Writing content that’s easy to read is simple, isn’t it? 

Well, for some people it comes naturally while for others it’s a bit of a struggle. 

To help, the team at Red Marlin has put together five tips to improve readability so that your content is straight forward, informative, useful and engaging. 

1.Keep it simple 

There’s no need to use fancy words when they are not needed as they are more likely to confuse than inform. 

Use bullet points if there are a number of key messages as these are more likely to keep the reader’s attention rather than burying them in a long paragraph. 

Meanwhile, stay focused on who your audience is and write accordingly. If it’s meant for a wide and varied audience then write freely. Over thinking it will over complicate it. 

2. Get to the point 

In today’s busy world, people often don’t have time to spend hours scrolling through your content to find what they are looking for. 

Therefore, include your key message or information at the start. 

Try and think of it like a newspaper. Editors will usually crop stories from the bottom up as the content at the end is likely to be of less importance. 

3. Use headlines 

An interesting headline is vitally important. It’s your chance to make an impact and act as an enticing starting point. 

Obviously, the headline should represent the essence of the story, but don’t be afraid to have fun with it. 

After all, who can forget The Sun’s classic headline, ‘Freddie Starr Ate My Hamster’. 

Remember, though, try and make it six words maximum. It’s not meant to be ‘War and Peace’. 

4. Introducing intros 

The introduction is your opportunity to sum up the content in an exciting and informative manner. 

However, the challenge (or skill) is to do it in 30 words or less. Any more than that and you’ll start losing the reader’s attention. 

Likewise, the introduction provides the platform to say anything important early on. 

If all else fails, make sure it answers the basics – who, where, why, what and when?

 5. Break it up

Sub headers are useful tools to break up content, making it easier to read. 

In themselves they draw attention and provide a guide to what’s coming up in the next section. 

As with the main headline, don’t be afraid to have fun with them and be descriptive. 

What next? 

If you need any advice on producing online content, then the team at Red Marlin are waiting to hear from you. Just contact us at hello@redmarlin.co.uk and we’ll be in touch.