Lynch
- Narrow columns are easier to read due to how the eye is constructed.
- Piling on relevant information on one page helps the readers print your page for later reading. This makes me want to meet the unicorn people who actually print web pages out. I'm guessing this insight is directed towards older readers. I'm also left wondering that if individuals who print out web pages actually exist as a niche audience, then a web page would be more suited if it chunked information as much as possible like lynch suggests, then links out to a .PDF document in which the information is condensed. Maybe?
- Vertical Stratification and its limitations. Design zones for the user. "the fold" is where the first screen of information ends.
- When pages get too long, scrolling makes navigation more difficult. The reader feels disoriented and context is lost.
Eggleston
- Long sentences of 10-20 words are out of the window.
- When limited by word length, draft more material than is necessary and reduce by 50%
- Avoid complex sentences:
Complex compound sentences are hard to read.
It is Eggleston's position that the latter sentence here is better, because it is shorter, allows for easier reading and scanning, and that it means the same thing as the first sentence. He ignores the fact that both sentences contain different kinds of information and a different amount of information. This is to say that these two sentences do not mean the same thing. The first sentence more generally states that complex sentences are troublesome, and even serves as a definition and example of a complex sentence. "troublesome" suggests more meaning than "hard to read," and leaves the reader wondering in what ways complex sentences become a problem. It seems like most consideration about length of writing on the web ignores the fact that complex sentences contain more information.
- Use short paragraphs
Another point to consider is that chunking paragraphs in the way Eggleston suggests will almost always make your page's length longer. This could lead to unnecessary scrolling as pointed out by Lynch. I'm left wondering then, if these two pieces of wisdom are in conflict with each other.
- Use bullet lists. Obviously, this depends on your content. I read this advice pretty often, but I'm finding a difficult time placing its actual application (as I'm using a bullet list).
- Avoid dead or redundant phrases.
A lot of Eggleston's rules have the ultimate effect of limiting the development of voices on the web. While I do think that writing for skimmers is valuable, if everyone wrote this way the content on the web would be terribly uniform and boring. Seriously, tossing out all sentences over 10 words must limit your ideas in some way.
HOT TEXT
- Use text as signs to direct and guide your reader. Price suggests that headings and menus should be brief. Also, less text means thing are easier to understand and take less brain power. I think it might also limit the complexity of your ideas. I do not think that all readers are zombies whose eyes hurt when reading a screen. Install f.lux.
- Cut 50%. And then cut more. Multiple passes is encouraged. We do not write first drafts perfectly. Good writing is always rewritten again and again. I think this is just generally true for writing in general, but it is Price's position that web text should be incredibly concise and typically much shorter than print.
- Price's unbeatable list of web writing tips:
- cut words that emphasize your point (really, truly)
- words that don't add to anything you've already said. Sure.
- use pronouns instead of phrases with unnecessary repeated words.
- phrases that tell the reader something they've learned earlier.
The Spindle of Necessity is a magnificent blog.
The Spindle of Necessity is truly a magnificent blog.
Sure, truly is an emphasis word, but in this case it adds a sarcastic tone to the statement. This is to say that the entire sentence has shifted meaning. Are you telling me I'm not allowed to be sarcastic while writing on the internet?
Nielson. Long vs Short Content Strategy
- Nielson considers a model of web reading that optimizes benefit relative to the cost.
- cost: time/money
- benefit: pleasure/money
- Not all articles are created equal. Some articles are far more beneficial than others.
- A mixed diet means reading both long and short articles.
- Neilsen suggests that article length depends on audience
- Short is good for impulse buyers and many readers
- Long is good for comprehensive coverage and solutions
- Both is probably optimal, because it doesn't limit your content.
- Hyperlinks are always useful in linking to longer pages within a site.
Short vs Long in Marketing
The main point of this article is to show cases in which having a short home page is beneficial. Some insights are:- Short home pages are valuable when the perceived risk of factors that drive your site is low. For example if you want people sign up, clickthrough, or start a free trial. Short sites don't ask for money.
- When money is involved, users typically need more information to make a decision. In this case longer sites might be more useful.
Short home pages might also perform better because there is less information to distract the user from what you want them to do. the amount of space the signup button occupies on a web page is relative - it could occupy 20% of the space on a short home page, or 5% of the space on a longer one. This might translate into how much time the user devotes to each particular entity on a site.