Clear-Cut Web Content
Some things just need to stay simple. The pen. The wheel. The fork. Their state of simple existence is necessary for an immediate need associated with the well-being of the human race. Why? Because there are times when simplicity can bring life to a world of understanding. Life should be easy to understand. Your web content should also be easy to understand.
Web content is everything. In most cases, content is referred to as anything you can post, write about, or even take pictures of. Content Services is the business branch in charge of managing the day-to-day data transfer, workflows, or data availability. Some known examples of companies managing content are Facebook, Salesforce, and Instagram, to mention a few.
How do we make web content easier to understand?
We minify it. We simplify it. Simplifying digital material is an integral part of web development and optimization in formulating a website or landing page. When you simplify your words and make them easy to understand, your users begin to understand your story better, but it will also motivate them to trust a company that makes honest hard-working content. One of the hardest things on the internet today – writing short, unique, and creative designs. You will turn green sometimes. So green, you start to lose your content mind.
Simplicity is not the absence of clutter, that’s a consequence of simplicity. Simplicity is somehow essentially describing the purpose and place of an object and product. The absence of clutter is just a clutter-free product. That’s not simple. – Jonathan Ive
As creative providers, we know that content dictates how you are perceived on the internet. But clearly, all the stuff you create alone will not get you the crown, as content creators do not control their material enough to win many loyal readers. One of the main reasons why content does not achieve its real value is lack of clarity. So how can anyone make their digital material more clear and appealing? Simplicity. Make content simpler and faster to load, gain more views from users, and get more engagement which will lead you to be content-focused instead of content-limited. Take that to the bank.
The creativity path is not easy, however. Content creation is a time-consuming process that requires knowledge of proper writing formats, grammar rules, and spelling guidelines. if you are doing a lot of video shooting and editing, you then understand that this process takes hours and hours of the day. And unless you are a creator yourself, you will need to find simplicity in your messaging.
Here Are 4 Tips to Simplify Web Content:
#1 Write in Present Tense
Human readers would rather read content written in the present tense than content written in the future or past tense. The main reason behind this is that content written in present tenses somehow sounds more realistic, less scripted, and forced to make users believe it is happening right now.
Present tense: We create engaging videos for users. The video converts more activity.
Past tense: We created engaging videos for users in the past. The videos filled users with emotions.
If your messaging sounds scripted and outdated, your content will be non-appealing to readers. What is content without realism?
#2 Keep Sentences Short
Short sentences are easier to comprehend than long sentences. A good writer knows how to use shorter sentences that smaller children can easily read. If you want the content of your website or landing page to be more appealing, then you need to learn how to create short content with just enough actionable information.
Long sentence: Our company has been in business for fifteen years and we have succeeded greatly because of our creative content services which led us through many difficult challenges coming from highly competitive businesses on the web today. We always focus on our goals of providing quality content solutions at all times whether it is mainstream or not.
Short sentence: We’ve been in business for 15 years. Creative opportunities led us through challenges.
When content is short, you are able to communicate more ideas effectively and with less effort. But when the copy is long, it becomes difficult to consume by users and the probability of losing them increases significantly. Keep content simple, fun, and easy to read to keep your content focused.
#3 Be Active With Present Tense Verbs
Active verbs make content engaging because they allow content writers to describe the action that will occur later on instead of just talking about what already happened or what could happen somewhere else at some other time. Make the subject a super-driver of your story and stick with it. The mistake of writing in passive voice is a common one, and very simple to fix. As content providers, we should know that anything written with an active voice speaks of content in the present tense, content that is happening right now and content that is already in progress.
Inactive: The mockup has been created by our team.
Active: We create content for users in the present tense.
Inactive: Compressing images is Antonio’s least favorite activity.
Active: Antonio’s least favorite activity is compressing images.
Content created using passive voice speaks of stories in the past tense; content that was already told or has been produced. Passive voice not only makes your content sound weak but also outdated. The active sentence conveys the message a lot more concisely. Your text is also cleaner. By keeping content clean and brief, you can capture the attention of your readers and increase user engagement by a decent margin. It takes talent and effort to write the message concisely since it requires putting your ideas and creativity together.
#4 Use Simple Real-Life Scenarios
The simpler you make content, the more engaging your words become. Hopeful stories that are written in the past or future tense makes content complex and difficult to understand. In order to write material that does not require a lot of editing, writers should use scenarios from real life instead of writing from an imaginary place. Scenarios from real life are easier to relate to for users because they’re similar to what is happening in the user’s life at the moment. So, content writers should take advantage of this powerful tip
RIGHT: Our team explored your process by attending a charity event. We had the opportunity to experience what is like to serve others, without a profit.
WRONG: Imagine us, working together with you on a project and doing charity together.
Real-life content is much easier to understand and follow as writers make the content as simple as possible. If the content is written using real-life scenarios, it will be more relatable for users. When producing a short video or copy, fewer words mean, a better world which leads to higher chances of engaging readers because there’s no room for confusion. Do not worry about syntax, rules, and grammar requirements. You can always adjust and pivot once you start to receive feedback on the things you write. This includes making the copy simple to understand. Essentially, content writers need content inspiration that can help them simplify their messaging and convey their message in a more efficient manner.
Bottom Line
Creating something unique, while keeping it simple, it a difficult task. It is important to remember – learn how your audience expects you to write. Then go write as simply as you can. Start there. Telling stories is one of the most effective ways to simplify content. Content writers should deliver messages using anecdotes that bring their message across more effectively. Using anecdotes makes content more engaging and relatable. So when users read your content they feel like they’re sitting on a couch with you having a casual conversation about your product or service or topic matter. It’s easy for people to relate to others’ experiences.