Writing for the Web › types of web copy › long copyimportant to know what people are searching for, so that you can give them notewhat they need. In the chapter called Search EngineOnce you have a good idea of the words people are using to find information Optimisation, there isonline, you can use these phrases in your copy as a signal to search engines more detail on the process of keyword discovery andthat your content is relevant to their users. keyword selection.A good copywriter is able to weave a predetermined set of key phrases into apiece of copy seamlessly, so that the reader cannot detect that they have beenincluded.Each page should be optimised for a primary key phrase, and can be optimisedfor a secondary and tertiary key phrase as well. Usually a web page is optimisedfor three key phrases, but can be optimised for up to five (though only if thepage is very long). Any more than that and you are better off creating new,niche web pages.Key phrases can be integrated into nearly every type of content that you writefor the web. 5.6 types of web copyWhether it is long or short, the purpose of content is to communicate amessage. By its nature, communication implies both that the message hasbeen received and understood. The considerations covered here are aimed atensuring that when you distribute a message, it is communicated effectively tothe people who need to receive it.In order to communicate the intended message effectively, content needs to be • Clear and concise • Easy to read • Well-written • Well-structuredContent written for the web can be divided into two broad categories, shortcopy and long copy. The division is by no means scientific.5.6.1 Long CopyThe title, ‘long copy’ is somewhat misleading. As online readers behave slightlydifferently to offline readers, it is unlikely that a skilled copywriter will be calledon to create copy for the web that is longer than 800 or 1 000 words per page.Of course, there are exceptions to this. 121