Making Your Content Easy to Read: Why It Matters

Making Your Content Easy to Read: Why It Matters

Readable content is an essential ingredient for a successful website. When text is easy to digest, visitors stay longer, search engines get more positive engagement signals, and your site’s value skyrockets. Let’s explore why it matters so much—and how to make it happen.

Not Having Readable Content: Quick TLDR

If your text is too dense or complicated, most people leave. They glance at a messy block of words, feel frustrated, and bounce. And when visitors bail, your rankings, conversions, and brand authority suffer. Making your content easier to read solves these issues in a snap. Clear writing helps keep people around, impresses search engines, and drives real results.

The Consequences of Overly Complex Text

Picture an intricate maze. If it’s too challenging, people give up halfway. The same thing happens with wordy articles or jargon-heavy blog posts. The user is forced to wade through endless paragraphs or big words that add confusion and friction.

Key problems with complexity include:

• High Bounce Rates: People leave as soon as they arrive, which signals to search engines that your content didn’t help.
• Lower Engagement: Fewer comments, shares, or clicks on related pages. Readers rarely explore deeper if the text is too stiff.
• Poor Reputation: If visitors find your content difficult to understand, they may not trust the rest of your site, products, or services.
• Missed Opportunities: You can’t convert or inform readers if they never finish your content.

In the long run, complicated writing wastes your hard-earned traffic. That’s why so many top marketers push for short sentences, a conversational style, and easy-to-digest formatting.

Frequently Asked Questions on Readability

1) Why does readability matter for SEO if Google doesn’t officially rank by reading level?
While Google doesn’t apply a direct “reading level” score as a ranking factor, it does track user engagement signals. If your writing is overly complex, people may leave quickly. That data points to poor user experience, which can harm search visibility in the long term. So, better readability indirectly boosts rankings.

2) How does ScanMySEO detect readability issues?
ScanMySEO uses a “Content Readability Score” generated by the Flesch Reading Ease formula (and other metrics). The text is extracted from the page, analyzed for average sentence length and word complexity, and then scored. If your score falls below a certain threshold, you’ll get flagged for “Readability Issues.”

3) What is the Flesch Reading Ease formula?
The standard formula looks something like:

ReadingEaseScore = 206.835
                   - 1.015 * (TotalWords / TotalSentences)
                   - 84.6   * (TotalSyllables / TotalWords)

Scores can surpass 100 when text is extremely simple. Anything under 50 is considered “fairly difficult.” Typically, aiming for around 60–70 hits a sweet spot for most audiences.

4) Does that mean all technical or specialized writing is bad?
Not necessarily. If your readers expect and understand complex terms (like in advanced medical or legal fields), your content can handle more detail. But even “smart” readers prefer organized, clean text. Structure it well, define uncommon terms, and use headings.

5) Will making my content simpler compromise its depth?
No. Simplify, but don’t dumb it down. Replace unnecessarily complicated words, but keep your substance. The goal is clarity, not removing valuable insights.

6) What are some basic ways to measure readability?
Tools like Grammarly, Hemingway App, or the built-in readability checks in many CMS platforms help. ScanMySEO’s crawler also highlights pages that might be too dense. Look for indicators like sentence length, passive voice, and word difficulty.

7) Is short content automatically more readable?
Not always. A 300-word chunk full of run-on sentences and jargon is still tough to read. Focus on clean formatting—short paragraphs, subheadings, bullet points, and direct language.

8) Does mobile layout matter for readability?
Yes. Most visitors read on phones, so large blocks of text or teeny font sizes can hurt their experience. Ensure your paragraphs, headings, and bullet lists display nicely on smaller screens.

9) Should I revise old blog posts or just fix new ones?
Both. Tackle your high-traffic pages first. Rework them for clarity. Then, apply best practices to new content so you don’t repeat old mistakes.

Simple Steps to Fix Readability

1. Identify Hard-to-Read Pages
   • Run a site scan with a tool like ScanMySEO and check for “Content Readability Issues.”
   • Look at user engagement metrics (time on page, bounce rate) in Google Analytics or a similar platform.
2. Shorten Sentences and Paragraphs

   Keep sentences around 20 words or fewer. If you find yourself using multiple commas or semicolons, consider breaking it up. For paragraphs, aim for 2–4 sentences to avoid overwhelming readers.

3. Use Plain Language
   • Replace “utilize” with “use.”
   • Eliminate filler words (“actually,” “really,” “somewhat”).
   • If you must use complex terms, define them on first mention.
4. Structure with Headings & Lists

   Organize content into clear sections. Bullet points or numbered lists help readers skim quickly. For best practices on structuring H1 tags, see /articles/best-practices/headings-best-practice.

5. Check Flesch Reading Ease Score

   Use analytics tools to spot your reading level. Aim for 60–70 if you want a broad audience to follow along easily.

6. Use Active Voice

   “Our team wrote the guide” is clearer than “The guide was written by our team.” Keep it direct and engaging.

7. Incorporate Helpful Media

   Images, infographics, or short videos can break up text and boost clarity. Keep readers hooked with visuals.

8. Proofread or Have Someone Else Read It

   A second set of eyes can catch run-on sentences or unclear points. Reading aloud also helps reveal clumsy phrasing.

9. Optimize for Mobile

   People often read on phones, so ensure headings, spacing, and font sizes work well on smaller screens.

10. Rescan and Iterate

    After updating, rerun your crawl. Check if your readability improved. Then track user metrics again to confirm progress.

Fast Improvements and Futureproof Advice

• Check for Pattern Errors: If you see recurring issues like passive voice or corporate jargon, create a style guide.
• Harness Subheadings: Let your subheadings highlight main points. Good for both readers and search engines.
• Use White Space Generously: Don’t be afraid of empty space. Cluttered text tires the eyes quickly.
• Link to Relevant Pages: Internal links help users dive deeper but only if they’re genuinely helpful.
• Refresh Old Content Periodically: If engagement drops, a quick language scrub can boost interest.
• Stay Aware of Audience Shifts: If targeting a broader demographic, consider simpler terms and fewer specialized references.

Real-Life Example: Transforming Complex Content

Before
“A comprehensive synergy between content marketing methodologies and advanced, interdepartmental marketing frameworks is paramount to ensuring that user retention metrics remain above threshold, while concurrently optimizing brand visibility across multiple digital channels.”

Even experts might groan. It’s packed with buzzwords and reads like a corporate memo.

After
“Combine your content marketing and broader marketing efforts so people stay engaged longer. A cohesive plan also keeps your brand visible in more places.”

We turned a single, crammed sentence into two short lines. The message stayed the same, but it’s easier to scan and act on. ScanMySEO would likely flag the original sentence for length and complexity. A quick fix like this can boost your Flesch score—and your readers’ satisfaction.

Wrapping Up: Your Next Moves for Smoother Text

Readable content is vital for engaging your visitors, improving conversions, and creating a better user experience. Make sure the content you publish (and older posts you still value) uses short paragraphs, clear language, and a logical flow. If your ScanMySEO crawl reveals low readability scores, don’t panic. Tackle them in steps:

1. Start with your highest-traffic or most important pages.
2. Simplify your language and structure.
3. Re-run your scans or check analytics to confirm improvements.

You’ll quickly see longer time on page, fewer bounces, and a healthier ranking in search results.

Quick Reference: Checklist and Top Resource Links

Summary Checklist

• Write short sentences (under ~20 words) and paragraphs (2–4 sentences).
• Use headings and bullet points for clearer structure.
• Swap out jargon for plain language, or define it if essential.
• Keep passive voice minimal.
• Test using the Flesch Reading Ease formula (aim for 60+).
• Add visuals and white space to enhance layout.
• Proofread or let someone else read before publishing.
• Rerun a crawl and watch engagement metrics.

Relevant Links

• Marketing Illumination’s insight on SEO readability
• Morningscore guide on how readability affects SEO
• Yoast’s perspective on readability scoring
• Search Engine Journal’s discussion on reading level in Google ranking
• Positional’s breakdown on direct vs. indirect impact of readability

Keep your content laid-back but informative. By making your articles easy to absorb, you’ll satisfy both your readers and the search engines they rely on. Give it a try, and watch your site metrics improve week by week. Happy writing!