Content writers worldwide have to understand that online writing is on the threshold of evolution. Google speculates that by the end of this year, mobile searches will be more than desktop or laptop searches. It is not difficult to understand that content is seen differently by the readers on mobile devices. So, logically it should be written differently too.
Writing to Negate the Toggle
Problem with something new technology is though we may know the basics and how it works, but do not know what impact it will have on our profession. Well, if you continue writing for the desktops your acceptance as a writer is bound to suffer in the long run. As it is, the freelancing model has made Content Writing a stiff world to survive.
Writing for Mobile
So, you have to change. But how to write for the small screens of mobiles? How to fit in all the information in a user friendly way? This is a big question for the present day content writers. I would try to suggest some ways.
- Lot Said, Little Spoken: It is time to become that introvert guy who speaks little but you get all the information. As writers we have a particular liking for creating the perfect sentences with rich vocabulary. Mobile users read your content on the go and they are not interested in your syntax. They want maximum information with minimum words. So, make every word count.
- Earn their Attention: Toggling is different from scrolling. The time is even lesser. Unless your headline is really interesting, the reader will not click. You have maximum 1 second to grab the attention. So think hard. Titles should be relevant, brief and free of jargons. Ideal length of titles is 65-70 characters, to avoid truncation.
- A Strong Beginning: Well, there is no point in beating around the bush. You have earned the attention of readers. Do not waste the potential by dancing around the topic. No point in setting the stage. Just get to it. Create a punchy and engaging summary compelling the readers to read on.
- Keep it Short Silly: Give the KISS effect to your content, especially for the paragraphs. Content structure can go all wrong in mobile devices. When a paragraph of 6-7 lines is seen on a mobile device, it becomes an uninteresting chunk of information. The ideal length of a paragraph should be no more than 200 characters. This will also give you scopes of breaking the content.
- Content Ideal for Scanning: Psyche of the mobile readers is to scan content, before they read one. They will toggle all the way down before giving your content a detailed read. This is why lists, bullets, numbers and sub-heads are essential. Let the reader see what is in it for them. If you use all these components perfectly then most of the readers will continue reading.
- Use the Device: Most of the Smartphones are optimized for image viewing, utilize this potential. Use compelling graphics or images to tell your story and keep the content scanners interested.
Hope these tips will help you develop better content suiting all devices. Another name of professionalism is to learn something new every day!
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