Writing with readability means making your content material simple to learn and perceive. In case your viewers can’t grasp what you’re attempting to say, what’s the purpose?
Hello, I’m Alana, your pleasant neighborhood weblog editor. I spent most of my early advertising and marketing profession within the public well being discipline. We targeted on one principal writing precept: utilizing plain language.
For years, I turned complicated well being info into digestible content material. I translated sophisticated vaccination schedules and prolonged medical insurance insurance policies into easy steerage for shoppers.
I nonetheless use plain language rules to write down clear content material. However I’ve additionally picked up some new methods alongside the best way. Listed here are the entire methods I exploit to speak clearly and create worth as a marketer.
Desk of Contents
Why Writing With Readability Issues
Earlier than we get into the how, let’s begin with the why.
Why does this matter for entrepreneurs?
My expertise in well being advertising and marketing taught me that clear content material respects your reader’s psychological vitality. It issues as a result of it influences their capability to focus, assume clearly, and keep motivated to take motion.
With out clear writing, even probably the most good messages fall flat. Science reveals that components so simple as sentence construction impression comprehension and recall as we learn.
That’s why readability is important. In the event you do not talk successfully, your viewers received’t know (or keep in mind) what you need them to do.
Right here’s how one can put this pondering into observe.
The way to Enhance Readability in Writing: The Fundamentals for Entrepreneurs
I’ve included six elementary suggestions under that will help you enhance readability in your advertising and marketing content material.
However I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out the final word clear writing hack: ranging from an overview or template. Readability begins with construction, and that’s precisely what templates (like those under) present.
Save them for later whenever you’re prepared to start out writing. Within the meantime, let’s get into the fundamentals of writing clear content material.
1. Know who you’re speaking to and what you need to say.
The cardinal rule of selling is that this: Know your viewers.
It’s simpler to speak clearly whenever you perceive what they want, what they need to know, and tips on how to attain them.
Let your viewers information your writing course of. Earlier than you set pen to paper (reasonably, fingers to keyboard), reply these questions:
- Who’s studying this? In my case, this text is focused towards advertising and marketing professionals who focus on content material growth.
- What’s my principal message? Writing with readability issues in advertising and marketing, and there are steps you’ll be able to take to simplify your advertising and marketing content material.
- What’s the precise final result I need to obtain? I need to give my readers actionable, experience-based methods for writing clear content material.
- How will I get them there? I’ll introduce why writing with readability is necessary, begin with some fundamental suggestions, present expert-level methods from my advertising and marketing colleagues, and wrap up with key takeaways for entrepreneurs.
The clearest content material is content material with intention. Writing with readability forces you to consider what you’re writing — and who you’re writing it for — earlier than you begin spilling phrases onto the web page.
2. Outline unfamiliar phrases (and don’t assume information).
One other easy method for making your advertising and marketing content material clear is to elucidate your phrases. Relying on the context, even acquainted phrases and phrases can confuse readers.
Firstly of this text, I outlined writing with readability. Positive, it might appear easy to me. However all it took was twelve additional phrases to ensure we’re aligned as you proceed studying.
Clarify key phrases early on, so your message is less complicated to observe.
3. Use a constant type and voice.
Typically, it’s good to be predictable. That’s a giant purpose why individuals come again to your model — they know what to anticipate.
Take Duolingo for example. Likelihood is you’ve seen Duo the owl on nearly each platform the place Duolingo does enterprise. He’s featured in all of their advertising and marketing content material, and he has a very distinct voice and tone.
Take a web page out of Duolingo’s ebook. Give shoppers the identical expertise irrespective of the place they discover you. It will provide help to set up a transparent and recognizable model id.
4. Use brief phrases, sentences, and paragraphs.
Bear in mind when science informed us we have now a shorter consideration span than a goldfish?
That was about ten years in the past, and it nonetheless holds true.
The fact is that almost all of your viewers isn’t studying each phrase you write. As an alternative, individuals are inclined to skip total phrases, sentences, and even sections.
One factor that I attempt to do in my writing is make my content material scannable. This consists of:
- Simplifying my phrase alternative (e.g., attempt use as an alternative of make the most of)
- Concentrating on 10-15 phrases per sentence.
- Focusing every sentence on one principal thought.
- Utilizing single-sentence paragraphs to create pure pause factors.
- Limiting paragraphs to 2 to 3 sentences max.
Reread this part to see what I imply.
5. Emphasize your greatest takeaways.
As readers, we love to skim.
So be sure to spotlight your most necessary factors so that they don’t get buried.
You should use daring to convey consideration to essential ideas or necessary statistics.
Bullets are additionally an effective way to:
- Summarize your principal concepts.
- Break down particular steps or suggestions.
- Enhance total readability.
Clear writing makes it simple for individuals to select up what you’re placing down (perceive what you’re attempting to say).
Right here’s an instance of emphasis in motion from one other weblog put up I wrote:
6. Reap the benefits of free writing instruments.
There are tons of writing instruments available on the market that will help you write with readability. You possibly can even ask your AI BFF to assist your content material learn extra clearly. (Speaking to you, Claudie.)
Nevertheless, I’ve to say, these two are my favorites proper now: Hemingway Editor and Grammarly.
Hemingway Editor is so good. You possibly can copy and paste your content material instantly into the device. It highlights prolonged, complicated sentences and customary errors. Hemingway additionally flags pointless jargon and weak phrases in your writing.
The net-based model is free. You even have the choice to obtain the desktop app for a one-time price of $19.99 or improve to Editor Plus for extra options.
Grammarly can be a wonderful proofreading device. In truth, I’m actively utilizing the Grammarly browser extension as I write this text. It supplies content material ideas, phrase alternative enhancements, and grammar checks in actual time.
Grammarly has each a free model and a paid model with superior options.
OK — now that we’ve coated the fundamentals, it’s time to change to knowledgeable mode.
3 Knowledgeable Strategies for Writing Clear Advertising and marketing Content material
Knowledgeable mode, activated.
I reached out to 3 seasoned content material strategists (and pricey, pricey colleagues) for much more clear writing methods. Right here’s how they strategy writing with readability.
1. Observe by in your argument and ship in your guarantees.
Marja Vitti, advertising and marketing supervisor at HubSpot, says: “After I’ve my content material written, I learn it by and attempt to observe the stream of my logic. This is an instance of some questions I ask myself:
- Does my content material ship what I promised in my introduction? (If not, that is a purple flag.)
- Does the stream of my argument make sense? (That is essential.)
- Does every paragraph make a selected level? (If not, rework and take away something extraneous that does not serve the argument.)”
I like this framework.
Within the intro of this put up, I promised to share “methods I exploit to speak clearly and create worth as a marketer.”
I additionally outlined the stream of my logic earlier on this put up: “I’ll introduce why writing with readability is necessary, begin with some fundamental suggestions, present expert-level methods from my advertising and marketing colleagues, and wrap up with key takeaways for entrepreneurs.”
I hope you’ll agree that I delivered.
2. Spend time constructing context earlier than entering into the weeds.
Amanda Sellers, supervisor of EN weblog technique at HubSpot, says: “Use a framework so your viewers imprints on the appropriate issues.”
She continues, “A what > why > how construction may help construct context earlier than you get into the weeds of the subject. Spending time defining the issue will give your viewers the phrases to get further context later, no matter whether or not they understood the ‘how.’”
That is the precise construction I used right here:
- I began with the what: “Writing with readability means making your content material simple to learn and perceive.”
- I emphasised the why: “Clear content material respects your reader’s psychological vitality. It issues as a result of it influences their capability to focus, assume clearly, and keep motivated to take motion.”
- Then, I outlined the how: “The way to Enhance Readability in Writing: The Fundamentals for Entrepreneurs” and “3 Knowledgeable Strategies for Writing Clear Advertising and marketing Content material”
Works like a allure, I’d say.
3. Ask your self: Does this truly sound good after I learn it out loud?
Curt del Principe, senior advertising and marketing supervisor at HubSpot, says: “Learn your work out loud. In the event you can‘t get by it with out stumbling, it’s in all probability not clear sufficient.”
These are smart phrases if I’ve ever heard them. Plus, it’s the right piece of recommendation to wrap up this tip roundup.
This text was delivered to you by ten read-alouds and numerous edits for stream. Speaking by your piece and making refinements are the ultimate bosses of readability.
The Clearest Voice Wins
Clear writing isn‘t simply good observe — it’s a aggressive benefit.
In immediately’s content-saturated world, manufacturers that talk clearly win. They keep extra prospects, construct stronger relationships, and drive higher outcomes.
Writing with readability takes observe. Even after years {of professional} writing, I nonetheless catch myself falling into jargon traps or constructing overly complicated sentences.
The distinction? Now I’ve techniques in place to catch (and repair) these points earlier than they attain my viewers.
Editor’s notice: This put up was initially revealed in November 2015 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
