Anything difficult to read won’t be! … read, that is!

When you see something that is too difficult to read, what do you, yourself, do?  If your are like most of us, you skip over it or promise yourself you will read it “later” when you “have more time.”  Of course, “later” rarely happens.

Let’s each examine his or her response to something that is poorly formatted.  I’m sure you have gotten emails that go on for many vertical inches of a wide column with no paragraphs, no indentations, no nothing that breaks up the monotonous flow of text line after line.

When I see an email such as that, my heart sinks, particularly when it is from a friend.  I would like to know what my friend has to say, but it will be exceptionally difficult to learn what it is.

On the other hand, if that email or any other form of written communication is from someone unknown to me, I simply won’t make the effort, at the moment or later, to learn what it is about.

Please do not make a written communication from your office or business difficult to read if you want me to read it.  I’m sure you would have the same request of me.

Here are some of the most common errors:

1. Column lines that are too wide.  50 to 55 characters is easily read, but even shorter lines are sometimes desirable.

2. Make frequent, short paragraphs.  In some cases single sentence paragraphs are desirable.  In other cases a single word is a paragraph.   This is done for effect, but it certainly makes for quick, easy reading that has punch, yet flows well.

I understand that this advice makes English teachers cringe.  When you are writing for a grade in English, DO NOT take my advice!

3. Write sentences that are to the point and simple in structure.  They will be easier to read that way.

4. Avoid right justification–a smooth right margin.  A ragged right margin is easier for the human reader, since that makes keeping track of one’s position on the page much easier.  Of course, some years ago that was the “thing” to do.  It looked prettier than a ragged right margin.

5. When psychologists had studied how we read and perceive written material, they found we comprehended less when reading a smooth right margin because we needed to spend more time looking for our place on the page.  Those ragged lines made better landmarks.

6. Never write in all capital letters, unless you are writing a short headline. All capital letters are more difficult for the visual system of the human being to decode, i.e., read.

7. Limit the number of typefaces, font sizes, and ink colors.  Usually 2 of each, occasionally 3, are very adequate.  More of each simply becomes distracting.

Remember, please don’t ask me to read something from your office that is difficult to read.   I’ll pledge the same for you.

In the pursuit of more and better business for you!

May I help you grow your business today?

Paul Elliott

Marketing With Unbelievable Guarantees!™
http://www.MarketingSuccessBlueprint.com/blog

© 2008, Paul Elliott, All rights reserved world wide.