Blogging: Get to the Point
Did you know that people tend to read a lot slower on a screen? Even those of us who have pretty much grown up in front of a screen have a harder time reading from a computer vs. a book.
So, as you begin to develop your blogging (and social media) voice, keep that stat in mind when you write. Some of you may have a journalism background, which is an awesome thing, but writing on the web and writing for print are two different things. And, you have to cater your message accordingly. So, how do you do that?
1. Stay on topic.
It’s easy to trail on to another topic when writing a blog post. But remember what you’re writing about. Don’t lose site of the purpose of your post.
2. Be brief.
I know – it’s not always easy to be straight to the point. But, you need to. Otherwise you’ll lose your readers 5 seconds in (honestly). “Trim the fat,” so to speak, by really focusing on what the importance of your post is, and clear the fluff. Being brief goes hand-in-hand with tip number one.
3. Use Bullets and lists.
This post is a great example. Not every post needs to be full of paragraphs. When appropriate, break your post down into easy and digestible pieces. Using bulleted lists is one of the easiest ways to do that.
4. Balance photos and copy.
If you know you’re going to have a photo-heavy post, scale back on the copy. And, if you’re going to have a copy-heavy post, only interject one or two photos. Create a balance that is pleasing to the eye (and the mind).
5. Limit posts to only a couple of paragraphs (or 400 words or less).
Remember, the more your write, the more you’ll lose your readers. So, keep them engaged by reeling them in and dishing the goods quickly.
Image Source: Felix Triller
Brit Stewart is the editor of the Landlocked Bride, a modern wedding blog dedicated to Midwest and Mountain West couples. She is also the owner of Brit Stewart Weddings, a wedding design and styling boutique in Denver, CO. 12 Comments
There are some bloggers that I love but don’t visit often because I can’t read a three page post. Sticking to the point keeps the reader focused on the point you are trying to make. Great post!
I try not to write too much except for personal posts, but that isn’t just because of the attention span thing – it also hurts my eyes staring at the screen for a long period of time too! Long articles are great for magazines, the net – not so much. Great pointers!
Awesome post! Great to read this as I start blogging again this week, great reminder!
Love it! Proof is that I read literally every word you wrote because it was the perfect length and set up to easily flow through
Thanks, Brit!
Thanks for the reminders! Always good to make sure I’m doing the best I can at my blog! Great post (graphically and advice)!
Great post! Thanks for sharing your advice!
Writing is a place where less is definitely more. People have such a short attention span!
Adding pictures to a post always makes things more interesting
Great post!
Like Stephanie, when I first started blogging I wrote reams and reams (I cringe at those posts now) I’ve definitely cut back a lot since!
Also, if you have guest posters, I suggest giving them a word limit or ask them to share bullet points too.
When I first started blogging, I would write a book pretty much daily. But now, it’s scaled way, way down. I realized if I don’t have time to read tons of copy, there are probably many others out there like me. So, now I tailor my content accordingly. It’s hard when you are a natural writer, but editing down is definitely key to keeping readers interest. Great post!
Excellent points! When you’re super busy and don’t have time to read everything I tend to speed read and slim so all these suggestions are very helpful to bloggers.
Great post – I totally agree and definitely stop reading posts that are too long!
Great post and great ideas. I always try to keep my posts fairly brief with use of bolds, italics and bullets where appropriate for more interest when reading. Lots of copy and lots of photos always turn me off in posts so I like finding the perfect balance.