Part 5 of a five-part series.
What do you do as soon as you land on a webpage? You probably don't start reading neatly at the top, but instead let your eyes glide over the content first. You scan titles, paragraphs, and images to judge whether it is worth reading the text from beginning to end. And that happens quickly, especially when you are browsing the internet on your mobile. After a few seconds of scrolling and scanning, you have determined whether the content is interesting enough to spend your precious time on (or not).
From a broader perspective, the above also applies to a website in general. The first impression is crucial and cannot be redone. When a visitor lands on your website for the first time, you want that person to become enthusiastic about taking the desired action, whether that is making an online purchase, contacting you, or subscribing to the newsletter.
Bringing your text to life is simpler than you think.
In this article, the final one in the content series, I tell you more about writing scannable text and your website as your digital face. And if you also keep the tips from the previous four parts in mind, you can hardly go wrong with your content.
Scannable texts
A block of text without any structure scares off your visitors. That the length of your text a determining factor is, we know by now, and also the importance of imagery This has already been discussed, but there are more ways to bring your text to life. And it doesn't even have to be that difficult. The following elements make your text scannable:
- Subtitles
- Paragraphs
- Quotes
- Links
- Lists
- Beautiful typography
These elements break up a long jumble of words into smaller parts. They not only provide more clarity but also give your text a more attractive 'dressing'. Moreover, they grab your website visitor's attention faster. Provided you use these tools correctly, of course. After all, how do you actually write such a compelling subtitle? What makes an interesting quote, and what information can you include in a bulleted list?
Select the most striking, stimulating, and personal information from your text and incorporate it into the elements mentioned above. For example, ask a question in a subtitle so that your visitor feels personally addressed. You can highlight a striking statement or interesting fact in the form of a quote.
Bullet points are very suitable as a stylistic break in your text. They are quick and easy to read, and you can actually convert almost any information into a bulleted list. By way of illustration: the properties I just mentioned are suitable, the entire previous paragraph could become a bulleted list, and I have already made a bulleted list of the elements for scannable text.
Are you proud of your site?
Your website is the digital face of your company. Anyone who wants to can find your company online. Therefore, thinking about the impression your website makes on visitors is absolutely essential. Ask yourself whether the content on your website pays enough attention to the needs of the (potential) customer.
Give your visitors a digital smile, take them by the hand, and guide them to your desired end goal, whether that is the quotation form or the knowledge center. Give your visitor the impression that your website was made for him or her. Of course, you don't do this solely with attractive content; the design and functionalities of your website also play an important role. Together, these factors form that all-important first impression of your site.
By viewing your website as the digital face of your company, you automatically ensure that you give it the attention needed to achieve optimal results. And have you completed the checklist below?
- Keep your target audience and tone of voice in mind.
- Be distinctive
- Use good visual material
- Choose the right length for your text
- View your content as a tool
- Write SEO-friendly
- Have your texts checked
- Readable and scannable
- And be proud of your site!
Then you have done an impressive job on the digital face of your company. Great!
Would you like to know more, or do you have a specific question for, for example, a graphic specialist, online strategist, or copywriter? Then feel free to contact us. contact us.