Copywriters

Our copywriters are integral to the success of our sites. In addition to gathering and organizing the information that we receive from the client, the writer is responsible for creating an intuitive, easy-to-navigate Web site that will contain all the information a parent, student, teacher, or community member might need. It is critical that our writers think about the Web site they are creating from the perspective of our clients and their “clients.”

Getting Started

Site Development – Content Writing

  • Upon notification by the project coordinator (PC) that you’ve been assigned a new copy writing project, collect the information you can to plan your site.
    • Content from existing site (if available)
    • Staff Lists
    • Handbooks
    • Copy of questionnaire from the PC (this will provide some of the information the client hopes to have on their new site)
    • Log in to the project schedule through Smartsheet, and update your stage as your writing progresses.
    • Using the appropriate Google doc template found in the client documents folder on the Google Drive, begin writing the copy.
    • Write all of your content in the template on the in the event you have a computer problem in the middle of a project

Site Development – Copy Editing

You know what “they” say: “Two eyes are better than one.” There is no truer saying when it comes to words on a page. One set of eyes can read a page over and over and miss details of writing while a new pair can immediately pick out the subtle mistakes. So with a fresh set of eyes, below is a guideline of things to look for when editing copy for layout:

  • Check to be sure that the writer has followed the Copywriter Style Guide.
    • Make the corrections directly in the content, using the “Suggestion” mode (top right).
    • In the event of recurring or major corrections, e-mail the copywriter with explanation of the problem and learning resources so they can learn for future projects.
  • Be sure the writer included the suggested site content for district and/or school sites.
    • Check the district’s/school’s old site (if there is one) to double-check that the writer did not skip material that he/she should have included in the new site.
    • Send the document back to the writer for any missing material or to rewrite any necessary material.
  • Make sure the writer has included instructions for sidebar information and graphic quotes.
    • Remember that every single word on the site will come from the writer. The better he/she can visualize a page, the more complete the site will be.
  • Repeat this process until you are satisfied that the content is perfectly ready to appear on the live website.

Site Development – Site Proofing

This process insures that the website is perfectly functional and easy to navigate as well as readable throughout the entire website.

  • As you read every word on the site,
    • Fix any typo errors that may have been missed by the copy proofer.
    • Be sure the content is linked where it is obviously intended to (For example, if the writer wrote, “See the Staff page,” but the UI designer forgot to link to the “Staff page,” please make that correction.)
    • Check every single link on every single page to be sure it is functional (navigation buttons, Quick Links, text links, pdf links, etc.). Fix all links that are not working correctly.
  • Be sure to check the layout of the site on your computer in all major browsers (IE, Mozilla Firefox, Chrome) as well as on your mobile device.
  • Add Comments regarding remaining issues.