| The Internet has been changing human behavior in | | | | Saying something in fewer words rather than |
| many ways. One of the main ways it is doing so | | | | more works. People will appreciate not having to |
| is making information easy to publish to a potential | | | | work hard to get the information they require. |
| audience of millions. Web pages are a very new | | | | This may lead to them to return to your site. |
| medium and we are still finding ways to produce | | | | SUMMARY AT THE TOP |
| better, for the reader. | | | | A summary at the top of the page, in the first |
| There have been many studies on what it is that | | | | paragraph is essential. If a readers sees what can |
| people want from web publications. How they | | | | be called a 'signpost', it means they are more |
| read a page on screen has gone some way to | | | | likely to look further. Mentioning all of your main |
| produce the below guidelines. It has also gone | | | | points in this summary will allow people to decide |
| some way to producing the guidelines that google | | | | if it is the right page for them. |
| offers webmasters. | | | | BLOCKING TEXT |
| THE PAPER PAGES vs THE SCREEN | | | | A good logical structure following the summary is |
| It is harder to read material on a screen than it is | | | | also useful to the reader. To do this 'blocking' |
| off of a paper page. Some of the differences are | | | | information on a web page is a useful technique. |
| to do with with the definition available on monitors | | | | Having a concisely worded paragraph, of no more |
| and graphics cards. Some of this is to do with the | | | | than 5 sentences, will allow people to read quicker. |
| refresh rates - how many times a screen flickers | | | | SHORT SENTANCES PLEASE |
| per second. There is also the ergonomic | | | | Short sentences also help. They get points across |
| differences. If you were to sit down with a book | | | | quickly. |
| you could do that easily and comfortably | | | | HEADINGS |
| anywhere you see fit. Being in front of a | | | | Headings are also very important. Clear and |
| computer, with your hands on a mouse is a very | | | | concise writing without a heading is just a load of |
| different experience. | | | | text to a reader. If you give your reader a clear |
| MAKE IT EASIER TO READ ON SCREEN | | | | heading and similar sub-headings, readers can scan |
| Being as it is harder to read on screen, this leads | | | | the information quickly and jump to the bit they |
| us to being able to justify a clear and concise | | | | want. |
| style that is required for comfortable reading. | | | | |