Top 7 Ways to Improve Blog Readability
If you have a company blog, you probably already know about “readability” and its impact on gaining fans, subscribers, customers and shares. “Readability” refers to how easy and enjoyable something is to read. When readers can easily understand your message, they’re more likely to stay on your site and convert.
Many factors influence your content’s readability, including sentence length, sentence structure and the average syllables per word. This probably sounds like a lot, but we’ve got some tips and tricks to help you out. Here are seven ways to improve your content’s readability.
- Write Short Sentences
Keep sentences short. If a sentence can be broken into two, it’s usually best to do this. These brief periods make it easier for readers to scan content, and they also give the brain a break. This way, the reader can pick up the next line of thought.
- Use a Simple Sentence Structure
Along with short sentences, also use a simple sentence structure. The more colons, semicolons, dashes and commas you use, the harder it is for your readers to follow your sentences.
- Write in a Conversational Tone
Remember, you’re writing for your blog, not an English paper or medical journal. Rather than trying to show off, stick with a friendly, conversational tone, just as if you were talking to a friend. Not only is this good for readability but also for Mississippi SEO.
- Use Shorter Paragraphs
This shouldn’t come as a surprise. In addition to short sentences, also keep your paragraphs short. One to two sentences are all you need in a paragraph, though up to four is usually fine. Short paragraphs move the reader along and make the content easier to skim through.
- Apply Larger Fonts
Pick a large font to maximize readability. Usually, a 16- or 18-point font is good for a blog. Aside from the size, also choose a font that is legible and looks good on mobile devices. You can find something suitable in the sans serif family such as Arial or Verdana.
- Add More Visuals
Photos, content boxes and block quotes are all great visuals to add to your content. They support the existing content, emphasize key points of information and keep readers engaged. They can also help you appear in the image search results, boosting Mississippi SEO and driving more traffic to your page.
Strive for an 8th Grade Reading Level
A good rule of thumb is to write for an 8th-grade reading level. Unless you’re writing to an elite group of people, you should keep your writing style simple, friendly and conversational. Not only will your audience understand your content, but also you can develop better relationships with them!
For an audit of your content, contact WSI Star Web Solutions today.