can someone tell me about being a web writer/editor?

[tigermoth]

cutting a long story short, I work for a public sector organisation and there's a chance I might join the webteam, writing and editing content for their website.

I will be given technical training, but I don't know much about the job or the prospects for employment elsewhere. The present job description is being updated so it is not much use to me. I am particularly interested to know how easy it would be to get this sort of work outside london, as we are hoping to move to Devon in a few years and I need transferrable skills.

Can anyone enlighten me?

no one??

I'm about to do some of this for my own local authority, and also have a good mate who is webmeister WELL out of London. Drop me an email with a bit more info? MIxxxxxxx

Tigermoth - a large part of my job is copy-writing for websites. I'm a web programmer too, but these days I only do that about 50% of the time.

There are 2 sides to it: one is "new media" jounalism - straightforward copy writing for websites, and the other is web marketing: writing content with an eye on what the search engines will see.

And yes, there is work. A lot of small companies regularly outsource this kind of work to freelance homeworkers. I haven't had to tout for work much - I do our own copy writing and get regular work from one other web design company, but I know work is out there from my contacts in the biz. this page from elance.com might give you an idea of the type of work that is out there (it's a US site but it'll give you an idea). Best way to find work is to learn at least one skill other than straightforward copy writing (either web marketing or HTML) and then write to web design companies. If things go well here, we might even be able to offer you some work in the next year or so.

If you need help/more info then CAT me.

Also good luck with the job: at least half of the public sector sites I've used are very badly written in terms of actually giving you the information you need. You can put that right!

really helpful!!!! thank you!!!! I'll post more tomorrow.

motherI and senoraP, I will contact you. I have lots of copywriting experience, but can see there is much more to web work than this.

That page from elance is very interesting. The joint is jumping by the looks of it! Bet the competition is hot, though. Thanks so much for the info, SenoraP, and for posting that link. Really glad to hear there is scope to do this work outside London.

I need to check out exactly what is being offered my end (don't know what type of training is being proposed etc). I will get back to you when I know more.

Any other advice from anyone very welcome