The Perfect Length?
It may surprise you
What is the perfect length for an article on Medium? If you were thinking about something else, then sadly, you need to look elsewhere!
I tend to find that articles are either very short or far too long for most Medium readers. However, I know most of my writing is between 3–4 minutes in length so, I do no self no favours leaving them so short.
I have read some articles that feel like pages of boring text, nothing to break up the monotony of words, that clearly are not engaging to me, so why do I continue to read? I always try to support the underdog, and it just sums me up as a person.
However, I am sure 95% of the Medium members would switch off and look elsewhere for a more engaging article. Try and think about your reader's experience, from when they click on your initial link and picture to the very last sentence you write.
When you write an article 2–3 minutes in length, most people will read it in 1–2 minutes, equally when your article is 8–10 minutes unless people are very interested in it, they will switch off after a few minutes.
It is widely recognised that the perfect length of an article on Medium is around 6 minutes long, so if possible, this should be your aim, do not drag the article out for the sake of it; finish when you need to.
You will, however, see more traffic and people reading when you are in the 6-minute region; you should also think about the other parts of your article as mentioned earlier, the title and picture being the main two reasons people will click on your article.
As you noticed, I used a theme for this article that was very seductive, maybe giving the impression that it was containing adult or sexual content. I tried to exploit the mind; if you are still reading this, it proves my point.
I try daily to improve my writing skills, and I hope others will also benefit from this. The picture I used also backed up my title, putting a lot of thought into how you engage your audience and remember the 6-minute rule that you will succeed; remember me when you do.
Written by Robert Ralph
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