Many online texts have one goal: to inform your readers and provide them with real added value. Sounds logical, but in practice it is not always so easy to put it into practice. Indeed, an informative text must be not only Set out all the facts and written neutrally it must be complex contents also understandable get to the point. In this blog post, I would like to share with you my best tips that I use to write an informative text.
Informative texts often have complex content, which must be easily brought to the point. Image: Jennifer Schneider, created with canva.com
You will learn about it in this article:
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What are information texts? – A definition
Informative texts are Non-fiction texts, that are intended to convey a specific piece of information. So, an important feature is that the text is based on verified facts based. Your own opinion, on the other hand, plays no role in such a text.
Informational texts can be written in a variety of ways and can be followed by the following no clear pattern. The following examples may be informative texts, depending on their implementation:
- Newspaper articles, such as reports (see Journalistic Forms of Presentation)
- Blog article
- Advisor
- Specialized articles
- encyclopedia entries
- Factual reports
- scientific texts
- messages to employees or customers
- brochure and flyer texts
Important to knowAs soon as you write a text that reflects your personal opinion (or that of your company), it is no longer an informative text. Advisors are therefore usually not completely neutral, because you usually draw a conclusion and thus clearly position yourself. The same applies to blog articles, where opinions are often shared. So it always depends on the Implementation of the text.
Writing informative text – this is what you should consider
The informative text is not a separate text genre, which is why there are no clear rules you could follow. Nevertheless, you should pay attention to the following characteristics, so that your readers also receive a real added value:
- Research thoroughly and check the facts, before you write the text. The Research is extremely important so that you present everything correctly.
- Outline the information and create an article from it for your readers. Be sure to factual and imagine that you have a neutral observer is.
- Your your own opinion is out of place. Even if you share a different view or would like to take a stand: Be sure to do this outside of the informative text.
- Lay out your Target audience precisely, so that you can direct the text towards your readers.
research thoroughly and remember to check all facts.
Image: Jennifer Schneider, created with canva.com
Writing a factual text – tips and tricks from practice
If you have done the preliminary work, you can write the informative text. As a rule, a distinction is also made here between introduction, main body and conclusion. However, it is also clear that you will proceed differently with an encyclopedia entry than with a blog article. Let us therefore Example assume that you want to write a technical article. Then your structure might look like this:
- Introduction: Prepare your readers for the topic and describe what the article will be about. At the same time, the introduction should arouse curiosity, continue reading.
- main partHere you put together all the facts you have researched and checked. Make sure you have a clean outline with subheadings and also clarify critical questions on a particular subject.
- ConclusionSummarize all the important points at the end, so that the reader has a clear picture of the content quick overview provide information about the topic. If you are strict about sharing only information, the conclusion must not contain your own opinion.
factual texts can be presented in many different ways. Picture: Pixabay
Often informative and opinion-based texts can be found on the Internet not so clearly defined. Especially promotional articles and company texts are rarely just informative, after all, the goal is to sell products or services. And those who advertise can do not have a neutral view of a topic – at least very few people would do that.
This is fine, as long as you know when you need fact-based informational text and when you need promotional or opinion-based text. Encyclopedia texts and professional articles must necessarily informative and neutrally illuminated while blog articles can also be written with your own opinion – as long as you have a clear structure do not present them as fact.
Get to the heart of complex content in informative texts
Since you have to compile a lot of information for texts that are based exclusively on facts, it can happen from time to time that you complex content you are confronted with. This happens both when you get involved in a topic and when you are already too deep in the topic. It is important that even present difficult issues in a simple way. This is not always easy, which is why I would like to give you a few tips to help you do it.
- Check to see if you can understood correctly have. Sometimes one may not be 100 percent sure that the content has been. This often leads to the fact that one expresses oneself too complicated and strongly leaning towards technical terms, because you are not able to formulate the content in your own words.
- Distance yourself from the topic and look at the information from the outside, if you are an expert in your field and have been working in the industry for years. There is also the danger of making things too difficult and using technical terms. Always ask yourself, how you would explain the topic to a child.
- Generally speaking: Explain all words, that are difficult, new, or technical in nature. You can either do this in the text itself, refer to a page where there is more information, or create your own content for it. This is especially true for AbbreviationsThese should be clarified at least once at the beginning before they are used in your informative texts.
Simple texts are difficult to write, but are always worthwhile.
Image: Jennifer Schneider, created with canva.com
- Keep your sentences short and to the point. You don’t need complicated sentences to inform your readers. Especially on the Internet many subordinate clauses disturb the reading flow. Here tact is required, because very short sentences in a row can irritate just as much.
- Always ask yourself what you want to express before writing the text. If you’re not quite sure what you’re trying to say, it’s hard to frame the topic clearly. The best thing to do is to make a note of the structure of the text, which goal you pursue with your information text.
- put yourself in your readers’ shoes. If you look at the topic from the outside, it will be easier for you to determine which parts of the text are too complicated. In case of doubt, you should proofread let or at least an outsider proofread let.
Conclusion: Simple texts are often difficult to write
An easy to read text is usually more difficult to write. The reason: Many people tend to use technical terms and the like in order to supposedly professional to work. But this is not necessary, because you will not reach any or the wrong readers. Especially with informative texts it is extremely important to Make facts easy to prepare, so that they can be understood by everyone.
Explain everything your readers can not know. Image: Pixabay
With a little practice, you can write your own texts. If that’s not your thing, I’ll be happy to create the texts for you. Just get in touch with an e-mail with me and tell me how I can support you.