Comments on: Inverted Pyramid Writing http://www.linux-host.org/2006/03/01/inverted-pyramid-writing/ Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:00:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: Admin http://www.linux-host.org/2006/03/01/inverted-pyramid-writing/#comment-25 Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:45:21 +0000 http://www.linux-host.org/2006/03/01/inverted-pyramid-writing/#comment-25 The inverted-pyramid structure makes sense in the traditional AP-style news story, where facts are presented in the order of their perceived intrinsic importance: - Lead: 100 people died in a Widgetopolis subway crash at station X of line 1. - 200 people were injured, and another 50 are missing. - The crash occurred because of a faulty signal. - Firefighters and ambulances were still on the scene at 3 p.m. - Line 1 is expected to be out of service until 8 a.m. tomorrow. - Subway officials blame the problem on a corroded relay that wasn't replaced because of budget cuts. - City Hall urges the public to remain calm and blames the problem on cuts in state and federal aid. Now let's look at another kind of story--a five-page travel article about a city or town. In this case, the organization could be: - Overview - What to see - Where to stay - Where to eat - How to get there But it could just as easily be: - Overview - How to get there - Where to stay - Where to eat - What to see Or even, in some cases: - Overview - Where to eat - What to see - How to get there - Where to stay For a travel article (or a camera review, or a how-to piece), the best structure might simply be the structure that the Web site or publication normally uses, on the theory that familiarity enhances usability. The inverted-pyramid structure makes sense in the traditional AP-style news story, where facts are presented in the order of their perceived intrinsic importance:
- Lead: 100 people died in a Widgetopolis subway crash at station X of line 1.

- 200 people were injured, and another 50 are missing.

- The crash occurred because of a faulty signal.

- Firefighters and ambulances were still on the scene at 3 p.m.

- Line 1 is expected to be out of service until 8 a.m. tomorrow.

- Subway officials blame the problem on a corroded relay that wasn’t replaced because of budget cuts.

- City Hall urges the public to remain calm and blames the problem on cuts in state and federal aid.

Now let’s look at another kind of story–a five-page travel article about a city or town. In this case, the organization could be:

- Overview
- What to see
- Where to stay
- Where to eat
- How to get there

But it could just as easily be:

- Overview
- How to get there
- Where to stay
- Where to eat
- What to see

Or even, in some cases:

- Overview
- Where to eat
- What to see
- How to get there
- Where to stay

For a travel article (or a camera review, or a how-to piece), the best structure might simply be the structure that the Web site or publication normally uses, on the theory that familiarity enhances usability.

]]> by: Admin http://www.linux-host.org/2006/03/01/inverted-pyramid-writing/#comment-24 Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:44:57 +0000 http://www.linux-host.org/2006/03/01/inverted-pyramid-writing/#comment-24 Inverted Pyramid is known to all journalists i suppose. I had worked as professional journalist at the start of my career and i was taught 5Ws (who,what,when,why,where optional which) and one H's(how) important creating inverted pyramid stories/articles. Inverted Pyramid is known to all journalists i suppose. I had worked as professional journalist at the start of my career and i was taught 5Ws (who,what,when,why,where optional which) and one H’s(how) important creating inverted pyramid stories/articles.

]]> by: Admin http://www.linux-host.org/2006/03/01/inverted-pyramid-writing/#comment-23 Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:44:13 +0000 http://www.linux-host.org/2006/03/01/inverted-pyramid-writing/#comment-23 I've been gradually going through all my meta descriptions to make them clear and interesting. You have 150 characters + spaces to say something that will appear in the serps. Since I did this I've had increased traffic. It's hard to tell if the improved page titles and meta descriptions are the reason though. You are talking about doing the same thing on each page though, aren't you pageone? Jakob Nielsen has an article on his site titled "Why Google Makes People Leave Your Site Faster" Just google it if you are interested. The fact that people are going to take a quick peek at your site then move on certainly supports the inverted pyramid. At least that way people will get a bit of information before moving on. In Nielsen's words, "Be a snack". I’ve been gradually going through all my meta descriptions to make them clear and interesting. You have 150 characters + spaces to say something that will appear in the serps. Since I did this I’ve had increased traffic. It’s hard to tell if the improved page titles and meta descriptions are the reason though.
You are talking about doing the same thing on each page though, aren’t you pageone?

Jakob Nielsen has an article on his site titled “Why Google Makes People Leave Your Site Faster” Just google it if you are interested.

The fact that people are going to take a quick peek at your site then move on certainly supports the inverted pyramid. At least that way people will get a bit of information before moving on. In Nielsen’s words, “Be a snack”.

]]> by: Admin http://www.linux-host.org/2006/03/01/inverted-pyramid-writing/#comment-22 Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:43:56 +0000 http://www.linux-host.org/2006/03/01/inverted-pyramid-writing/#comment-22 Are you referring to the Meta Descriptions and Google Snippets? If so, using the IPW approach is of great benefit. When writing a Meta Description, you ARE writing a concise summary or abstract of the page content. Google has been displaying Meta Descriptions for quite some time now (at least for sites I manage) and using the Inverted Pyramid Writing approach has produced many positive benefits. For one, Meta Descriptions are being displayed verbatim, word for word, as they are written in the Meta Description tag. Are you referring to the Meta Descriptions and Google Snippets?

If so, using the IPW approach is of great benefit. When writing a Meta Description, you ARE writing a concise summary or abstract of the page content.

Google has been displaying Meta Descriptions for quite some time now (at least for sites I manage) and using the Inverted Pyramid Writing approach has produced many positive benefits. For one, Meta Descriptions are being displayed verbatim, word for word, as they are written in the Meta Description tag.

]]> by: Admin http://www.linux-host.org/2006/03/01/inverted-pyramid-writing/#comment-21 Wed, 01 Mar 2006 16:43:20 +0000 http://www.linux-host.org/2006/03/01/inverted-pyramid-writing/#comment-21 Interesting thought on a possible new use for an old concept. When I was working at a newspaper, the inverted pyramid style was used for two reasons: to give readers enough info right away to get them interested in the story (or decide they're not interested, and go on to the next article), and to be sure the most important part of the story actually made it into the paper - You never know where someone on page layout is going to have to slice off the end of your article so it will fit. (That's why it's a continuous pyramid and not just a sharp drop - Most important info in the first paragraph, next layer of importance in the second, and so on to the end of the article.) On a website, the second reason wouldn't make much sense, but I'd certainly think the first reason would. Interesting thought on a possible new use for an old concept.

When I was working at a newspaper, the inverted pyramid style was used for two reasons: to give readers enough info right away to get them interested in the story (or decide they’re not interested, and go on to the next article), and to be sure the most important part of the story actually made it into the paper - You never know where someone on page layout is going to have to slice off the end of your article so it will fit.

(That’s why it’s a continuous pyramid and not just a sharp drop - Most important info in the first paragraph, next layer of importance in the second, and so on to the end of the article.)

On a website, the second reason wouldn’t make much sense, but I’d certainly think the first reason would.

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