Check you've made it easy for people to read your blog posts.
I’m always flabbergasted when I click on a link to a blog post that sounds interesting and then I’m confronted with long gray blocks of type. My eyes glaze and I often just click away.
There are so many informative blog posts to read on the web. Why would I struggle to read a post when I can click to another post that is more easily read?
Here, then, are the most important steps to making your posts as easy to read as possible:
* Black type on white background. Do not even consider for one moment publishing blog posts in reverse type — white type on a dark background.
* Short, short paragraphs. Often I write short paragraphs, then in revising I separate a paragraph into two even shorter paragraphs. All that extra white space makes it easy on the eyes to read.
* Use boldface subtitles to help readers focus on the information provided. And the subtitles should have substantive meaning — see above — rather than just saying, for example, Here are the steps:
* Short posts. If you have a lot to say on a subject, break up the information in a series of short posts.
* Interesting, informative post title with keywords if possible (such as blogging in the title of this post).
* Use bullet points when appropriate to also provide extra white space for the eyes.
If you follow these important steps, you’ll be well on the way to encouraging people to read what you write. Of course, writing the valuable content is up to you.
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Phyllis Zimbler Miller (@ZimblerMiller on Twitter) has an M.B.A. from The Wharton School and is an Internet business consultant. If you liked this article, you’ll love her free report on “How to Become a Twitter Marketing Expert” – claim your report now from www.millermosaicllc.com/free-twitter-report
Those are great directions, Phyllis (I actually changed the templates of a few of the several blogs I do to reflect your first step).
Chris –
I’m so glad to hear you had an open mind and were willing to make the change. Many people say: “Reverse type looks so good.” And I reply: “What difference does it make how it looks if people can’t read it easily?”
Phyllis
http://twitter.com/ZimblerMiller
Those were really wonderful tips Chris.
Keep it Straight and Simple (KISS) is what I normally follow
[...] Number One Rule of Blogging: Make It Easy for People to Read What You Write [...]
Phyllis,
Thanks for your posting on making blog articles easy to read.
I would be interested to read what you have to say about blog headlines/titles.
Peter
Peter –
I just saw this question now.
I do try to write headlines/titles that have keywords in them so that people as well as search engines can more easily find my articles/posts, although I know some people prefer writing clever headlines/titles.
First, this is not something that comes naturally to me. Second, search engines and even people often are not “hooked” by these clever headlines/titles if it is unclear what the post/article is about.
Hope this answer helps,
Phyllis