How Do I Add Text to a Website?

Adding text to a website is one of the most fundamental steps in building a successful online presence. Whether you’re crafting a blog post, creating an engaging landing page, or simply sharing information with visitors, text is a primary way to communicate your message. But beyond just adding words, understanding how to effectively integrate, format, and style text on your website is key to ensuring it resonates with your audience and supports your goals.

In today’s web landscape, there are various ways to add text depending on the platform or tools you’re using. If you’re working with a website builder like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace, adding text can be as easy as dragging and dropping elements or selecting specific options within the editor. On the other hand, if you have a custom-coded website, knowing basic HTML and CSS can allow you to tailor text placement, style, and structure to your exact needs.

This article will guide you through different methods for adding text across popular platforms, offer best practices to enhance readability and SEO, and outline common pitfalls to avoid. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your existing skills, this guide will provide everything you need to make your website’s text both effective and visually appealing.

Why Adding Text to a Website Matters

Text is not just a functional element of a website; it plays a crucial role in the overall user experience, site performance, and search engine visibility. Whether you’re running a blog, an online store, or a business site, the words on your pages contribute significantly to your website’s success. Below are a few key reasons why adding text correctly and thoughtfully is important.

1. Impact on SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

Text content is one of the most important factors for search engines like Google when ranking websites. Search engines crawl through text to determine what your website is about and how relevant it is to a user’s search query. High-quality, keyword-rich text helps search engines understand your site’s content and rank it appropriately. Here are a few SEO-related reasons to focus on your website’s text:

• Keyword Optimization: Including relevant keywords in your text increases the likelihood of your site appearing in search results for those terms.
• Internal Linking: Text allows you to link to other pages on your site, helping search engines crawl your site more efficiently.
• Engagement Metrics: Engaging, well-written text encourages visitors to stay on your site longer, reducing bounce rates, which can improve your SEO rankings.

2. Enhancing User Experience

The quality and clarity of the text directly affect how users perceive your website. Clear, well-organized text makes it easier for users to find the information they’re looking for and understand your message. Key aspects of text that enhance user experience include:

• Readability: Text that’s easy to read, with proper font sizes, colors, and spacing, ensures visitors can quickly absorb the content.
• Structure: Well-structured content with headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs allows users to skim and locate key points easily.
• Engagement: Thoughtfully written content can keep users engaged, helping to build trust and guiding them toward taking actions like making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or contacting you.

3. Supporting Visual Appeal

Text doesn’t just have to serve a functional purpose; it also contributes to the overall aesthetic of a website. By using well-chosen fonts, colors, and text styles, you can align your website’s text with your brand’s identity and create an appealing visual hierarchy. For example:

• Brand Consistency: Using the same font styles and sizes across your site reinforces your brand identity and creates a cohesive user experience.
• Text Styling: Text styling (bold, italics, underline) and proper formatting help highlight key information, making your content more dynamic and visually appealing.

4. Boosting Conversions and User Engagement

If you’re running a business or offering services, adding text with a persuasive, clear message can drive conversions. Whether it’s guiding users through a sales funnel, providing clear calls-to-action (CTAs), or answering questions in a blog post, effective text can increase the likelihood of visitors taking the next step. Some examples of conversion-driven text include:

• CTAs: Calls-to-action such as “Sign Up Now,” “Learn More,” or “Buy Now” help convert visitors into leads or customers.
• Value Proposition: Clearly explaining what makes your products, services, or content valuable encourages users to stay engaged with your site.

5. Building Trust and Authority

The right text can position your website as a trusted authority in your niche. Quality content, backed by facts, research, and clear communication, establishes credibility with your audience. Here’s how text helps build trust:

• Transparency: Providing clear, transparent, and honest information shows that you care about your audience’s needs.
• Expertise: Educational or informative content that demonstrates expertise in a specific area can make users feel more confident in your site and offerings.
• Social Proof: Text can include testimonials, reviews, and case studies that build trust and show real-world examples of your work or products.

Pre-Requisites: Understanding Your Platform

Before diving into how to add text to your website, it’s important to understand the platform or website builder you’re using. The process of adding and styling text can vary depending on whether you’re using a Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress, a website builder like Wix or Squarespace, or coding a custom site with HTML and CSS. Each platform has its own set of tools and features that make text integration easy, but it helps to know which one best suits your needs and skill level.

1. Content Management Systems (CMS)

Content Management Systems (CMS) are popular for creating websites because they are user-friendly and do not require extensive coding knowledge. These platforms allow users to manage website content through a simple interface. Some of the most widely used CMS platforms include WordPress, Wix, and Squarespace.

• WordPress: One of the most popular CMS platforms, WordPress is ideal for users who want a lot of flexibility with both design and functionality. With its built-in editor and thousands of plugins, adding and formatting text can be done without knowing any code.
  • Pre-requisite: Familiarity with the WordPress admin dashboard and basic knowledge of the Block Editor (Gutenberg) or the Classic Editor.
• Wix: Wix is a drag-and-drop website builder known for its ease of use. It’s a great choice for beginners who want to quickly build a visually appealing website. Adding text on Wix is as simple as selecting a text box, typing, and customizing the font style and size.
  • Pre-requisite: Understanding the drag-and-drop interface and how to use Wix’s text editing tools.
• Squarespace: Known for its beautiful templates and intuitive design, Squarespace makes it easy to add and format text. Users can create text blocks that are styled to fit the design of their site.
  • Pre-requisite: Basic familiarity with the Squarespace interface and how to use content blocks.

2. Website Builders (Wix, Shopify, Squarespace)

Website builders are platforms that allow users to design websites with minimal technical skills. These platforms usually provide pre-built templates, intuitive interfaces, and drag-and-drop functionality that make it easy to add text. Here’s what you should know about adding text on these platforms:

• Wix: The text editor on Wix is designed for non-technical users. You can add text by dragging a text box onto the page and then typing or pasting content. Wix also allows you to adjust the text’s font, size, and color, along with more advanced styling options.
• Shopify: Shopify, primarily used for e-commerce, allows you to add text on product pages, blog posts, and homepage sections. For basic text editing, you can use the built-in editor, but more complex changes (like HTML and CSS edits) may require knowledge of code.
• Squarespace: Squarespace allows you to add and format text with simple content blocks. Its design-centric platform also offers built-in tools for customizing fonts and styles to match your branding.

3. Custom Websites (HTML & CSS)

For those who want complete control over their website, building a site using custom code (HTML and CSS) is an option. This method requires technical knowledge, but it provides the flexibility to create highly personalized websites with unique text formatting and layout.

• HTML: Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the standard language used to create the structure of web pages. You’ll use HTML tags like <p>, <h1>, <h2>, and others to define the structure and organization of your text.
  • Pre-requisite: A basic understanding of HTML tags and their usage.
• CSS: Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is used alongside HTML to control the presentation and layout of your text. With CSS, you can style your text in various ways, including choosing fonts, adjusting text size, and defining line spacing.
  • Pre-requisite: Basic understanding of CSS properties such as font-family, font-size, and color.

If you are comfortable with HTML and CSS, this approach gives you complete freedom to design and control the placement of text on your website. However, it does require a good understanding of web development.

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4. Tools Needed to Add Text

To successfully add and manage text on your website, you will need a few essential tools, depending on the platform you’re using:

• Text Editor: If you’re working with a custom website, a simple text editor like Sublime Text, Visual Studio Code, or even Notepad can be used to write and edit your HTML and CSS code.
• Website Builder Editor: For CMS and website builder users (WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify), you’ll be using the platform’s built-in editor or visual builder to add and format text.
• Preview and Testing Tools: Most platforms have preview tools to check how your text looks across different screen sizes, which is especially important for ensuring your text looks great on mobile devices.

Understanding the tools and knowing your platform inside and out will streamline the process of adding and editing text on your website.

Step-By-Step Guide to Adding Text to Different Website Platforms

Now that you understand the importance of text and the tools you’ll need, let’s explore how to actually add and format text on some of the most popular website platforms. This section will cover step-by-step instructions for WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, Shopify, and custom websites using HTML/CSS.

1. Adding Text on WordPress

WordPress is one of the most popular platforms, and it’s very user-friendly when it comes to adding and managing text. There are two main ways to add text on WordPress: using the Block Editor (Gutenberg) or the Classic Editor.

Using the Block Editor (Gutenberg)

1. Login to your WordPress dashboard: Go to your website’s admin panel by adding /wp-admin to the URL.
2. Create or Edit a Post/Page: From the dashboard, navigate to “Posts” or “Pages” and either create a new post/page or edit an existing one.
3. Add a Block: In the editor, click on the “+” button to add a new block. For text, select the “Paragraph” block, “Heading” block, or any other text-related block.
4. Enter Your Text: After selecting the block, simply type or paste your content into the block.
5. Format Text: You can format text using the toolbar that appears at the top of the block. Adjust the font size, make text bold or italic, add hyperlinks, and more.
6. Publish/Update: Once you’re satisfied with the text, click “Publish” or “Update” to save your changes.

Using the Classic Editor

1. Login to your WordPress dashboard.
2. Create or Edit a Post/Page: Navigate to “Posts” or “Pages” and choose to add a new one or edit an existing one.
3. Add Text: In the content editor, type or paste your text.
4. Format Text: Use the built-in toolbar to adjust text formatting (bold, italics, links, etc.).
5. Publish/Update: After making your changes, click “Publish” or “Update.”

Pro Tip: You can also use custom HTML tags in both the Block and Classic editors for more control over your text’s appearance.

2. Adding Text on Wix

Wix makes it extremely easy to add text using its drag-and-drop editor. Here’s how to do it:

1. Login to your Wix account: Go to the Wix website and log in.
2. Open the Editor: Click on “Edit Site” to open the website editor.
3. Select a Text Box: From the left toolbar, click on the “Add” button, then select “Text” and choose from “Title,” “Heading,” “Paragraph,” or “Button Text.”
4. Drag and Drop: Drag your selected text box to the desired location on your page.
5. Edit Your Text: Click inside the text box and type or paste your content. The Wix editor allows you to adjust text properties, such as font, size, color, and alignment.
6. Style Your Text: Use the options in the top toolbar to bold, italicize, or underline text. You can also create links or add animations to the text.
7. Preview and Save: Once you’re satisfied, click the “Preview” button to see how it looks. If everything is good, click “Publish” to make the changes live.

Pro Tip: Wix also lets you add text to images and create text effects for enhanced design.

3. Adding Text on Squarespace

Squarespace offers a straightforward way to add text via content blocks. Here’s how to do it:

1. Login to Squarespace: Go to the Squarespace login page and access your site.
2. Navigate to a Page: From the dashboard, go to the “Pages” section and choose the page you want to edit.
3. Add a Content Block: Click on “Edit” in the top-left corner of your page. Then, click an area where you want to add text and select “Insert Block.”
4. Choose Text Block: From the available options, select “Text” to add a standard text block to the page.
5. Enter and Format Text: Type or paste your text into the block. Squarespace has a rich text editor, which allows you to adjust the font, size, alignment, and add links or images.
6. Style the Text: Use the toolbar to apply custom styles like bold, italics, or links.
7. Save Your Changes: Once you’re happy with how the text looks, click “Save” to update the page.

Pro Tip: Squarespace allows for custom CSS styling if you need advanced text customization.

4. Adding Text on Shopify

For e-commerce sites using Shopify, adding text to your product pages, blog posts, or homepage is simple.

1. Login to Shopify: Access your Shopify admin panel.
2. Edit a Product/Page: Go to “Products” or “Online Store” > “Pages” to edit the page where you want to add text.
3. Use the Rich Text Editor: Shopify has a built-in text editor that allows you to enter text in the content area. Use this editor to add descriptions, product details, and other textual content.
4. Format Your Text: Shopify provides options to format your text with bold, italics, underline, and create links.
5. Save Your Changes: After editing your text, click “Save” to apply your changes.

Pro Tip: Shopify’s theme editor lets you add custom text sections to the homepage or other template pages.

5. Adding Text Using HTML and CSS (For Custom Sites)

If you’re building a custom site, adding text with HTML and CSS gives you full control over how text appears on the page. Here’s how to do it:

HTML Code for Text

1. Open Your HTML File: Open the HTML file in a text editor (e.g., Sublime Text, Visual Studio Code).
2. Add Text: Use basic HTML tags to add text to the webpage. Common tags include:
   • <p> for paragraphs
   • <h1> to <h6> for headers
   • <span> for inline text elements
   • <a> for links
   Example:htmlCopy code<h1>Welcome to My Website</h1> <p>This is a paragraph of text that will appear on the page.</p> <a href="https://www.example.com">Click here to learn more</a>

CSS Code for Styling Text

1. Open Your CSS File: Open the CSS file linked to your HTML document.
2. Style the Text: Use CSS to adjust text properties like font, size, color, line spacing, and alignment.
   • Example:
   cssCopy codeh1 { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #333; font-size: 32px; } p { font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.5; color: #666; }
3. Save and Refresh: Save your changes and refresh your web page to see the updated text.

Pro Tip: When working with HTML and CSS, ensure that the text is responsive, meaning it looks good on both desktops and mobile devices by using media queries for font sizes.

With these step-by-step guides, you now know how to add and customize text across different website platforms. Whether you’re using a CMS, a website builder, or custom code, each method has its advantages depending on your needs and skill level.

Best Practices for Formatting and Styling Text on Your Website

Once you know how to add text to your website, the next step is ensuring that the text is well-formatted and styled to enhance readability, engagement, and SEO. Whether you’re writing a blog post, product descriptions, or landing pages, following best practices will help ensure your content serves both your visitors and search engines.

1. Prioritize Readability

The primary goal of text on a website is to be easy to read. If visitors can’t easily read your content, they’re more likely to leave your site quickly. Here are some tips for optimizing readability:

– Choose Web-Friendly Fonts

Not all fonts are created equal, and some are much easier to read on digital screens than others. When choosing fonts, prioritize clarity and simplicity.

• Best choices: Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, and Verdana are often more legible than serif fonts (like Times New Roman) when viewed on screens.
• Font Size: For body text, aim for a font size of at least 16px to ensure it’s legible. For headings, make sure they are larger (18px or more) so they stand out.
• Line Spacing: Proper line spacing (line height) helps prevent the text from feeling cramped. A line height of 1.5 to 1.8 times the font size is ideal.

– Use Short Paragraphs

Long paragraphs can overwhelm readers, making it harder for them to skim and find the most relevant information. Aim to keep paragraphs short and to the point:

• Keep paragraphs under 4-5 sentences.
• Use subheadings to break up large sections of text into smaller, digestible chunks.

– Optimize Text Contrast

Ensure there’s enough contrast between your text color and the background to make reading easier.

• Dark text on light backgrounds (e.g., black text on a white or light gray background) is usually the best for readability.
• Avoid using colors that are too bright or similar to the background, as they can make text harder to read.

– Use Bullet Points and Lists

Lists help break down complex information and make it easier for visitors to scan. Bullet points or numbered lists help highlight key points in a concise, visually appealing way.

• Example:
  • Benefit 1: Clear and concise description.
  • Benefit 2: Easy to read and scan.
  • Benefit 3: Increases user engagement.

2. Format Text for SEO

Properly formatted text isn’t just user-friendly—it can also help your website rank higher in search engines. Here are a few tips for SEO-friendly text formatting:

– Use Proper Heading Tags

Heading tags (<h1>, <h2>, <h3>, etc.) help organize your content and make it easier for search engines to understand the structure of your page. The main title of your page should be in an <h1> tag, with subheadings using <h2> and <h3>.

• Example:htmlCopy code<h1>How to Add Text to Your Website</h1> <h2>Why Adding Text Matters</h2> <h3>SEO Benefits of Text</h3>
• This hierarchy tells search engines which parts of the content are most important.

– Incorporate Keywords Naturally

Adding keywords related to your business or content is essential for SEO, but be sure to use them naturally. Overstuffing your text with keywords can harm readability and result in penalties from search engines.

• Example: If you’re writing about “web design tips,” don’t just repeat the phrase constantly. Instead, use related phrases and synonyms like “website design advice” or “best practices for designing websites.”

– Include Internal Links

Internal linking (linking to other pages within your website) helps with navigation, user engagement, and SEO. By linking relevant articles or pages, you can guide visitors to more of your content while improving the overall SEO of your site.

• Example: “For more web design tips, check out our article on 10 Essential Tips for Building a Website.”

– Optimize Text for Featured Snippets

Featured snippets (the boxed information that appears at the top of some Google searches) often pull content directly from your text. To optimize for featured snippets, make sure your content answers common questions clearly and concisely.

• Example: If your article answers a specific question (like “How do I add text to a website?”), ensure that your response is clear, direct, and placed near the beginning of the content.

3. Optimize for Mobile Devices

With more people browsing the internet on smartphones and tablets, it’s crucial to ensure that your text is mobile-friendly. Google also uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it prioritizes mobile versions of websites for ranking.

– Responsive Design

Make sure your website uses a responsive design, which automatically adjusts text and layout for smaller screens. This includes adjusting font sizes, margins, and line breaks for mobile devices.

• Test your site on multiple devices to ensure the text looks good and is easy to read.

– Avoid Long Paragraphs and Tiny Text on Mobile

On mobile, long paragraphs or small font sizes can be difficult to read. Shorten paragraphs and make sure text is large enough (at least 16px) for easy reading on a mobile screen.

– Test and Adjust Text Spacing

On smaller screens, text can become cramped, so make sure there’s enough white space around your text. This makes it more visually appealing and easier to read on mobile devices.

4. Use Visuals to Complement Text

Visual elements like images, videos, and infographics can help support your text and make it more engaging. Here’s how to use them effectively:

– Add Alt Text for Images

Search engines can’t “see” images, but they can read alt text. Alt text describes the content of an image and makes your site more accessible for visually impaired users.

• Example: If you have an image of a website layout, use alt text like “Responsive website design with text boxes.”

– Keep Images Relevant

Use images that support the message of your text. Avoid using too many decorative images that distract from the content.

• Example: If your article is about adding text to a website, an image of a website editor or text box would be more relevant than a generic photo.

5. Make Text Interactive

Text doesn’t have to just be static—it can also be interactive. Engaging users with interactive text elements can help increase time on site and encourage action.

• Examples:
  • Hover Effects: Text that changes color or style when hovered over can create an engaging user experience.
  • Clickable Text: Links, buttons, or text that leads users to additional content or a call to action (CTA) can keep users engaged.

By following these best practices for formatting and styling your website’s text, you can improve both user experience and SEO. Well-formatted, readable, and SEO-optimized text can help your website perform better in search rankings, keep users engaged, and ultimately lead to more conversions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Adding Text to a Website

1. How do I change the font style and size of text on my website?

Changing the font style and size depends on the platform you’re using:

• WordPress: In the Block Editor, you can select the text block you want to edit, then use the toolbar to adjust the font, size, and other styles. You can also install themes or plugins that offer more advanced font controls.
• Wix: Select the text box and use the text editor to change the font style and size. Wix provides a wide range of font options in its editor.
• Squarespace: Select a text block and use the editor to customize fonts, sizes, and other text styles. You can also change the font globally through the style settings.
• Shopify: In Shopify’s text editor, select the text you want to change and use the rich text options for formatting. If you want to modify fonts site-wide, you may need to adjust the theme settings or use CSS.
• Custom HTML/CSS: You can change font styles by using the CSS font-family property and adjusting the font-size. For example:cssCopy codep { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; }

2. Can I add text to an image or background?

Yes, adding text on images or backgrounds is a common design choice. Here’s how you can do it:

• WordPress: Using the Block Editor, you can add an image block, then overlay text on the image by adding a text block and adjusting its position using the block settings.
• Wix: Use the “Add” button to place a text box over an image or background. You can adjust its placement and customize the font style and color.
• Squarespace: You can use the “Image Block” and add text over it. Squarespace also has built-in options for adding text to images and controlling the appearance.
• Shopify: For custom themes, you can overlay text on an image by adjusting your theme’s settings or editing the CSS.
• Custom HTML/CSS: To overlay text on an image using HTML and CSS:htmlCopy code<div class="text-overlay"> <img src="your-image.jpg" alt="image"> <div class="overlay-text">Your Text Here</div> </div> And in your CSS:cssCopy code.text-overlay { position: relative; display: inline-block; } .overlay-text { position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%); color: white; font-size: 24px; }

3. How do I add text on a mobile-friendly website?

Making text mobile-friendly is essential for user experience. Most modern website builders, such as WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and Shopify, offer responsive designs that automatically adjust text for mobile devices.

• WordPress: Choose a responsive theme that adapts to mobile screens. You can also adjust font sizes for different screen sizes using CSS media queries.
• Wix: The Wix editor automatically adjusts for mobile, but you can use the mobile preview tool to fine-tune text placement and sizes specifically for mobile devices.
• Squarespace: Most Squarespace templates are mobile-responsive, but you can adjust the text size for mobile specifically under the Design section of the settings.
• Shopify: Many Shopify themes are designed to be mobile-responsive. You can also adjust font sizes and layout for mobile in the theme settings or by customizing CSS.
• Custom HTML/CSS: To ensure your text is mobile-friendly, use media queries in your CSS to change text size and layout based on screen width:cssCopy code@media screen and (max-width: 600px) { p { font-size: 14px; } }

4. How do I add text with custom styles or effects?

To add custom text styles or effects, you may need to work with CSS or use built-in options provided by your website builder.

• WordPress: Use the “Custom HTML” or “Custom CSS” blocks to add unique text effects. You can use CSS for animations, color changes, and other advanced effects.
• Wix: Wix offers various text effects in the editor, such as shadow, outline, and hover effects. You can also animate text and set it to appear in different ways.
• Squarespace: Squarespace has built-in text style options like hover effects, animations, and color transitions. You can also add custom CSS for more advanced effects.
• Shopify: Shopify allows you to edit the theme’s CSS to add effects like hover animations, text transitions, and more.
• Custom HTML/CSS: For advanced text effects, such as animations or hover effects, you can use CSS animations:cssCopy code.hover-text:hover { color: #ff0000; transition: color 0.3s ease; }

5. Why isn’t my text showing up on my website?

If your text is not appearing on your website, here are some things to check:

• Platform Issue: Make sure the changes have been saved and published on your platform (WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, etc.).
• Browser Cache: Sometimes, changes aren’t reflected due to cached files. Try clearing your browser cache or checking the site in an incognito window.
• Text Block Visibility: In some cases, the text might be hidden due to settings like text color matching the background, incorrect text block settings, or CSS hiding the text. Check the settings or CSS for visibility issues.
• Theme/Plugin Conflicts: On platforms like WordPress, a theme or plugin conflict can cause issues with text display. Try disabling plugins or switching themes to troubleshoot.
• Custom Code: If you’re using custom HTML or CSS, ensure that your code is error-free. Check for missing closing tags or conflicting styles that might prevent the text from showing.

6. Can I add multiple languages to my website’s text?

Yes, adding multiple languages to your website is possible and can be done in various ways:

• WordPress: Use translation plugins like WPML or Polylang to add multiple languages to your website. These plugins allow you to create separate versions of pages for each language.
• Wix: Wix offers a multilingual feature that enables you to translate your content into multiple languages directly within the editor.
• Squarespace: While Squarespace doesn’t have a built-in multilingual feature, you can manually create separate pages or sections for each language and link them accordingly.
• Shopify: Use apps like Langify or Weglot to add multilingual support to your Shopify store.
• Custom HTML/CSS: You can manually create language-specific sections or use JavaScript libraries like Google Translate to automatically translate text on your website.

Conclusion: Mastering Text Addition for Your Website

Adding text to a website may seem like a simple task, but it’s far more impactful than it may appear at first glance. Whether you’re aiming to inform, engage, or sell, how you add and present text can significantly influence user experience and your site’s performance in search engines. By understanding the various methods of text insertion, formatting best practices, and optimizing for SEO, you can craft content that not only looks great but also drives results.

Remember, the goal is always to provide value to your visitors through clear, engaging, and well-formatted content. From choosing the right platform and text editor to optimizing the text for readability and mobile responsiveness, every detail plays a part in creating a successful website.

By following the advice in this article and staying consistent with your formatting and SEO practices, you’ll have no trouble adding text to your site that’s both functional and user-friendly.

This page was last edited on 7 November 2024, at 4:51 am