Do’s and Don’ts of Reader-Friendly Content: The Bullet Edition
By: Megan Spreer - Posted August 19th, 2010
It’s a widely known fact that online readers have significantly shorter attention spans than readers of traditional print media. Online readers are surfing, browsing, and jumping from page to page to either kill time or quickly check the latest news topics while the boss takes a bathroom break.
So it’s important for you to tailor the content on your website or blog so that your readers retain as much information as possible before their attention span runs out and they’re checking out your competitor’s site.
Enter the bullet list.
The bullet list is a great way for you to present the most important information in the most easily read format. It breaks up your copy and gives a less intimidating look to online readers who aren’t looking to read a novel on their computer screens. It also gives the “skimmers” exactly what they’re looking for and just might hold their attention longer.
Unfortunately, it’s easy to mess up a bullet list. And that is a sure fire way to give your readers an easy reason to leave your page. Here’s a list of the Do’s and Don’t’s of good bullet list creation:
Do’s
- List the information you most want your readers to remember
- Keep your bullet points within the same topic within a list
- Make a list of interesting facts about your business/product
- Highlight new or popular products and services
- Keep it short and sweet on each line or you defeat the purpose
Don’ts
- Write extra long bullets; it bores the reader
- Choose a graphic that distracts from the bullet content
- Tell them what they already know
- Add a list so long that it takes up most of your page
- Fill your bullet list with non-essential information
