Would You Like More People to Read Your Writing?

Recently, I read an article from Entrepreneur and was reminded of successful resources that increase the readability of what your writing. Readability, of course, is grounded in the fact that your readers’ time is limited and anything you produce should respect their time.

Like me, I’m sure you may visit the same content sites or read the same blogs for curated content because of their readability. There are 4 resources that drive it.

Headlines

While 8 out of 10 people will read your headline, only 2 out of 10 will read the rest. For this reason, your headline should have some, if not all, of the following elements — descriptive, curiosity, value, uniqueness and urgency.

Visuals

One of the most effective ways to make your content readable is by converting it to a visual format, such as a video, infographic or white paper. Adding visuals to your content may not necessarily make content more readable, but will help you differentiate and make it more noticeable. After all, everything we do starts with what we see.

Voice

Another important consideration is your audience’s intellectuality. If you want to appeal to a broader audience, remember that people like to read recreationally 2 grades below their actual reading level, and the average newspaper is written at the 11th grade level.

Length

Find balance. Create short pieces that will entertain and add value, but add to your mix longer and more thoughtful content that will establish you and your company as an expert.