“What’s the number-one thing people do on the Web? They read. Words and numbers are the raw material from which the vast majority of webpages are built. If reading is the primary activity on the Web, then readability is a primary function of Web design.” — Gerry McGovern, author of Killer Web Content

Whether you’re in charge of all the content on your website or in charge of writing one blog post, chances are you’re going to come across the term “readability”. Maybe your boss has asked you to make sure your post is “readable”. Or you heard that “readability” improves your SEO rating.

But, maybe, you have no idea what that means, beyond a general sense that your content should be “easy to read”.

A readability score is a computer-calculated rating that determines how readable your content is based on many factors, including:

These are just a few of the criteria by which your content can be objectively deemed “readable”, i.e. clear and concise.

Readability tools usually present scores in grade levels. A score of 6 corresponds to a grade 6 reading level. A score of 7 corresponds to a grade 7 reading level, and so on. Though your requirements may change according to your audience, a score of 6 to 8 is generally considered “readable” on the web.

As discussed in another post, readers approach the web differently than they approach print. They are purpose-driven. They usually want to solve a problem, learn something, get information, or be entertained. This means they have less patience for meandering or unclear content.

In those 15 seconds, readers are evaluating whether or not your content will be useful to them. Using clear language to explain how your content will help them achieve their goals will improve your chances of getting them to stick around (and convert).

As landing page conversion experts Unbounce explain: “Clarity almost always converts better than cleverness.”

When users spend longer amounts of time on your page (which they are more likely to do if your content is clear), that sends a message to search engines that your content is high-quality. This is good for your SEO and page ranking.

Is old content weighing down your SEO and site performance? Check out How to Update, Repurpose & Retire Content right now!

Accessibility

Readability doesn’t mean sacrificing style

A common misconception is that readable content is boring.

That’s not true at all! 

As outlined in this brilliant post by Copyblogger, there are plenty of ways to connect with your audience through your writing while still following the principles of readability. 

The Hemingway Editor is easy to use because you can copy and paste your text directly into the editor and it will highlight the areas that need improvement. Once you’ve applied enough of its suggestions to achieve a score you’re happy with, you can copy and paste your text back into your word processor or CMS.

Yoast SEO

Simple Words & Phrases

Simply find the long word you want to use in your copy in the left-hand column. Then, replace it with the short word suggested in the right hand column.