How to Write More Readable Blog Posts

Blog Herald Staff

Aug. 03, 2015
2 min read

Editor’s note: This post was written by Cindy Boesel, an experienced writer working at BizStats.co.uk. She’s a great book lover with a huge interest in digital media and photography.

If you’re running a blog, you probably realize that when writing blog posts, it’s best to follow a set of classic rules that help to ensure high readability of your content. It’s clear that texts written for the web are shorter and structured in a different way than printed texts – in general, they should have a clear visual structure and make good use of visual elements that improve readability. Here are six editing tips to help you instantly improve the readability of your blog posts.

Tips to write more readable blog posts

Use active voice

Blogging is more about communicating something than producing a piece of sophisticated writing. Care about your style, but even more so about readability – that’s why active voice is your friend. Sentences that are written in the passive form are complex and might get too complicated for your readers to process.

Passive is considered weak and kind of suffocating – even Stephen King isn’t a big enthusiast. Switching to active voice, you’ll make sure that your content is far more engaging and way easier to process.

Write in short sentences

Users will enjoy your blog posts more if you refrain from writing down your insights in long, complex sentences that are hard to read and process. If this is something you’re struggling with, try breaking up your sentences into smaller pieces.

Short sentences are an important factor in making your blog easily readable. Short phrases work miracles for holding and keeping the attention of users – especially if put one next to the other.

Engage and address your readers

The easiest way to write more engaging posts is by directly addressing the users. Referring to them in the form of ‘you’ is really good for the readability of your blog posts – an easy solution to the common subject problem and passive voice. When talking about yourself – a team or a company – you can use ‘we’ or ‘I’ – both options will ensure clarity and foster easy understanding of the text.

Consider the layout of your text

It’s clear that the layout of your blog post matters a lot. If it’s complex, it won’t attract readers to delve into your content. Make sure to use lots of white spaces – otherwise you risk your blog posts becoming cluttered, even if the content itself is well-organized and of high-quality.

Your posts should have a clear structure – divide them into sections and use visual elements to help readers to orient themselves on the page, from a title, an attention-grabbing lead and subheadings to a clear ending filled with call-to-action messages. This is a format web readers are used to, so deliver to their expectations and you’ll dramatically improve the readability of your posts.

Use bullet point lists

This is a simple layout trick that instantly boosts readability. Use bullets or numbering whenever you enumerate things. Bullet point lists are great – they help users to quickly scan your text, making it easier to read and engage with. Numbers are your friend – note that many viral posts contain them in titles like ‘Ten tips for writing great headlines’.

Consult with a professional

If after working very hard on your blog posts you still think their readability could be improved, it’s a good idea to ask someone who knows their way around words and phrases. The web is full of platforms that help people like you connect with professional writers who can significantly improve the readability of your blog posts. Have a look at services like Gumtree, which feature special sub-pages dedicated to bringing lots of interesting offers from freelance writers looking for professional opportunities.

Channel these tips in your writing and you’ll be on your way to creating a blog that is readable and easily communicates your expertise to the sector.