How can you write web content that people can skim?

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People have short attention spans online. They don't read every word, they skim. They scan for keywords, headings, bullet points, images, and other cues that tell them what the content is about and whether it's worth their time. If you want to write web content that people can skim, you need to follow some web writing best practices that make your content clear, concise, and compelling. Here are some tips to help you do that.

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1 Use informative headings

Headings are the first thing that skimmers look at. They break up your content into manageable chunks and guide the reader through your main points. Make sure your headings are descriptive, relevant, and catchy. They should tell the reader what each section is about and what benefit they will get from reading it. Avoid vague or generic headings that don't convey any information or curiosity.

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Anirban Chakraborty

Content Writer
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Once the writer gets an idea of the specific audience and figures out, for instance, the pain point(s), they can add that element in the headings that can make a reader go, "Yes, this is why I should read further." With practice and experience, one keeps getting better at that. Also, when one puts well-addressed subheadings, the reader gets to decide which one to read and which one to skip. The writer might be putting all the points that they believed will add value but chances are that some of those are already known to the reader. This saves both time and effort of the reader which in turn draws them to read other pieces from the same writer.

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2 Write short paragraphs

Long paragraphs are intimidating and boring. They make your content look dense and hard to read. Skimmers will skip them or lose interest. Write short paragraphs that focus on one idea or message. Use transitions and connectors to link your paragraphs and create a logical flow. Aim for no more than four sentences per paragraph, and vary the length and structure to keep the reader engaged.

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Gayathree Ganesan

Transformation & Change Delivery at the Bank of Ireland | Ex-EY FSO Consultant | PSPO II | Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt | Prince2 Foundation Certified in Project Management
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Convey through visual data Storytelling through data visualisation is the best way to spell out perspectives, make hypotheses or elaborate opinion on any topic without boring the audience. Why? It is backed by opinion. Visualise a key strand of data Use interactive charts, animated visuals, and dashboards, while not trying to pack the audience with too many numbers. Showing variance or correlation between two factors, growth or decline in an attribute that has a direct or indirect relationship with the topic being discussed will help convey your message more succinctly than paragraphs quoting references from published work. How will audience benefit? Better desicions Easier trend analysis Easily understands complex relationships

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Haneen Alisawi

Content Writer | Transforming Ideas into Compelling Website Content for Unforgettable User Experiences
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Ensure there's enough spacing between paragraphs and sections. Utilizing white space is like giving your content room to breathe. ?? It provides a visual break for the reader, making the content feel more approachable and less cluttered. It's akin to a well-organized room - everything has its place and is easy to find. This technique allows the reader's eyes to flow smoothly from one point to the next, focusing on the key information without feeling overwhelmed. ?

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Aanchal Ruchira Singh

Author, Co-Founder Oomph Artworks Filmmaking Solutions
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It is best to mention the important content in the first few lines of the paragraph. For example, if you are writing an article about how to fix acertain error, your answer should be within the first three or four lines of Heading 2. You can then elongate the article to achieve the word limit (if any). Try to answer the question of the readers as soon as possible while leaving them hooked enough to want to read further.

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3 Use lists and formatting

Lists and formatting are great tools to highlight key information and make your content more scannable. Use bullet points, numbers, bold, italics, underline, and

tags to emphasize important words, phrases, or concepts. Use lists to summarize, compare, contrast, or explain steps or tips. Use formatting sparingly and consistently to avoid clutter and confusion.
###### Use images and multimedia
Images and multimedia can enhance your content and attract skimmers. They can illustrate, explain, or support your points, or add some emotion or humor. Use relevant, high-quality, and original images and multimedia that match your tone and style. Use captions, alt text, and titles to provide context and keywords. Don't use images and multimedia as filler or decoration, or that distract or confuse the reader.
###### Write clear and catchy introductions
Introductions are crucial to hook skimmers and convince them to read more. Write clear and catchy introductions that summarize your main idea, explain why it matters, and tease what's coming next. Use a question, a statistic, a quote, a story, or a surprising fact to grab the reader's attention and curiosity. Keep your introductions short and simple, and avoid jargon, clichés, or fluff.
###### Write for your audience
The most important tip to write web content that people can skim is to write for your audience. Know who they are, what they want, what they need, and what they expect from your content. Use the language, tone, and style that suit them. Provide value, relevance, and credibility. Solve their problems, answer their questions, or entertain them. Write web content that people can skim, but also want to read.
######Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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ROBIUL KAMOL

Sub Editor at The Daily Star
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Catchy headlines are important to draw readers online. But no wrong information can be given to make the title flashy. Because wrong information will annoy the reader and the author will lose credibility.

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Immaculate Omaebosim

COPYWRITER || FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING TUTOR || MARKETER - I help brands convert and sell with words that appeal psychologically to the emotions of their audience|| message me to book a FREE audit.
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You can write content that people can skim by writing in short paragraphs and making use of bullet points and numbers. Also, using graphics/visuals in your content passes your message more faster and clearer to your audience than text would.

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How can you write web content that people can skim?

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1 Use informative headings

2 Write short paragraphs

3 Use lists and formatting

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