How to Write for the Internet has a lot of quality information on effective internet communication. I think the most important thing to remember is in the first paragraph. The fact of the matter is that people skim content online with limited attention. They do not necessarily want to search for information but will take what they can find easily. With so much content available at our fingertips, attention is limited so you must find a way to grab it.
Appearance and big points play a big role in how much attention something gets. If it is visually attractive with easy-to-read big points, it is much more likely to get attention. I think they also make a good point about being able to connect to the reader. When the reader feels like they are being spoken to about something they can understand and enjoy. I think the point that formal text or wordy sentences should be avoided if the circumstances allow. Formal text takes longer to read and does invite itself for easy reading.
Format also plays a big role. Short paragraphs with important points being bulleted or listed makes a piece of writing much more visually appealing. This is especially true for writing that is sending out important information. The reader does not want to dig through a wordy paragraph trying to decipher what could have been said in a few bullet points.
Visuals also help a lot; I know I would rather read something with visuals than without. Visuals are especially helpful in non-fiction writing like a research article or scientific journal. It allows the reader to help put a picture to the idea. Another big piece of visuals is the fact that they are simply attention grabbing. In a world where attention is limited, small changes in writing make a big difference.
I agree with your point on visuals. Keeping the reader engages by both, breaking up the text and also “distracting” the reader with images can keep them reading longer than they might have otherwise not have. This also goes towards your point of format within your writing; formatting your images correctly in-line with the main body of words is just as important. Do you think the writers or readers need to changes their habits in online spaces?
I really enjoyed your blog post 7! In today’s day and age, people’s attention spans can be so small and skimming text has become a regular practice. I know that I skim text whenever there are large chunks of words and it is hard to read. I agree that articles are much easier to read if they are visually attractive and have easy-to-read points. Bolding can be a great way to make important information stand out too. What techniques are your favorite?
I think it would’ve been more effective to explain how to emphasize your message more thoroughly however besides that I believe you had a great post. I also Think he did a great job with explaining why format/organization is important. Breaking up the text is very crucial in maintaining the readers attention. Along with this you explain visuals are also a necessity can you explain the importance of utilizing visuals to your advantage rather than applying any image that might not be helpful. Great job overall.