How to present your content effectively

You know that you want to drive more traffic to your website by refreshing or adding to your content. You plan to use SEO tactics and incorporate relevant keywords so you rank higher on a search engine results page (SERP). You also want your content to be beneficial to the reader so that they will find what they’re looking for and your site won’t have a high bounce rate.

All of these things are good places to start, but it’s also important to consider how you present the content on your page. The layout itself can make a big difference in how people read it and what they get out of it. This can help your site gain traction and viewers, or it can push them away so that your search ranking drops.

Using a block grid

One common example is to use a block grid setup. This essentially puts most of your text in the middle of the page, in a single column. There’s a lot of white space on both sides, providing a buffer.

The benefit of doing this is that it’s easier for people to read and it doesn’t feel overwhelming. They also feel like they are reading quickly as they scroll through the content. You can always use the white space on the side for other branding elements, navigation links and things of this nature.

Another benefit of using a block grid is that this tends to translate fairly well to a mobile device. You need to have a mobile-optimized site so that it’s easy for someone to read on a cellphone or a tablet. Keeping the text in the center means they don’t have to scroll from side to side and promotes traditional up-and-down scrolling.

Using short paragraphs

Another thing to consider is trying to use brief and concise paragraphs. You typically do not want to exceed four sentences.

For one thing, this makes it easier for the user to scan the content. If you appropriately use subheaders and bulleted lists, they can find the specific things that they’re looking for. Bolding terms within these lists helps them scan to the pertinent information quickly.

Additionally, a large paragraph of nine or ten sentences may technically provide a lot of beneficial information to the reader. But it will feel overwhelming to them when they look at it, and they may just scan right over the entire block of text. It’s often better to use up more space on your page to spread the information out so that it’s more readable—especially on a phone.

The content you need

These two tricks can help you lay out your content appropriately so that you get the right information in front of your audience. But you still need high-quality content that provides benefits to the reader and incorporates your intended keywords. That’s where we come in at Content Customs, so just get in touch with us today to find out how our team can help you get started.