Writing Web Help

I have been working on online help for the past year. When it started I was overawed at the size of the product and the documentation we had to prepare. But I learnt a lot on my way. Here are some tips that you might find useful

1. Users don't read text on browsers. They scan. So highlight keywords, action words ('do this, do that')
2. Cut down 50% of what you have written. Brevity can't be stressed enough. Please remember that reading speed on a computer screen decreases by about 20-25%
3. Write in active voice
4. Write 'action first. Effect later' (example: Click 'OK'. To go to the homepage. AND NOT 'To go to the homepage click 'OK')
5. Write to a singular audience: Imagine that the user is sitting infront of you and you're telling him/her how to perform a task. People don't use your software in groups
6. Iterative document design:Build a prototype. Test in on users. Build. Test. Build Test... of what value your documenation is if it doesn't help me in performing tasks? I can't take it to bed to read it like a novel!