Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed

There are a lot of different schools of thought on how to develop website content that is “just right” for search engines and customers alike. Everyone has his or her own idea of what the perfect amount of content is. Unfortunately, we still hear people saying that any content is too much! The argument goes something like this: “People don’t read, they just look at the pretty pretty pictures.” This is both true and false. Many people don’t read content, but they are just a fraction of your audience. Another fraction skims the content, and still another fraction will read every word on the page. So, which audience are you going to disenfranchise with (or without) your content? Reading online isn't like reading a book. We have to write differently for the online audience. Fortunately, you don’t have to disenfranchise any . You can create content that is meant to be read, ign...

Full article: http://searchengineland.com/forget-reading-web-content-is...

Tweets

@StoneyD » 03 Jul '12, 9pm
Skimmable content is better for the reader and non-reader because it is easier to read and/or ignore. [link]
@StoneyD » 02 Jul '12, 10pm
Content written for skimmers helps visitors get a sense of what you’re saying without reading every word. [link]
@StoneyD » 29 Jun '12, 1pm
When "skimmers" see something that appeals to them, they’ll stop and read to get to the content they want. [link]
@StoneyD » 27 Jun '12, 3pm
"Readers" are interested in what you have to say, and content will be a determining factor in the conversion. [link]
@StoneyD » 26 Jun '12, 4pm
Content is an important part of the reader’s decision-making process. [link]
@JenMetzOnline » 26 Jun '12, 4am
Why skim- or scan-able webcopy works for spectrum from non-readers to excessive readers [link]
@StoneyD » 25 Jun '12, 5pm
The more "readers" learn about your product, company and feels you're credible will help them do business with you. [link]
@aludowise » 24 Jun '12, 8pm
RT @retailgeek: Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link]
@StoneyD » 22 Jun '12, 6pm
"Readers" want to know about your product, need to be sold on its virtues and be convinced of their decision. [link]
@StoneyD » 21 Jun '12, 7pm
"Readers" are likely to read almost every word on the page. These types are information gluttons. [link]
@StoneyD » 20 Jun '12, 8pm
As long as content is non-obtrusive non-readers can blow right past it and get right to what they came for. [link]
@StoneyD » 19 Jun '12, 9pm
For non-readers, words tend to get in the way. [link]
@StoneyD » 18 Jun '12, 10pm
Non-readers navigate by looking at pictures and links. They are "cover-art" shoppers. [link]
@StoneyD » 15 Jun '12, 1pm
Non-readers don’t have much use for lengthy text. They don’t want the whole sales spiel. [link]
@StoneyD » 14 Jun '12, 2pm
Create content designed to be skimmed to provide content for each type of audience. [link]
@StoneyD » 12 Jun '12, 4pm
A fraction of your audience reads your content. Another fraction skims and still another fraction reads every word. [link]
@xpresseo_online » 12 Jun '12, 10am
Who's got time to read any more ? Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed: inform your audience at a glance. [link]
@Oakenco » 12 Jun '12, 4am
What type of content reader are you? I'm a skimmer that only reads content in its entirety when learning/researching. [link]
@Jonatanf » 11 Jun '12, 11pm
RT @CoryLebson: Great to see from @sengineland - Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link] by @StoneyD #ux #usability
@CoryLebson » 11 Jun '12, 10pm
Great to see from @sengineland - Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link] by @StoneyD #ux #usability
@StoneyD » 11 Jun '12, 5pm
“People don’t read, they just look at the pretty pretty pictures.” False! [link]
@olson_mkg » 11 Jun '12, 4pm
Create skim-able web content [link] for your US site, but for UK, high ranked sites have more content [link]
@MrCellaneous » 11 Jun '12, 9am
RT @KBattaliou: Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link]
@glenn_ferrell » 10 Jun '12, 5pm
Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed. How to write for your website. RT @CTSocializer via @sengineland [link]
@sengineland » 10 Jun '12, 6am
RT @tompkinsmimi: Web content should be written for "skimmers" [link]
@ObanSEO » 09 Jun '12, 4pm
Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed #webcontent #seo - [link]
@CTSocializer » 09 Jun '12, 12pm
Do you read or skim webpage content? [link]
@StoneyD » 08 Jun '12, 8pm
Thx Howard! > MT @howardkaplan: evangelized content by personality type & few have articulated as well as @StoneyD - [link]
@HowardKaplan » 08 Jun '12, 7pm
I've evangelized content dev by personality type for yrs & few have articulated why it works as well as @StoneyD - [link]
@StoneyD » 08 Jun '12, 6pm
Why do some people still think that ANY web content is too much? [link]
@kevinnisly » 08 Jun '12, 6pm
Stoney deGeyter's latest column for Search Engine Land on writing content that appeals to just about every type of …[link]
@paprikawriting » 08 Jun '12, 5pm
I'm definitely a skimmer. And agree with making all content skimmable. [link] via @sengineland
@ChrisThilk » 07 Jun '12, 11pm
Interesting thoughts from @stoneyD about writing for readers, skimmers and non-readers: [link]
@JasculcaTerman » 07 Jun '12, 8pm
#Web Content is Meant to be Skimmed: How to tailor your copy to readers who will likely skim it: [link] @StoneyD @sengineland
@tvforhotels » 07 Jun '12, 7pm
Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed - [link] <<Another reason images & infographics SELL!
@FissionSEO » 07 Jun '12, 7pm
In the Era of 140 Characters or Less, #Web #Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link] via @sengineland
@contentdjapp » 07 Jun '12, 11am
RT @PunchyMarketing Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link] #Content #webdesign
@QueroMedia » 07 Jun '12, 11am
"All content should be skimmable content" iedereen akkoord? [link] #contentmarketing
@virtualsushi » 07 Jun '12, 8am
Ik skim - RT @davy_v: Leest u nog eigenlijk? "Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed" [link] (via @david_smet)
@davy_v » 07 Jun '12, 8am
Leest u nog eigenlijk? "Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed" [link] (via @david_smet)
@carlaVstratenX » 07 Jun '12, 6am
RT @SoundIdeaDMA: Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link] via @sengineland
@sunnysusan2day » 07 Jun '12, 2am
RT @Greekgeek: Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link] via @sengineland
@SiteMinder_News » 06 Jun '12, 11pm
RT @HSMAINewYork: Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link] via @sengineland
@glassCanopy » 06 Jun '12, 11pm
What's the right amount of content for your website? - [link] via @seland
@robertocolanzi » 06 Jun '12, 11pm
RT @SthsideMktg: Forget Reading! #Web #Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link] #contentmarketing #smallbiz
@SthsideMktg » 06 Jun '12, 10pm
Forget Reading! #Web #Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link] #contentmarketing #smallbiz
@tompkinsmimi » 06 Jun '12, 9pm
Web content should be written for "skimmers" [link]
@KateGaro » 06 Jun '12, 9pm
Skimming Is What I Do, Darlin’.. Web #content is now meant to be skimmed. Is this what you do when your browsing? [link]
@ericksonstock » 06 Jun '12, 9pm
Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed! RT @CompContent [link]
@Darren_Moloney » 06 Jun '12, 8pm
RT @graywolf: Forget Reading! Web Content Is Meant To Be Skimmed [link]