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Nicely Said: Writing for the Web with Style and Purpose
Whether you’re new to web writing or you’re a professional writer looking to deepen your skills, this book is for you. You’ll learn how to write web copy that addresses your readers’ needs and supports your business goals.
Learn from real-world examples and interviews with people who put these ideas into action every day: Kristina Halvorson of Brain Traffic, Tiffani Jones Brown of Pinterest, Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom, Mandy Brown of Editorially, Randy J. Hunt of Etsy, Sarah Richards of GOV.UK, and more.
Topics:
* Write marketing copy, interface flows, blog posts, legal policies, and emails
* Develop behind-the-scenes documents like mission statements, survey questions, and project briefs
* Find your voice and adapt your tone for different situations
* Build trust and foster relationships with readers
* Make a simple style guide and collaborate with your team
Learn from real-world examples and interviews with people who put these ideas into action every day: Kristina Halvorson of Brain Traffic, Tiffani Jones Brown of Pinterest, Gabrielle Blair of Design Mom, Mandy Brown of Editorially, Randy J. Hunt of Etsy, Sarah Richards of GOV.UK, and more.
Topics:
* Write marketing copy, interface flows, blog posts, legal policies, and emails
* Develop behind-the-scenes documents like mission statements, survey questions, and project briefs
* Find your voice and adapt your tone for different situations
* Build trust and foster relationships with readers
* Make a simple style guide and collaborate with your team
192 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2014
111 people are currently reading
1634 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Fenton
4 books48 followersNicole Fenton is a writer, editor, designer, and the co-author of Nicely Said: Writing for the Web with Style and Purpose. They design with words.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
February 3, 2016
Especially great for anyone dropped into the role of marketing, web development, social media marketing, etc. Yes, a lot of it's common sense ... however, looking at some of the content coming out of many businesses and other organizations, a lot of people don't *have* common sense. It's just a good solid (and non-intimidating) introduction to the basics.
February 16, 2024
The book itself is very good, a nice and neat introduction to copywriting.
My relationship with it is a bit more complex, it took me too long to read and I dreaded picking it up. But it's a me issue, I think. I need a vacation :))
My relationship with it is a bit more complex, it took me too long to read and I dreaded picking it up. But it's a me issue, I think. I need a vacation :))
May 20, 2017
Apart from the cover, which speaks for itself, the inside of the book is also simple. It's honest, straightforward, and offers useful guidelines for anyone writing anything at all online.
The book doesn't claim to give you the secret of writing well for the web—it's far from that. The writers, Nicole and Kate, start from the most obvious information: clarity. No matter what you're writing on the web—whether it's a blog, an editorial, a webpage, or a Facebook status—you always have to be clear in your writing so that readers can follow your meaning. Easy though it sounds, most of us struggle to achieve that clarity. This book doesn't tell you how to write clear copy, instead, it tells you, the reader, how to structure your thinking so that clarity flows from the thought itself. Because when you know what you want to say and who you want to say it to, whatever you write will be clear to your intended audience.
If you're a web copy writer or aspiring to become one, then this book is like a textbook you read, protect, and refer to again and again. From writing an About page to defining the overall voice and tone for your copy, the writers explain how to structure thoughts by narrating an example throughout the book.
At the end of it all, you also get a bunch of useful resources for further learning. This book is a great addition to anyone consuming the mass we call the internet.
More comments about Nicely Said here: https://narmadhaa.com/2017/05/15/nice...
The book doesn't claim to give you the secret of writing well for the web—it's far from that. The writers, Nicole and Kate, start from the most obvious information: clarity. No matter what you're writing on the web—whether it's a blog, an editorial, a webpage, or a Facebook status—you always have to be clear in your writing so that readers can follow your meaning. Easy though it sounds, most of us struggle to achieve that clarity. This book doesn't tell you how to write clear copy, instead, it tells you, the reader, how to structure your thinking so that clarity flows from the thought itself. Because when you know what you want to say and who you want to say it to, whatever you write will be clear to your intended audience.
If you're a web copy writer or aspiring to become one, then this book is like a textbook you read, protect, and refer to again and again. From writing an About page to defining the overall voice and tone for your copy, the writers explain how to structure thoughts by narrating an example throughout the book.
At the end of it all, you also get a bunch of useful resources for further learning. This book is a great addition to anyone consuming the mass we call the internet.
More comments about Nicely Said here: https://narmadhaa.com/2017/05/15/nice...
August 10, 2014
If you've spent a lot of time writing for the web already, this book may not be for you - except perhaps the parts of the book that talk about writing for sensitive situations.
It's a well written book and I passed my copy on to the support team at my office.
It's a well written book and I passed my copy on to the support team at my office.
February 7, 2015
A great book for beginners new to writing on the internet. I found it very helpful and was able to apply many of the techniques to my writing. I especially liked the part about building trust and fostering relationships.
December 2, 2014
This is a really solid book on web writing that encompasses a lot of the stuff I preach in my work. I'll definitely be recommending it to my clients and students.
March 30, 2021
The book is a good reference for beginners in web content writing. “Nicely said” covers topics from planning to writing basics to tone & voice and the revision process.
The books’ content is easy to digest and written in an appealing style. The guidelines and tips are nicely explained. One of the strengths of the book is that the recommendations provide a model to follow for beginners. I liked very much that the book focuses on people (not only machines or search engines). One of my favorite quotes is: “Companies are not people. They’re made of people (...)” [S.62]
The weak point is that the book contains only basic information. For that, I do not recommend it to professional writers.
The authors Fenton & Kiefer Lee did a great job creating a practical guide for content web writing. I will keep this book on my bookshelf and consult its contents whenever I find myself struggling with finding the “right” words.
The books’ content is easy to digest and written in an appealing style. The guidelines and tips are nicely explained. One of the strengths of the book is that the recommendations provide a model to follow for beginners. I liked very much that the book focuses on people (not only machines or search engines). One of my favorite quotes is: “Companies are not people. They’re made of people (...)” [S.62]
The weak point is that the book contains only basic information. For that, I do not recommend it to professional writers.
The authors Fenton & Kiefer Lee did a great job creating a practical guide for content web writing. I will keep this book on my bookshelf and consult its contents whenever I find myself struggling with finding the “right” words.
October 13, 2022
a great book to introduce yourself into the digital marketing world.
April 18, 2015
Thanks Goodreads for giving this as a First Read book!
I was pleasantly surprised with Nicely Said. Having previously read a few other books that dealt with business and internet writing, I was afraid it was going to be as dry as the others. It was not!
The format of this book, which itself would translate beautifully into an online format, is broken up into sections that are clear, concise, and far from overwhelming. Someone new to internet writing could follow this book through step by step as they are writing and it would guide them all the way.
Nicely Said is thorough without being too long, and is so clearly broken into sections that a reader can stop at any point and pick up without a hitch.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in writing on the internet, be it a student or someone in the business world, or even just for personal use. It is definitely something to reread or reference from time to time. Good job, Nicole Fenton and Kate Kiefer Lee, and thanks again for the first read! :)
I was pleasantly surprised with Nicely Said. Having previously read a few other books that dealt with business and internet writing, I was afraid it was going to be as dry as the others. It was not!
The format of this book, which itself would translate beautifully into an online format, is broken up into sections that are clear, concise, and far from overwhelming. Someone new to internet writing could follow this book through step by step as they are writing and it would guide them all the way.
Nicely Said is thorough without being too long, and is so clearly broken into sections that a reader can stop at any point and pick up without a hitch.
I would recommend this to anyone interested in writing on the internet, be it a student or someone in the business world, or even just for personal use. It is definitely something to reread or reference from time to time. Good job, Nicole Fenton and Kate Kiefer Lee, and thanks again for the first read! :)
March 9, 2018
Fenton and Kiefer Lee have followed their own advice to create a book that is clear, useful and friendly, and an easy-to-read resource that I would recommend to web writers at all stages of their career. Their guidelines and tactical tips for all kinds of web content are based in sound (and clearly explained) research and reasoning, and provide a model to follow when helping a colleague or reviewing someone's work.
July 20, 2014
This book was very easy to read, and I enjoyed reading it. My main problem with it, however, is how the majority of the content is common sense. They discuss a few very important concepts like content mapping, the revision process, and how to market through your writing, but I feel like any astute writers (or future writers) do not need to spend any time with this book.
May 1, 2015
This book contains good, but basic, information that would be helpful to someone who may not be a professional writer. For example, I could see a small business owner getting a lot out of this. Or even someone who works at a non-profit or startup. Basically, if you are having to jump into a marketing or writing role and need some guidance, this book is worth reading.
February 12, 2017
This was a pretty good book on the quality of writing over quantity, which was one of the first books to publish this regarding web writing. Most of the books before this book were primarily about creating a lot of content.
October 5, 2017
A tool, not a book
Anyone who writes for the web should read this book. It’s easy to read and super helpful. More of an elaborate guideline, than an actual book.
Anyone who writes for the web should read this book. It’s easy to read and super helpful. More of an elaborate guideline, than an actual book.
November 28, 2017
I wish it had more information about writing in general. It was a little more about web-based writing than I had hoped.
February 17, 2018
Builds from first principles with clarity and friendliness
Read
January 29, 2025One of my 2025 goals is to work harder on my professional development and growth - what better place to start than by finally finishing this book I started in April 2023?
This book is simple and straightforward. A lot of the material is common sense at this point in my career, but I see value in reiterating what makes web content more accessible and digestible for users.
I found myself highlighting bits of information that I want to keep top of mind while writing:
- “Good content is clear, useful, and friendly.”
- “If there’s a shorter word to say what you mean, use it.”
- “Your voice is your company’s public personality…your tone changes to fit the situation.”
- “Let customers come to their own conclusions about your competitors’ weaknesses - or better yet, get them to focus on your strengths instead.”
- “As always, clarity comes first.”
- “Remember that content doesn’t solve everything.”
Overall, good content for individuals just starting in marketing or web writing & good reminders for established writers.
This book is simple and straightforward. A lot of the material is common sense at this point in my career, but I see value in reiterating what makes web content more accessible and digestible for users.
I found myself highlighting bits of information that I want to keep top of mind while writing:
- “Good content is clear, useful, and friendly.”
- “If there’s a shorter word to say what you mean, use it.”
- “Your voice is your company’s public personality…your tone changes to fit the situation.”
- “Let customers come to their own conclusions about your competitors’ weaknesses - or better yet, get them to focus on your strengths instead.”
- “As always, clarity comes first.”
- “Remember that content doesn’t solve everything.”
Overall, good content for individuals just starting in marketing or web writing & good reminders for established writers.
June 27, 2019
I will admit to finding this book dry at points, but I end up saying that about most work-related non-fiction. I think had I been really starting a website from scratch and working along with the chapters, it would have landed exactly right for me. Given that, I can imagine myself using it as a reference when future projects arise. And, I'm inspired to go start a style guide for the blog I manage now!
September 26, 2021
The book combines breadth of range, useful insights and deep understanding of writing content for website. Covering literally every single thing you may put on your website (or navigate from your website i.e. news letter) and every role involved in the process. It's more suitable for beginners who need a big picture of what lies in store for them. Still a great read!
October 29, 2019
This book try to target to all web writings, which makes it covering too wide but couldn't explain it's points with enough examples but only theories. After I finish it, feeling nothing much left in my mind.
But, those style guides it mentioned was very contentful.
But, those style guides it mentioned was very contentful.
January 20, 2021
This book does exactly what it says. Which is a true marker of great writing.
Useful as a brush up and holistic review for seasoned writers, and instrumental for new digital writers. I wish I read this 2 years ago!
But enjoyed it none the less.
Useful as a brush up and holistic review for seasoned writers, and instrumental for new digital writers. I wish I read this 2 years ago!
But enjoyed it none the less.
January 4, 2019
Pretty thorough guide to writing for the web. A big theme is being "kind" or considerate to the reader, considering how your words affect them at every stage of their journey.
February 27, 2019
A quick read but a good start for anyone hoping to do web copy
February 28, 2019
A lot of common sense stuff especially if you already have some experience with writing for websites and apps. Still learned a few new things though!
Read
September 26, 2019Good read for web content writers. #insixwords
January 1, 2020
A great introductory look into the world of copywriting. A lot of practical advice and strategies to implement into your own work and business. Super useful!
July 19, 2020
It is a good bool for beginners, specially those working for companies or teams. For me, the most useful part was the list for further reading.
September 22, 2020
brimming with straightforward, practical tips for writing beginners
February 15, 2021
Definitely one of my favorite books about writing. A must read for everyone interested in UX Writing or Web Content.
June 12, 2021
Good advices & guidance for beginner
Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews