me. I am no wordsmith on the web, but many of her suggestions seemed obvious. I would recommend this book to anyone who is just starting to write for the web....more info
• A paradigm shift in website writing
  This book leads the Web content author through a paradigm shift. The idea of user-centered design is not new. However, after studying Letting Go of the Words, I understand in detail how to write and design for the website user. It is practical. It is in depth....more info
• It rocks!
  Regardless of some negative reviews, I found Letting Go of the Words to be a wonderful source of do's and don'ts for writing web content and designing a web site that is easy to navigate and grab viewers' attention in a limited amount of time. The illustrations are right on and over-all the book is very helpful and written in such a way that it is not "work" to read and absorb....more info
• A Bullseye
  'Letting Go' is a wonderful guide for creating web content. It gives concrete strategies for making the words you haven't let go of truly work for your site. It teaches how to put your users first and structure and write content that will smoothly get them where they want to be and happily engage when they arrive. This book helps you to understand the logic of usability and in turn free up your creativity for making effective navigation and messaging.
  
  I recommended this to a friend of mine who is a VP of a web development company and he turned around and sent me a link to their recommendation that ALL their clients read 'Letting Go'....more info
• Dan Kowalski, Thinking Catalyst
  I am in the process of setting up my first website and needed guidance on writing the content. I turned to Letting Go of the Words by Janice (Ginny) Redish. Thank goodness I did.
  
  This book answered all of my questions and provided numerous tips. Additionally, the book gave me more questions to ask that I would have never have thought to consider. (And, of course, provided answers to those questions as well!) The before and after examples really help to reinforce the important stuff. Additionally, the critiques provide great insights. I found it interesting that good and bad content could co-exist on so many web pages.
  
  The only downside to the book is that you will never look at a web page the same way again! And, as a result, you will see how many websites need major overhauls....more info
• Excellent resource
  I had recommended this book (without having read it, just on the strength of Ginny's reputation and expertise) to a couple of clients. Finally I had to get a copy for myself.
  
  I think it's a great resource, whether you are an experienced site designer and writer or just getting started. If you are new to writing for the web, read every word and study the before and after examples. If you are more experienced, there are lots of great checklists to refresh your memory.
  
  The book is also very well designed - Ginny follows her own advice and keeps everything simple and clear....more info
• This book is great!
  I've bought books, and I've bought books, but I haven't had one like this one. It's great. Everything I read in it I can understand and the lightbulb goes on. I'm using it now to enhance my own web storefront, Zeke's Dragon Nest, at [...] to sell my books. Thank you for making this book available....more info
• Outstanding resource for both writing and designing web pages
  Letting Go of the Words is very clear, easy to read, well organized, and thorough. It offers numerous examples of what works and what doesn't, and it explains why. The author covers best practices for web content in a manner that is easy to understand and implement.
  
  While the title of the book makes it seem like it only discusses "words," it actually covers much more than that. The real focus is on making your site more user-friendly. I found discussions of links, illustrations, active and passive space, and general style recommendations to be extremely useful.
  
  I think this book would be just as useful for someone who is designing pages as someone who is just writing content. Much of the book goes over design best practices that would be helpful to programmers and designers.
  
  Overall an excellent resource. Highly recommended....more info
• I buy this book by the dozen
  When Ginny Redish told me that she was going to write a book on web content, I was excited but nervous. She's the best speaker I know, the most knowledgeable person in our field, and loves sharing that knowledge - would she be able to transfer all of that to the printed page?
  
  And of course, she did - brilliantly. This book makes you feel that you've got Ginny by your side, guiding and helping you to be the best that you could be.
  
  I keep my copy close at hand, and always have a stock of them for clients. Even if you are an expert in writing, usability, or web sites, you'll find that Ginny has a way of neatly explaining key concepts that saves you time and effort when you want to get your clients or colleagues to understand them.
  
  If you're getting started in usability or writing for the web, you'll find that Ginny guides you from start to excellent finish and makes it all seem easy.
  
  You can imagine how thrilled I was when Ginny graciously agreed that our book Forms that Work: Designing Web Forms for Usability (Interactive Technologies) could be a companion volume to hers. Thanks again, Ginny.
  
  Caroline Jarrett ...more info
• Excellent resource
  I had recommended this book (without having read it, just on the strength of Ginny's reputation and expertise) to a couple of clients. Finally I had to get a copy for myself.
  
  I think it's a great resource, whether you are an experienced site designer and writer or just getting started. If you are new to writing for the web, read every word and study the before and after examples. If you are more experienced, there are lots of great checklists to refresh your memory.
  
  The book is also very well designed - Ginny follows her own advice and keeps everything simple and clear....more info
• One of the best books in the field
  I'm a big fan of technical communication texts. This book is exceptional, and stands apart from others in many ways:
  
  - Many technical communication texts repeat the same rote guidelines. Although this book does not ignore the "classic" rules (e.g., "Write in inverted pyramid style"; "Use space effectively"), many of the rules are unexpected or even contrarian (e.g., "Use a sans-serif font"; "Long lists are o.k. for familiar items"). All rules are backed by examples that demonstrate their effectiveness.
  - The book provides clear examples of real-world Web content, including many "before" and "after" images that demonstrate the book's principles.
  - The production of the book is excellent. The color printing and rich layout help to make the book attractive and approachable.
  
  Although the focus of this book is Web communication, the rules, principles, and guidelines are relevant to any form of written communication. The number of examples and diversity of the book's guidelines make this an ideal text for technical communicators and Web content developers of all levels of experience and proficiency....more info
• The Total Resource for Web Writers
  Rejoice, web writers! Ginny Redish gives us the definitive word on effective writing for the web. She shows us how website readers read (they skim and scan) and how to catch and hold their attention. The full-color illustrations and marginal notes, along with real-life examples, make the book a first-rate example of its own message. Letting Go of the Words should at the elbow of every web writer.
  
  Charles Crawford
  Business Writing Today
  www.businesswritingtoday.net/...more info
• Great Primer on Writing for the Web
  Writing for the Web is not like writing a college term paper -- or even print ads. It takes understanding what your audience is seeking when they come to your website and presenting it in a manner that allows them to find it easily. Letting Go of the Words is a brilliant, easy-to-read book that explains how you can write usable copy for projects of any size.
  
  Redish writes about the difference between the three major types of pages and what should be on them (and what shouldn't).
  
  1. Home pages
  2. Pathway pages
  3. Information pages
  
  She also gives useful advice on
  * Focusing on your essential message
  * Making your design easy to use
  * Using lists and tables
  * Using headings and illustrations effectively
  * Writing links that get clicked, and perhaps most importantly,
  * Fitting this all into a process that allows you to set expectations and meet deadlines.
  
  Anyone involved with building websites (or writing blogs) can find value in this book. I learned a lot from it, and I think you would, too. I strongly recommend it....more info
• Letting Go of the Words
  Very interesting concept, well written, but very repetitive - the book could have been a lot shorter....more info
• Readable and usable
  Here's the ultimate compliment: I need to buy at least three copies, one for me and two for clients--who will love it, too!
  Years ago, a professor of mine told a story about his being informed that his work was so easy and fun to read, it could not possibly be scholarly enough for a particular publication(!) This book might receive a few of those sorts of comments, too. On first glance, people with a fair amount of experience in this field might say it's too basic--but they would be wrong. This book is thorough, in depth, and deals with a wide range of issues--and explains why certain alternatives are better than others, instead of just saying, "here is how things should be." It is a thorough presentation of highly useful and relevant information in a enjoyable, understandable, and audience-aware and audience-friendly way.
  ...more info
• Best Web Book You Can Buy!
  This is one of the best books you can buy if you creating a website, looking for ideas on how to make your site better or just need simple easy to implement ideas. Ginny has created an easy way to focus on your "audience" make any site practicle with simple solutions. Tips and trick that any one can do without functionality. This is a best value!...more info
• Letting Go of the Words - It's a keeper!
  Anyone involved in creating or designing Webpages MUST have this book. Easy to read and use - filled with great ideas and examples. Ginny is simply the best...more info