Did you know that, worldwide, more than half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices? It’s no wonder that Google’s search algorithm has long favoured ‘mobile-friendly’ websites.
The search giant has also shared a wealth of advice on how to create a mobile-friendly site. However, it’s easy to overlook that even your site’s written content might need to be specially adjusted to suit the sensibilities of the smartphone age.
As mobile-ready websites are now commonplace, you can’t afford to fall behind. To attract visitors and sustain their interest, heed the following tips…
1. Keep titles tight
When you want to make a good first impression with your content, the title is a crucial part of the equation.
This raises the question: how long should that title be? Though Google does not recommend a specific size, a mobile browser is likely to show the title tag’s first 50-60 characters.
According to research by Moz, about 90% of title tags under 60 characters should display properly on search engine results pages (SERPs).
2. Get straight to the point
When a desktop computer loads a webpage, you can see a large fraction of it straight away. In contrast, smartphone wielders might need to do a lot more scrolling.
So, it can help if you strip down superfluous text. Still, don’t let it degenerate into overly formal, staid language that would put people off wanting to read it in the first place. Consider the following strategies…
- Being punchy and concise with sentences
- Avoiding words of four or more syllables
- Cutting out unnecessary modifier words (how often do you really need to say ‘very’?)
- Swapping passive sentences for active ones (try our free passive voice finder to find them)
What is the core message you want to get across? Whatever it is, keep it at the forefront of your mind as you write — all without labouring the point in the text itself.
3. Break up text into easily digestible chunks
Even when eating a delicious-looking chocolate bar, you probably don’t sink your teeth into it without first snapping a chunk off it. Those indentations are there for a good reason…
Similarly, don’t expect mobile users to salivate at the prospect of tucking into paragraphs that would be dauntingly long to read even on a desktop screen.
One good rule of thumb is Northwestern University professor Jon Ziomek’s ‘1-2-3-4-5’ test. Devote each paragraph to just one idea expressed in two or three sentences. These, in turn, should fill no more than four or five lines on the webpage.
Mobile-friendly content without the legwork
Writing mobile-friendly content is about making sure that every word counts. That can be difficult and time-consuming without the right experience in house.
Fortunately, Wrise can help. We specialise in writing content that’s loved by search engines and people – including those on smaller screens! If you have any questions, we’d love to speak about your project. Email hello@wrise.co.uk or call 0161 533 0593.
Written by Craig Lenaghan (LinkedIn)
Craig is a writer based in County Durham. He studied English, History, and Journalism at university and has since worked as a copywriter and content writer. He has contributed articles to various print publications in his native North East England, including newspaper The Northern Echo and arts listings magazine The Crack.
In his spare time, he enjoys reading novels, listening to ’80s (and ’80s-style) electronic music, visiting historical attractions, and coming up with silly puns.
