Apparently the typical internet reader doesn't tolerate big slabs of uninterrupted text, so I should really be writing fewer posts like this one, and more posts like the one you're reading now.
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Monday, July 7, 2008
Writing for informavores
Slate has a great article about the way people read online.
Apparently the typical internet reader doesn't tolerate big slabs of uninterrupted text, so I should really be writing fewer posts like this one, and more posts like the one you're reading now.
Subscribe to Genetic Future.
Apparently the typical internet reader doesn't tolerate big slabs of uninterrupted text, so I should really be writing fewer posts like this one, and more posts like the one you're reading now.
Subscribe to Genetic Future.
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2 comments:
Believe it or not, pictures might actually help quite a bit. As a typical reader I also find that lots of text LOOKS intimidating - and then I have to remind myself that I'd hardly balk at a page in a book with that much written in it. The layout really makes a difference.
Of course the content is much more important than anything else, but just breaking up paragraphs with pictures could make a text-heavy post look more inviting.
But I think overall you're going about it in the right way. So far you've been focusing on having interesting content with accessible writing, and it shows. Layout is secondary to that.
Daniel,
"The elusive genetics of bipolar disorder" which you called a "large block of text" made Genetic Future shine for me out of the other DNA Network sites.
Different users have different traffic patterns. Short, constant "blog bursts" train users to regularly visit your website. News (with promotion) attracts bursts of high-bounce, lower-relevance traffic but has almost disposable value. And well-written, comprehensive content attracts a consistent, long-term, low-volume, high-quality traffic.
If I were you, I'd make a "featured" article page and submit more posts to social sites. Your posts tend to high quality, but once they're off the main page, it's like they've disappeared.
I'd be happy to talk more about this over email. andrew@thinkgene.com
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