Digital Writing


Who this course is for

Anyone interested in writing online 
will be interested in this introductory course.
You may be new or familiar with this area of work. Either is okay.
The point being employers seek people who understand 
how writing functions in tandem with
graphics, video, audio and digital tools including AI.
This is a beginner's course to multimodal writing and communication.

 

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS    

You write highly effective content for websites, blogs, 

   social media, email campaigns and other digital platforms.

Your SEO content strategy supports business goals.

You understand writing conventions. 

 You know how genres may differ in digital spaces.

Your content stands out, is easy to read and reaches targets.

                  

 

 This is a self-paced, six-week online course

Multi-media learning resources are provided at no cost.
Invest in about 5 hours of studying per week.
Try not to rush. Stress can block learning and retention.*

*Source: NPJ -: Science of Learning

 
“The best people are the ones that understand content.
They’re a pain in the butt to manage, but you put up with it
because they are so good.”

- Steve Jobs

 

Digital writing is a unique, strategic skill for communicators and marketers. 

 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 these elements make it easier for people to absorb large amounts of content. That's why we created this course on Digital Writing -- there's more to it than 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 creates 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.

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 process so you'll always know what stage 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 in our learning process.
8. Assignments are also discussed in detail at the weekly sessions. You pick your own subject matter.
9. A social media networking page is set up so you can discuss and learn from one another.

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Learning objectives

  • Learner performance includes 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 from three quality Open Textbooks, all recent, one US and two Canadian, and yours to keep for future reference.

Prerequisites

Before enrolling, take a moment to assess your readiness as we want you to succeed and enjoy your learning experience. In addition to having successfully completed grade 12, you will need these skills to be effective -

  • Study time: about five hours per week.
  • Solid reading and writing ability.
  • Computer familiarity and keyboarding skills.
  • Ability to search for information online.
  • The ability to think critically. 

 

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