20 ways to improve website’s readability
When you read something and can soothingly go on and on with no stress then the message that you want your reader to get is conveyed properly. This style of delivering your write up in such a way that your readers feel the ease of reading is Readability. If you are into the field of writing READABILITY is an important aspect that you can’t avoid. As people visit you to get information and if the information can’t be accessed with ease you wont be able to drag your readers .So to ease your pressure an emphasize on the techniques of readability, here I have collected so awesome easy way to make your reading effective.
1. If you can convey in a sentence don’t drag it to a paragraph
Short and sweet sentence are always effective and makes a mark. So if a thing can be stated in a sentence or two don’t make it paragraph long .As great things come in small packages.
2. Keep sentence short, but increase in the number of paragraph
Be precise with what you have to say, in two or three sentence. Instead of making the paragraph long break it into paragraph, as it looks trendy and easy is easy to express as well.
3. Keep it virtually clean
Don’t hesitate to keep space between your paragraph. A ideal way is to divide your line-height by your font-size. That is you will keep it in a space of 1.5.
4. Managed write up will make your write up look decent
To manage and make it look decent make use of heading, subheading, bullets, such that your write up is managed and the readers get all the important information.
Structured hierarchy like Title, Introduction, Heading, Text, Subheading – Text, gives your page a more logical flow
5. Headings and subheadings must stand out
One of the major benefits of using headings is that readers can scan down and see exactly what is in the article. This only works if the headings stand out, so feel free to use larger fonts, underlines, colors or whatever else is necessary.
6. Text width can spoilt the management so watch out
Make note of it shorter the width easier it is to read. So try to limit in the width, just don’t run over the width of the page. This will certainly help as if you see a newspaper you can see this being applied in the column of the paper, so it works.
7. Be color conscious
Colors are another importance aspect that adds lots to readability so try and use contrast colors so that the visibility of text is prominent .But try and avoid colors that are aloud and it disturbs the visitor.
8. Think twice when you are dealing with background
Background plays the lead role as it matters where you are writing you text .A soothing background speaks for the letters written .so choose background with great care .Avoid loud background keep it decent and professional.
9. “Text size” give the chain of command to the readers
Some user like it small some big, so let your reader have the control over the size of the text.
10. Creativity with simplicity in case of text
In the hedge of standing out don’t make your text over attractive. Avoid using italics and other design which is hard to read and understand .keeping it simple will make it effective.
11. Text case to be considered
Mixed case is easier to read than uppercase. Uppercase is taken as a dictator in terms of webpage that screams, we don’t want to portray as a dictator so to be in amicable relation with the reader and to ease the reader use mixed case.
12. Don’t push your reader through the text
The visitor might get bored with chunks of text so be innovative and keeping the synchronization lighten your write-up.
13. Unavoidable and not crucial, faint color will help you
There are things in a post that are unavoidable that are the post date ,authors name,but it is not crucial so to write these stuffs use faint color so you wont draw.
14. Diagram and chart speaks a lot so don’t avoid it
Photo credit: miamiamia
If an image plays a vital part in your post, use it but with technicality that is place the image such that it looks like it is a part of the article, not just a decoration. So center it, and skip a line before and after the image.
15. Say no to hurdles in between the post
Adverts in the middle of the post is a hurdle to the reader as it disturbs the reader pace so try avoiding it.
16. Clearly separate your post from the rest of your design
Design is what addresses the post so the post needs to stand out .you need to design in such a manner that it should be obvious where the post starts and stops. Your sidebar, comments, etc. should be visually distinct from the main content.
17. Links don’t forget to underline them
Photo credit: adamci
Links are always underlined, and the visitors have the habit of finding the links underlined so make sure you cater to what they want.
18. Avoid using snapshots in link
The feature of whilst seems fascinating but it is a means of trouble. Trouble in the sense it hides your valuable text every time you by chance hover over a link.
19. Don’t let your audience concentration go towards sidebar
Your visitor come to your site for your post, so don’t let a long side bar take all the attention keep it short.
20. Make your navigation easier to use
If you are planning on referring your article from one page to other than make the mechanism simple to use. It is important that simplicity is considered as you don’t want your reader to get diverted because of pagination.
Use this simple step and your user will have the ease in reading your write-up making your site readers friendly.
Here’s a very useful wordpress cheatsheet for designers and free wordpress theme to style your website.