What Technique Improves the Readability of Articles?
In the quest for crystal-clear communication, we've gathered insights from Editors in Chief and content strategists on enhancing article readability. From the simplicity of using short, clear sentences to the practicality of spacing paragraphs for mobile readers, explore the five techniques these professionals swear by.
- Use Short, Clear Sentences
- Divide Text and Add Visuals
- Employ A/B Testing for Content
- Incorporate Strategic White Space
- Space Paragraphs for Mobile Readers
Use Short, Clear Sentences
Using short, clear sentences is one of the most effective techniques for improving readability. It helps readers understand your message easily.
Divide Text and Add Visuals
I have never been a fan of reading a wall of text. It may be the most interesting text, but I wouldn't know that because I can't read it. That's why I try to divide my text into short paragraphs—3, 4, or a maximum of 5 lines. Then I add subtitles once every few paragraphs, and I'm not afraid to bold a few important words of text here and there.
To break the monotony even more, I add images, tables, lists—anything that can break the text into easy-to-digest chunks, while also keeping the article flow logical. At first, it seems hard to learn for someone who is a writer, but do this for a few dozen articles, and it will become second nature.
Employ A/B Testing for Content
One technique I've found particularly effective for improving article readability is using A/B testing with content. We will iterate and identify which content formats and structures resonated most strongly with our target users. By the end of the testing period, we had pinpointed a clear winner in a specific content type that outperformed all others by a significant margin.
This data-driven method enabled us to refine our content to align with user preferences. For example, we found that reformatting dense paragraphs into smaller paragraphs or bulleted lists increased engagement by over 40% for certain topics. We also discovered that including a 'Key Takeaways' section at the top of longer articles boosted time on page by 25%.
The key was focusing on small, targeted tests rather than broad changes. This allowed us to isolate variables and gain actionable insights quickly. We could then apply those learnings to optimize our overall content strategy and improve readability across our site.
This approach of continuous, focused testing and refinement based on user data has become core to how we develop and improve our content. It ensures we're always aligned with what our audience truly wants and needs in terms of readability and engagement.
Incorporate Strategic White Space
One often-overlooked technique is the strategic use of white space. By giving the text room to breathe, white space prevents the page from looking cluttered and overwhelming. This helps readers focus better and makes the content easier to follow. For instance, I make sure there's plenty of space between paragraphs and around images and headings. This not only makes the article look nicer but also makes it much easier to read.
Space Paragraphs for Mobile Readers
Space your paragraphs into smaller blocks, with two to three sentences per paragraph. People nowadays are often too lazy to read long, dense paragraphs. Seeing a big block of text can turn them off, especially if they're reading your article on a mobile phone where space is limited.
Keeping paragraphs short makes the content more appealing and easier to read.
