What Are The Less Obvious Pitfalls Of Writing Your Own Web Site Content?

Metaphors, like humour, do not always travel well internationally. Potentially, there is the risk of offending some section of your web site user audience through the careless use of a metaphor.

Take, for example, the phrase, "going out for a drink after work on Friday." This is a possible double whammy. Friday, for some religions, is the Sabbath and considered a day of rest. Alcohol is also disapproved of in some cultures and some people could be uncomfortable with the idea of single and married people mixing in such a social setting.

A web site, particularly those with an international audience, should err on the side of caution and try as far as possible to cater for the varied cultural viewpoints of their users. To present a global outlook and feel, a web site must steer clear of this type of international gaffe.

Other pratfalls are seasons and time zones. Writing about the summer may be logical in the Northern Hemisphere, but Down Under it's their winter.
Remember, too, to quote times in GMT and prefix UK phone numbers with +44.