Writing for the Web › types of web copy › long copy That is not to say that online copywriting is just about short, sharp Call to Action copy that we will discuss in the next section. However web users do tend to scan pages quickly to determine whether or not they will read further. Specifically in longer copy, you need to take this into consideration. Longer copy does have advantages. Primarily, it allows you to provide more information and encourage the reader to convert. You can foster a relationship with a reader, whether it is on a blog, through email communications or through articles and news releases. With more words and space available to use, you are able to build a voice and a personality into your writing. There are many types of long online copy. Here, we will focus on a few that are useful for marketing: • News releases • Articles for online syndication • Emails • Blog posts Bear in mind that this is by no means an exhaustive list. News Releases The news release is a stalwart of public relations. As the Internet grows, so does the overlap between PR and Marketing. As a result, many copywriters are called upon to write news releases for online distribution as it is a standardised format for releasing information. Originally intended to provide information for journalists, news releases are increasingly being read without going through the journalists first. Figure 5.2 A news release on Bizcommunity.com122