How To Say More by Writing Less
Written by Jhasmin Vidal
No one is reading or listening to your content anymore in this digital world.
An average reader only stares and reads your content for 15 seconds or less. Besides that, according to OptinMaster, 43% of people admit that they only skim blog posts.
The thing is, as technology advances, we are finding more and more content rubbing our faces all the time. That’s why more and more people are not paying attention to anything anymore.
But what if every content was:
- So clear that anyone can understand it
- So simple that you can instantly know why it’s important
- So short that you can read it in a few minutes
The answer: You’ll save your readers a lot of time by giving them the main points of your content immediately. They will most likely consume your content more in the future and consider you a leader in your field.
Why? Because no one likes complicated things. Giving your readers the solution in the simplest and most direct form is the most efficient way to communicate with them.
How Are You Going To Do That?
1. Set the bar high on what content is worth sharing.
What you should do: Remove anything a smart reader already knows—it slows them down and dilutes your message. Instead, concentrate only on the most important, urgent, or actionable information they need to know.
Why it works: Your audience consists of smart and engaged professionals and individuals who need essential information. They need limited distractions to keep their business running or go along with their day, so making your point simple is important.
2. Prioritize the most important details.
What you should do: Start your content with “What’s new” and “Why it matters,” so readers understand the news quickly and why it’s worth their time.
Why it works: According to university studies, readers immediately ask two questions: What is it about? Is it relevant to me? When these details are at the top of your content, readers will understand and remember your message more quickly.
3. Keep it brief and conversational.
What you should do: Keep your content around 500 words and paragraphs to 1-2 sentences each. This will keep the text scannable and prevent reader fatigue. Simple, conversational words speed up reading time and comprehension.
Why it works: Long words and phrases slow down readers. Long words are also hard to remember or even understand. It will make your readers get bored or lose interest in your content.
4. Edit and style your content for impact.
What you should do: Keep your content concise. Use headings, bolding, and bullets strategically to keep readers engaged and to improve your site’s SEO.
Why it works: According to eye-tracking studies, the human eye samples text until it finds something of interest—only then does it actively read. That is why having a compact and great format for your content is important.
5. Keep it simple.
What you should do: Avoid using big terms and put your audience first. Grab their attention and always lead with the one thing that you want them to remember. Highlight your product benefits, not your product.
