Short & Sweet

How to Improve Your Reader-to-Viewer Ratio

Consider this — go “small” or go home!

Your “short game” can be brilliant. Follow along below for the exciting details.

For my 13 offerings ranging in length from one to three minutes, the reader/viewer ratio is 71, a solid performance. If that was my GPA, I’d be earning a pass, with a respectable “C.” Mom and Dad would continue to send money so I could stay in school.

Cutting it finer still, the one-to-two minute tales got read by nearly 77% of viewers.

Also in this mix, a 100% and an 88%. Both one-minute pieces.

Compare that to a “failing” grade of 55% for stories four minutes in length or longer.

In that pile, a 27%, a 35%, a close cousin, a 36%, and the red-headed stepchild (no offense intended if you are a RHS, it’s just a phrase) of 14%!

The parental unit would certainly be displeased with an “F.” I’d likely be stuck bussing tables at Denny’s to make ends meet and pay tuition.

So, in short, consider this strategy.

• Keep read times to under three minutes if possible. (Obviously only certain articles are suitable for this approach.)
• Use great graphics to reinforce your brief messages and make them memorable.
• Use wit for the same reason. (Just like the guy from Arizona, the one with a great sense of Yuma :-)

There are many magnificent minimalist (“essentialist” if you prefer) writers. I’m NOT claiming to be one of them. Raymond Carver however is a famous example. Consider writing — but not drinking — like him.

Your stats may soar and you’ll probably live past 50.

Remember, less is more.