May 6, 2008
On average, web users read almost 100% of a page’s content only if it is 25 words or less.
The following chart shows the maximum amount of text users could read during an average visit to pages with different word counts.
(click to enlarge)
(via Josh Sowin)
Yes, to be honest, your blog is the only one where I consistently read every word. I’ve actually thought about that before.
I agree with Bryan. And it’s true. I think if you’re going to write longer articles online, then you have to make them visually easy to skim. And creatively engaging to read. Hopefully then, readers will be more likely to read the whole entry.
However, I personally would rather spend more time reading books than blogs. So I skim some blogs I’m subscribed to because I like to keep up with a lot, but not necessarily read all of them.
Hmm, I wonder how readable this comment even is…
Your blog keeps getting pushed higher in my must-read list. I *want* to read it, and know I *will* read it.
It may be true that more words are read where there are fewer words, but there’s going to be a trade-off of function for form where brevity is king.
Sound bytes lack complexity, and where the goal is clarity, a grenadesque blog won’t do justice to difficult topics. Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
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http://blog.myspace.com/CAUGHTNOTTAUGHT
SINCERE IGNORANCE AND CONSCIENTIOUS STUPIDITY
I may not always read a blog that doesn’t interest me, or that I don’t truly follow the logic of. However, I read the entire blog, no matter how many, or few, words if it does the former.
If I weren’t interested in what people had to say, I wouldn’t spend my time on their blogs at all.
To be clear, I am not suggesting that every web page should be fewer than 25 words.
However, I do think that anyone who is creating web content longer than 25 words should be aware of the data in the article I linked to.
If you have pretty good evidence that people will only read a third of your content as soon as you reach 400 words, that should affect how you write.
You may keep writing 1200-word articles, but they’ll be different. At least they will be if you care about your readers.
Funny, I only read on Desiring God’s website the Taste and See articles and the ask Pastor John articles besides the blogs because they are the shortest.
For me, that’s not true of blog posts. Does that make me above average?
;-)
Yet, it’s certainly true for a blog comment. Anything over 3-4 sentences and I’m out.
Pithy is key, but brevity’s nice too. Verbosity is right out.
I think my tolerance for post length has actually decreased lately… showing a preference for the shorter posts… hmmm, what does that say about me I wonder…
It’s funny because sometimes I don’t even read comments because they can become too lengthy.
[...] The Post Length-View Law Jump to Comments I’ve found that the longer the post, the fewer people will make it to the end. Another blogger has beat me to putting this to paper so I’ll simply give credit where it’s due. [...]
[...] on his blog that most people won’t read more than a fairly small number of words, linking to a post on Abraham Piper’s blog with this [...]
Hmmm a good recommendation for VIDEO… limits the necessity of excess text. Also helps those challeged with spelling…or seeing…Using txt leaves the writer and reader wondering did I/they really type/read that CORRECTLY???