What are some ways you can make sure your digital content is easy for your readers to understand?
The plan is simple.
You should simplify your content without making it too boring for your readers.
Although this may sound easy, it is actually quite difficult to do. Think about it. If you want to engage and educate your audience about how automobile traction works, could you write a blog post about it that’s easy to understand?
Most businesses find it difficult to simplify complex topics, and this lack of understanding is reflected in their blogs. If your business creates content that is difficult to read, you can improve your website’s conversion rate by making your content easier to read.
It’s More Than Just the Writing
In other words, words alone are sometimes not enough to make a complex subject clear and easy to understand.
Other elements also play a role in the story your content is telling, such as:
- Website layout.
- On-page SEO elements.
- The use of video or infographics (for visual and audible learners).
No matter how good your writing is, if you don’t execute the other elements well, your audience will click away.
But It’s Mostly About the Writing
Read anything by Ernest Hemingway.
The clarity of mind is kept further in the paragraphs with simple and effective prose that is mostly in active voice.
Hemingway’s style is more relevant today than ever. In a time when people have short attention spans and are constantly distracted, Hemingway’s clear and concise writing style is a refreshing change of pace.
When you can combine great writing with great layout?
That’s when clarity happens.
Simplifying the complex sounds easy, but takes practice.
Here’s where to begin.
1. Avoid Using Jargon/Complex Words
I don’t care who you are, I’ll talk to you the same way.
-Albert Einstein
An issue that is present in a lot of online content is the use of jargon and complicated words. In high school and college, using big words may have been a great way to sound smart and impress your teacher.
However, when you’re writing digital content, your goal should be to help the reader understand the content, not to impress them. An example of a sentence containing jargon would be “This company is a great example of a company that is too reliant on jargon and complex words.”
The company offers a wide range of web design services that are tailored to meet the specific needs of businesses. The company’s experienced team of designers create websites that are both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
After reading that, just ask yourself one thing. ? If you need a website, would you call a web design company and ask for a full-service B2B web design agency that specializes in both engagement and aesthetics?
No, it’s not okay to write like this, but many people believe that it is. Jargon and complex words can make your writing harder to understand. Try to use simpler words and phrases to make your meaning clear.
” Acme Web Design Company helps small businesses increase online sales by providing state-of-the-art websites. These websites are designed to attract more online customers and increase digital sales.
2. Write for a Sixth Grader
In its best form, writing is simplistic. The secret to writing great content is to be clear and concise. Here is an excerpt from internet marketing guru Neil Patel.
. If you read any of my blogs, you’ll know that I enjoy writing.
Why? What’s the big deal? Why am I obsessed with this topic?
I write about writing because I enjoy it.
Neil Patel is a popular blogger with millions of subscribers. After reading his blog, it is easy to see why he is so popular. His style is fairly straightforward so that anyone can quickly understand his main idea.
Patel offers tips on how to improve your online writing in his blog. Some tips include using strong words, using active voice, and using short sentences. This topic is very complex, especially for those who do not have strong writing skills. Although this excerpt is difficult to understand, Patel makes it easy by writing it as if he were addressing a sixth-grade audience.
3. Use Visuals
If you want your research-based writing to be more engaging, you should include visual elements. If you want people to remember the information you’re presenting, it’s better to show it to them in a table or infographic.
A recent study states that only 20% of your content will be read. Make sure to include images, infographics, graphs, tables, and any other visual item that can reinforce your message. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words.
4. Simple Images
Some people go crazy creating colorful images.
But this is another example of where simplicity reigns.
Brunson argues that using simple graphics is an effective way to communicate information. He provides examples of how this can be used to explain complex concepts quickly and easily.
He uses smaller graphics that are basically stick-figure images.
Why? He explains:
” I want the pictures to be basic so you can easily remember the concepts. The graphics are engineered for instant recall.”
This is because simple images are easy to understand and remember.
If you are discussing a complicated topic, adding a simple graphic will help deliver a much clearer message, especially to those who are visual learners.
5. Video Content
Every day, people watch over a billion hours of video on YouTube, as reported by Google.
That’s because people love video content.
. If you want to reach a wider audience with your complex content, consider adding a video recap. This will help those who don’t learn best from reading.
Neil Fleming, who is best known as the designer of VARK model, believes that there are four learning styles.
VARK is an acronym for:
- Visual.
- Aural.
- Read/write.
- Kinesthetic.
This video is suitable for both visual and aural learners who rely on images and listening, respectively.
There’s no need to overdo it with video recaps. They can just summarize your content.
Video is a medium that can be used to reach more learners.
If you’re interested in videos and have the time and money to invest in them, go for it.
This means that you could host your videos on a dedicated YouTube or Vimeo channels, which would allow your videos to be seen on other channels.
6. Infographics
When creating content for your website or blog, adding infographics can help to break up the text and make the information more visually appealing. However, it is still important to keep things simple by using simple images and keeping the text short.
These will speak to visual learners.
If you want to explain a complex topic to your audience, using infographics alongside clear writing and videos can be very effective in simplifying the learning process.
Infographics also have a lot of potential to go viral, which can help your complex message reach a wider audience.
7. Reference Other Respected Professionals
You can make complex topics seem simpler by referencing or quoting respected people who are experts on the subject.
The more popular the person, the better.
When you make references to other people’s work, it helps build relationships in the reader’s mind between what you’re writing and what other known professionals have said or written.
Making the message simpler eases digestion.
Choose a direct quote from the reference that is simple and to the point.
On Layout
8. Use Subheadlines Graciously
Subheadlines dramatically ease tension when reading.
It is easier to read and understand large pieces of text that are divided into smaller sections.
This text is saying that if a piece is more complicated, you should use more subtopics.
The subheadings in an article allow readers to quickly scan through to see if any of the topics are of interest to them.
9. Use Space – Shorter Paragraphs
If shorter paragraphs are used, it will create white space on the page, which will make the text seem easier to read.
Let’s go back to Hemingway’s shorter paragraphs.
They’re easy on the eyes.
When you break up a long paragraph into shorter sentences, it makes the content easier to understand.
Thompson’s work I didn’t really understand the power of space until I read Hunter S. Thompson’s work. I first read Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” when I was around 20 years old.
I read the novel in one sitting.
The small paragraphs and spaces made it easier to read and understand the text.
10. Use a Miniseries for Easy Consumption
Breaking your subject down into a miniseries will allow your audience to more easily understand the complex concepts involved.
Search Engine Journal covers large topics thoroughly with guides like their Complete Guide to SEO.
Another example is when I wrote about ghostwriters.
I could have done one epic post.
Instead of focusing on one topic, I decided to focus on two topics related to ghostwriters. The first topic covers the benefits of ghostwriters and the second topic covers how to find, hire, and train ghostwriters.
Both posts are about ghostwriters; however, both topics are deserving of their own posts.
One advantage of writing a series is that your readers will want to read more after they finish the first piece.
11. Add Passion to Your Writing
You need to communicate to the reader in order to get them to feel the need to read any further.
If you’re passionate about your subject, it will show in your writing, and hopefully your readers will be infected with your enthusiasm. Speak with enthusiasm and let your excitement for the subject matter shine through. This will engage the reader and make them want to see what you have to say all the way to the end. The readers can sense when the author is not putting effort into the writing. The more lack of interest you have in your writing, the more complex the subject will be.
12. Embrace Current Trends
Today, people are watching a lot more videos than ever before, that is a trend you may want to use to your advantage, where appropriate, you may use a video to explain a topic or simply to increase interest and cut the monotony. Animated videos are a great way to entertain your audience while also getting your point across. Do not use too much decoration that it distracts from the main message.
13. Use Examples and References Your Audience can Relate to
It is easier to find everyday life examples that your audience will understand if you know them well. Use the most popular or well-known professional when quoting in your field to help the audience remember what you’re saying and to add credibility. This will also make the audience more receptive to learning more since they feel a connection with what you are saying.
14. Introduce New Ideas with Subheadings
Subheadings act as a guide for a reader, signalling when a new topic is being introduced. They can be thought of as a way of partitioning a text, helping the reader to focus on one topic at a time. They unveil the new concept and provide a glimpse into what’s to come next. If a reader wants to stop and think about what they’ve just read, subheadings work like bookmarks to help them pick up where they left off. If a text does not have subheadings, it can look very complex and intimidating, which might make a reader not want to read it.
15. Read Through, Edit, Rewrite and Repeat the Process
After you have finished composing your content and believe it is ready to be published, read it through one last time to confirm that it is flawless. Slipped through the cracks: try to summarize it even more: read like you are your audience: see if it may still come off as complex or sleep-inducing. Possible jargon that may have slipped through the cracks: Try to summarize it even more: Read like you are your audience: See if it may still come off as complex or sleep-inducing. Rewrite it even better than the first time and then better than the second time until it is perfect.
Concluding Thoughts
Your goal when writing about something complicated is to keep the writing simple and interesting.
Making your message clearer will help more people understand what you’re trying to say.
This article focused on making the complex more understandable for a wider audience.
The message can remain complex if you are writing for a medical journal that is read by top tier doctors, but try to keep the message simple.
