WRITING FOR MOBILE7 Tips to write mobile-optimized content

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Introduction: The Rise of New Reading Habits 1. Keep it relevant 2. Content distribution - BLOT: Bottom Line on the Top - BLIM: Bottom Line in the Middle - BLOB: Bottom Line on the Bottom 3. One idea per paragraph

4. Use action words 5. Use lists instead of paragraphs 6. Use rich media content 7. Proofread your texts

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The Rise of New Reading Habits

There is hardly anything you cannot find on the net these days, but quality writing is another story. While it is true that the Internet is overflowing with content, it is quite rare to find web-optimized content, in other words, a text that satisfies web users’ reading habits and needs.

The online world is a world of instant gratification: web readers look for specific information that can answer the research needs they have. They want content to be short, relevant and to-the-point. If your text is long and provides little chances to be scanned, it is very likely that your readers will quickly get tired of making sense of it and start looking for a new source.

Recent studies show that:

“On average, users will have time to read 28% of the words if they devote all of their time to reading. More realistically, users will read about 20% of the text on the average page.”

(Source: masternewmedia)

Moreover, considering the dramatic increase in mobile web traffic occurred over the past two years, it is clear that content is ever more consumed on the go, especially in the form of mobile applications.

This is why, it is crucial to adopt all the design, formatting and editorial solutions that can help mobile readers make sense of your content as quickly as possible.

In this guide I’ll walk you through 7 easy steps to write mobile-optimized content for your mobile site and application for a thoroughly satisfying user experience.

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1. Keep it relevant

Quality content means first of all relevant content. Online, where the average user’s attention span ranges between 3 and 5 seconds, it is crucial to write relevant, to-the-point content.

This is particularly true for mobile sites and applications that are used to access information on the go, when there is little time to skim texts and even less to make sense of figurative language. In other words, avoid writing about topics that are not tightly linked to your core message, even if this could be a good metaphor for what you’re trying to say.

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2. Content distribution

When writing for the web, it is important to distribute content on the page according to the goal to be achieved and the text type. Does your text aim at informing, persuading or negotiating? Is it an advertising text, a press release or a notice?

It is possible to distinguish 3 different strategies for content distribution:

BLOT Bottom Line on the Top

BLIM Bottom Line in the Middle

BLOB Bottom Line on the Bottom

In this case, you should think of an inverted

pyramid when writing. Get to the point

in the first paragraph, and then expand

upon it.

This strategy is highly recommended for

blog posts, press releases and notices,

where it is important to first catch readers’

attention and then provide in-depth

details.

Also known as the “Kiss, Kick & Kiss”

technique, this strategy consists in packing

negative news (the kick) in the middle

of a paragraph, in between two positive

pieces of information (the kisses).

As it softens the overall effect of your

message, BLIM writing is highly effective to

deliver bad news or payment notifications.

If you wish to persuade or motivate

readers, you should be able to gradually

lead them to your conclusions, by first

providing objective information, then

generating a need and finally offering

a solution to it.

So, if your text aims at persuading readers

to take a desired action – such as buying

a product – it is advisable to place your

main message at the bottom.

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The Ultimate Guide to Mobile-Optimized Content

Learn how to write mobile-optimized content to reach

your readers on the go and get your message through in

7 easy step.