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5 ways to improve your articles' reading time
Art. no. 216462739 24 Apr 2025
Nielsen and Morke's study found that 79% of web users only skim through online content instead of reading it in full. Unfortunately, for digital publishers, this means that readers are unlikely to read your copy from start to finish. Instead, they will scan it for information that is relevant to them and their specific needs.
Below we have compiled 5 simple strategies to ensure your publications are read more often in a terribly cut-throat digital world.
Push information with bullet points and/or lists
Lists work in sync with our brain's natural process of taking in and organizing information. It happens subconsciously, and lists complement our inherent tendency to categorize things. They break up large chunks of text, emphasize main points, and group information into short, digestible chunks. Lists also help our brains recognize information and recall it more easily, as Walter Kintsch's 1968 study found.Use 'Bold', 'Italic' & 'Underline' strategically
To draw more attention to important information, try using a bold style for it. Italics can help readers identify a 'tip' or source of information. Using such features strategically can make your article highly scannable and help your readers quickly extract information from it.Working with blanks
Whitespace refers to any unused, empty space on a page. It's an inherent building block of great design and translates into a much easier reading experience when used properly. According to research, whitespace between paragraphs and in the left and right margins increases reader comprehension by almost 20%. The best publishers work with it to avoid clutter, increase readability and draw attention to a specific aspect of the page.
Explanatory subheadings
You need compelling subheadings to grab your reader's attention and get them to review the rest of your content. Subheadings are the core of your paragraphs and serve as both the introduction and conclusion of the points you are trying to make. The best ones are informative and interesting. They won't affect the credibility of the publisher by being super over-the-top. Once you have them laid out, review them. Scan the page, read your subheadings out loud, and see if you can grasp the main ideas from them alone.Include handy hyperlinks
Linking your content to relevant websites gives more credibility to it. It shows that you've researched your topic and are armed with extra data to validate your point. Quality internal and external links broaden the reader's understanding of the topic and give your publishing brand more merit. Just make sure to check your links every now and then to ensure they still work.Your article could be the best the web has ever seen. But if it's not readable, it won't get the attention it deserves. Learn how to write for an online audience and master the techniques above.
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