Easy to Read Content
This topic is one that always seems to generate a lot of controversy.
Writers and editors who don’t focus on the digital world get their feathers in a fluff about it.
And don’t even get me started on people who say it contributes to the dumbing down of this country.
PLEASE don’t tweet me or text me or post nasty comments on our blog about it.
We aren’t making a judgment call. Just sharing the facts.
And the facts are… people read differently online and they are more likely to read and engage with content that is written at a basic level more.
So today’s Ten Minute Marketing Tip is the 42-14-2 Rule in Writing.
The 42-14-2 Rule in Writing
I stumbled on this rule when reading an offline article by Ann Wylie of Wylie Communications.
It is something most of us who do any writing online learn, but its the first time I’ve seen a number attached to it.
In a nutshell, readers attention span drifts when copy has more than:
- 42 words per paragraph
- 14 words per sentence
- 2 syllables per word
What we’ve learned helps to decrease your bounce rate and engage your readers longer online is to:
- Make content skimmable
- Break long paragraphs up with white space, bullets and the use of bold and italics
- Use sub-heads to transition
Assess the Level of Difficulty to Read
If you use WordPress, you likely have a plug-in or a part of a plug-in that automatically grades how difficult your copy is to read. If you don’t, however, there are a few tools that can help. One is Readability-Score.com. You can upload your copy to their site and it will be graded using a variety of scoring systems.
If you keep the rule in writing and these tips and tools in mind when you are creating content for your home care or senior living website, you will be ahead of the pack!
Related Resources:
The Dilemma in Creating Engaging Senior Care Content
Front Doors, First Impressions and Senior Care Content
Developing Great Senior Care Content is Like a Toby Keith Song