Writing too much? Writing too little? It's annoying. Writing the right amount for the topic is a very good idea. (See below for the 'low-down'.)
Yeah, yeah... I've been guilty of this too. But really... I don't want to read somebody's life history. GET TO THE POINT~!
All too often people on the web blather on about this and that, and never get to the point. I don't want to read a full page or more to tell me that I need to CLICK HERE to find what I want. Too many people just write too much.
And then there's the opposite end of the scale where people don't write enough. When it comes to the sales pitch - keep it short. When it comes to the technical documentation - WRITE MORE~!
I'm not a mind reader, and I'm betting that most people on the Internet can't read minds either. So writing complete documentation is probably a good thing for readers. How the Hell am I supposed to know that there are 7 overloads for a method unless the documentation author tells me?
Yep... It happens... You wouldn't think that it happens, but it does. I've seen it. In products that you can't afford, unless you want to sell your house and take out a very big loan...
Good writing is a skill that is in short supply. And it is also massively undervalued by most companies.
How do I know? I've written copy that's been read world-wide - online and offline (most offline). I've edited manuals for products that you may well have in your house. I've worked on a lot of stuff, and I know the difference between what works and what doesn't. This article? Well, if you've read this far you're obviously interested in writing well. And that's who I'm writing this for.
The 'Low-Down'
Write for where your copy is going to be read. Don't write a trillion words for a home page. Keep it short. Lead your reader. They want to go to 'the next step'. Keep them interested. Offer them a choice. Link to what they want to find out. Options! Give your reader options. But most of all - don't waste their time!
For technical documentation, be complete. Don't leave your reader with questions. If it's not answered where you're writing, and it's on topic, then link to it. Make it easy for your reader. Don't make them search. Search is your enemy. Answer the question quickly then offer related information. Keep your reader reading what you wrote.
That's enough. Anything more would just waste your time. Now go write well!
Cheers!
Renegade