Internet users don’t read.  They skim.

Don’t let your visitors click the ‘back’ button.  Just use these 5 tricks to keep people reading your blog.

1) Master the Inverted Pyramid

Using the inverted pyramid writing style means you put your most important point first.

If you want an example, I just did it.  Rather than speaking to you about why you should use the pyramid and then saying what it is, I told you right away.

The truth is that skimmers don’t want to search for the information.  This is why you make your point immediately.  In the following sentences here I am further elaborating on this writing technique and explaining to you why it’s useful.  The scope of the content in this paragraph is broadening like the base of the pyramid.

2) Use the Golden Ratio

The golden ratio is a proportion that shows up in all forms of life and has fascinated mathematicians and scientists for thousand of years.  The ratio is often used to create aesthetically appealing visuals and design.

What you need to know is that you can apply it to your blog.  I did.

My font size, line height, and content width are scaled proportionately to an approximation of the golden ratio.  Furthermore, my content section here uses the same ratio in regards to the size of my sidebar.  It looks rather nice when put together doesn’t it?

The good news is that you don’t have to be a mathematician to do this.  You can cheat like I did

Here is a free calculator to develop the relationship between your font size, line height, and content width.  And here is another calculator for creating the relationship between your content and sidebar sizes.

Finally, if you want to understand everything going on behind the scenes when applying the golden ration to typography, you can check out this article.

3) Use Short Paragraphs

Short paragraphs make it look like there’s less to read.

It’s easier for visitors to consume your content in little chunks.  If you leave your post in a series of long paragraphs, no one is going to read it unless they REALLY see potential in it.

When I’m skimming online and see a thick, 10 line paragraph the first thing I do is find the next paragraph.  If I find a lot of value in the post, I’ll take the time to go back and read the whole thing.  That said, it’s best to get people totally engaged with your content from the get-go.

Try to shoot for 2-4 lines for each paragraph and every once in a while, make a point with a single line.

4) Use Headers Often

Headers break up the post and give it structure.

Short paragraphs make the content easier to read, but even they get redundant.  Before you write a post, outline it with a series of headers.  If a skimmer doesn’t care about my second trick they can skip right to the third instead of searching aimlessly for a new starting point.

The structure that headers provide make it easier to follow and consume the content.  Right from the start you knew there would be 5 different tricks.  This makes it easier to skim without missing anything which keeps visitors on the page longer.

5) Include Functional Images & Captions

Images are the first thing visitors look at.

You know your visitors will look at your images so make them functional.  For instance, a picture of a cat would do nothing for this post.  Instead I used that image of a browser ‘back’ button being locked which immediately conveyed that this post was about keeping people from leaving your blog.

Without that image, someone might believe that this post is about getting repeat visitors rather than keeping them on your blog once they arrive

Your image and title are the first two things (and possibly the only) people will see, so make an impact.

Continue With:

1. Earn More From Comments On YOUR Blog