Well the answer is no? People aren’t interested in reading web writing; the most they do is scan it? only few % of your blog reader will read your post word to word, rest will just scan the page (read headers) and make their conclusion about the post. People want to gather what they need and move on. It is very likely that they will browse your site while working on project, chatting with some friends on Yahoo or MSN, as a result they need to be able to filter and scan specific information on your site easily; else they will hit that nasty back button. It becomes essential to stop your reader from hitting that back button by making your content scannable.

How to write Scannable Content? Well read on to know.

Magnetic Post Title:
Blog title is the first thing that people read and perhaps the last, if they are not fascinated to peruse further, for this reason, title is one of the most important components of your blog content.
Magnetic titles grab the readers’ attention and make the readers continue reading.

Make Your First Paragraph a “Trap”:
Master copywriter Brian Clark says

“A great headline mixed with a lame opening is like inviting someone into your house, only to slam the door in their face as they approach.”

So grab your reader’s attention as soon as the approach the first line of your post. Craft a little teaser about your post in first paragraph, tell them where you coming from and what to expect from your post. Temper their curiosity, and make them want to read on.

Keep Your Paragraphs Short:
I consider this to be the most important rule of building scan-able easy to read content. Make the content easier for your readers to digest each and every word of your paragraph, if the point you are discussing require longer clarifications, break up your page with sub-headlines , divide it in 3 or 4 parts this way it will look more neat and will encourage your reader to keep reading further.

Short Sentence:
Shorter sentences are easier to read. You may have noticed this article is not made up of long complicated sentences; each sentence is fairly short and therefore easily read at a glance. Shorter sentences are easier to understand and digest. If you want people to “get” your message, keep your sentences short.

Use header and sub-header:
Headers and sub-headers can greatly improve the user experience. Provide your readers the ability to scan your page and pick out the topics that interest them. If you don’t provide sub- headlines, there’s a chance your readers will skip the page entirely.

Number or Bullet Your List:
Internet users just love lists, because they are fun and easy to read. Readers will understand your message much more clearly if it’s separated into single elements. Lists also make very catchy headlines, since people will know exactly what they can expect from the content (and you stand a chance to make it to front page of Del.icio.us ).

Image and illustration:
In India they say “a picture speaks louder then 1000 words” and I think they are right. Picture can convey your message more effectively. Images can also help you to structure your content more efficiently, use them to divide different part of the text, or to complement specific parts and elements.

Remember, most blog readers are actually scanners. To make them stop long enough to read your content, you must make your text visually appealing and effortless to read. Use short, simple sentences, slime down your content, and write short paragraphs, and most important friendly voice.

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Related Entry:
5 Ingredients For Search Engine Friendly Contents
How To Write Great Content That You Reader Can’t Ignore.

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