Palm test prevents facepalms

Anyone can write a blog. Not everyone can write for the Web. 

But there's an easy, at-home test you can apply to your writing to make it Web-a-fied. It's called the "Palm Test." Here's how:

Hold your open palm up to the screen. Yes, you. Don't feel silly -- just do it. 

Look at what's behind your hand. If all that's behind your palm is solid text, nobody is reading. That doesn't mean your content is intelligent, well-written or interesting. Just means nobody is reading your intelligent, well-written and interesting copy. 

So now what? Faceplam? 

No! Just break up your text to make it scan-able and engage readers. 

There are lots of ways to do it:

• Add bold lead ins
• Embed hyperlinks
• Break up lists/thoughts of two or more into bullets 
• Add subheads 

Want more? Check out Ann Wylie's 5 Ways to Improve Your Copy on PRSA.

In writing, sometimes less is more

Short messages can be powerful messages. Just see SMITH magazine's Six Words.

On the site, users submit stories. Only they are in six words. Topics vary, but check these out:

• Six Word Memoirs
• Six Words on the Food Life
• Six Words on the Green Life
• Six Words on the Digital Life

The site has some powerful storytelling. It's a good reminder for writers. In writing, less is sometimes more.

Thesaurus for techies

Astonishing. Brilliant. Phenomenal.

There are lots of word we can use in place of "awesome." But if you're like me, you send to over-use that word when describing new technology and cool stuff.

You could just use a thesaurus to find a new word, but if you're tech-savvy, how about an "awesome button"?

Check out how Matt Richardson of Make Magazine made an Awesome Button to help him avoid overusing the word in his writing.

Phras.In

Check out this site: http://phras.in/

It was created to help writers decide how to choose words that are easy to understand (especially with readers who speak English as their second language) based on Google search results.  

Their theory is that if an expression or phrase has a high result, it’s the more common way to say it; lower numbers denote more difficult or awkward phrases.

Not sure how much relevance this holds, but it might help you out if you’re ever stuck on word choice (and don’t want to turn to flipping a coin).