Quick Tips to Get Your Article Read
As an editor, I see these mistakes regularly
For most of my workday, I read content online.
I’m a freelance writer, but I consume more than I write. I read news articles, Medium blogs, and social media posts and get about 100K views on my LinkedIn content weekly.
I understand what works.
Readers want information, to be entertained, or to feel something, and they want it quickly.
I’m also the editor of the License to Chill publication on Medium, so I read through submissions from other writers weekly. Some are from newer writers unfamiliar with online writing best practices.
I enjoy reading articles written by people who are just starting. They have some fantastic things to share; however, I see writers make the same mistakes repeatedly.
If you’re new to online writing, here are my best tips. They’re quick and easy too.
Avoid Huge Walls of Text
We want people to get to the bottom of the page, not give up in the first paragraph. As my online writing has evolved, I use way more white space than I did initially.
Why? Because it works.
An editor with a lifetime of experience told me,
“I’m convinced every prestigious news organization will be publishing like this in the future.”
I hope so. I’ll be ready.
Reading on our phones and tablets is now the norm. Readers first skim the article to see if they want to return to the top and read it thoroughly.
I do it. I do it every day. I skim, then click away or go back and read the whole article.
Break up your text and get read.
Use Subheadings
Subheadings are another way to break up your text visually and make your article easier to read.
Bigger, bold letters call attention to each section, and they help readers decide more quickly if they want to read the entire piece.
After you’ve finished your article, add some subheads while you edit. They’ll define the sections and give your readers a road map.
Pro tip — don’t use the word conclusion as a subhead for the last few paragraphs. We know it’s a conclusion. Be creative. You could say onward, what’s next, or long live dogs! Whatever fits your piece — except the conclusion.
Steer Clear of Writing Events in Chronological Order
I know that’s how you remember them, but as a reader, it’s boring.
What was the most thrilling part of the adventure? Start there. If you’re describing your trip river rafting, don’t start at the beginning. Start in the middle when you’re in the raft, and you’re terrified you’ll go over.
Now, I want to keep reading.
Drafts hit my inbox, and they’re detailed chronological events. That’s interesting to the writer but not to the reader. I’m happy to hear how you started, but save it for later in the blog post.
Use Backlinks Throughout Your Writing
A writer recently submitted a piece to me. She had done a fantastic job of backlinking all her educational references. She even used Youtube as a source, which is very smart because Youtube ranks high in Google searches.
Use links to back up statistics or information you’re citing. Link back to a reputable site like Forbes or New York Times.
Backlinking does two things. It gives you credibility and tells Google to include your article when people are searching for the topic you’ve included in your blog post.
Win/win.
Let’s Go
Learning about writing is ongoing. When you get good at one thing, you realize you need to know about something else. That’s one of the things I love about it.
When you’re starting, it can be challenging to edit your work. These tips are an excellent place to start.
- Avoid huge walls of text
- Use subheadings
- Steer clear of writing events in chronological order
- Do use backlinks to support your article
Other options include joining a writing group, getting feedback on your work, or taking an online course.
My friend Todd Brison, who has an impressive writing career and knows much more about editing than me, is hosting a free webinar for people who want to improve their editing skills. You can learn more about that with this link, and if you decide to join, I’ll see you in class.
As I said, learning about writing is ongoing.
Hey, I’m Kit. I spent 20 years leading retail teams and now write about retail, Web3, leadership, and entrepreneurship. Join the waitlist for my upcoming book, Leadership Field Guide.
