Digital Writing

Digital writing is a unique, valuable skill for today's communicators and digital marketers. 

Validation

Did you know that 96.55% of web pages get zero traffic from Google?

"And if you’ve ever spent time and effort creating content only to get zero traffic, you know how frustrating that feels," writes Victoria Kurichenko, SEO expert and author of How to Hit the Google Front Page. You might enjoy reading this story in her January 2026 newsletter, My SEO Content Strategy That Made $40k in 2025.

Research has repeatedly proved that effective web content writing requires a strategic approach including Search Engine Optimization (SEO), audience research, keyword research, competitor analysis, and using trusted sources to gather data and insights. 

These elements help guide readers' eyes toward the most important content, and they make it easier to absorb large content. That's why we created this course on Digital Writing.

What you will learn

Creating effective and engaging web content must grab your audience’s attention and hold them close. The best way to do this is to help users solve a problem or fulfill a need asap. You need to know who your audience is, how to reach them, and understand their pain points, hopes and desires, then provide them with content that brings them responses that provide a solution.  

In this course, you will learn these key lessons:

• genre conventions for digital documents common in business and government.
• best practices in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to reach your target audiences and Mobile Optimization (cellphone and tablet) so your writing is as effective with small screens as with big screens.
• how to develop a user-centric strategic approach that solves problems and provides value for users of various forms of digital content.
• the latest research on user scanning patterns and how to write content that is easy to skim, read and understand.  
• how to develop a content strategy, rationalize your approach, manage your time, and deliver a first draft by deadline.

How you will learn

Our courses are designed to promote cognitive engagement which involves mental effort, persistence and strategic thinking. Learners engage and grow by applying critical thinking skills, self-regulation and by connecting new information to prior knowledge. Strategies to promote a deep desire to learn include having choices, using collaborative, open-ended projects and creating tasks that require critical thinking rather than simple recall.

Here’s how we encourage cognitive engagement in our courses -

1. You will receive a course plan with details on each learning module for each week.
2. You will also receive a link to the Open Textbook for the course you have selected, free of charge.
3. Each course comes with a poster, a visual tool that maps out each step in the learning process.
4. Learning modules follow this same process so you'll always know what staage you're at within the course.
5. Learning resources include videos, slide decks, visual and editorial samples from various sources.
6. Your course plan will also indicate textbook chapters and pages to be read for your weekly quiz.
7. A live meeting is held once each week to discuss key elements of each module.
8. Assignments are also discussed in detail at the weekly sessions. You pick your own subject matter.
9. A social media networking resource is set up so you can discuss your studies and learn from other learners.

Please view the Learning page for more info on our teaching methods.

Learning objectives

Learning objectives for this course focus on:

• Learner performance in completing assignments on time along with readings, quizzes and a final exam all of which require an 80% average.
• Learner ability to complete key tasks:
  • optimize content for search engines through the use of consistent keyword use.
  • create scannable content with short paragraphs and clear headers.
  • write using a personal and active voice. 
  • structure content with short paragraphs, clear headers and relevant links.
  • steps to develop a content strategy.
• Completing a web content style guide:

  • company background.
  • brand voice and tone.
  • writing style and grammar guidelines.
  • brand terminology.
  • brand personality.
  • content (web) and editorial (newsletter) style guide.

Free and open resources

This course will introduce learners to selected sections in these three terrific Open Textbooks, all recent, all Canadian, and yours to keep for future reference.

• Writing for Digital Media - an Open Textbook published in 2024 by PALNI Open Press, Indiana, US. 
• Business Writing for Everyone - an Open Textbook published in 2021 by Kwantlen Polytechnic University, BC.
• Digital Marketing Strategy - an Open Textbook published in 2023 by Concordia University Library, QC.
  
  

After one year of successful studies

• After one year, you will have six certificates for six professional skills you have studies including your very own portfolio website showing your completed assignments as professional work samples.
• You will have six posters outlining the process you followed within each course. You can recite those steps by heart.
• You will have more than six Open Textbooks and a series of learning resources that guided you through your studies to keep for future reference. You are ready to be challenged in your new job.
• You will have a resume and a draft cover letter to update for every future job application. 
• You will have a career plan to guide you to the right job market in your search for the kind of work you want to do.
• You will have an assessment of your course work from your instructor who will also serve as a reference.
• You are prepared to succeed! Congratulations!
• Oh, and you saved $1,000.