Words can be misleading in the online world. Indeed, when you reach out to a global population of digital users with varying levels of linguistics, attention spans, and expectations, even the most careful writers could accidentally work themselves into a corner. The written word is open to misinterpretation. When you know that most people dedicate an incredibly short time to reading an email or a blog article, it’s natural to worry about what your audience will retain from your text. The online world, unfortunately, has trained people to adapt a perpetual browsing attitude to their digital navigation. As a result, your audience tends to scroll through paragraphs of text rather than engage with its content or meaning. Speed reading is a popular trend online, and it can dramatically affect your message.
Does it mean you should banish words forever from your digital communication? No. But you can consider ways of conveying your message without making anybody read more than a handful of words.
A smile makes everything better
It can be tricky to convey your tone of voice online. Indeed, if you want to keep your emails sweet and short to make sure your audience is going to read through, your message might sound impersonal and unfriendly. Sometimes, the simple addition of smileys, or emojis, can clarify the intention behind your message. A friendly emoji helps to break the digital barriers between people, as long as you understand how to type emojis on Mac or your particular device. There’s nothing worse than trying to shortcut the emoji keyboard to use punctuation instead, such as the typical 🙂 face. Some proofreading tools can erase unnecessary punctuation. Additionally, if your recipient relies on screen-reader devices, the old-school smiley might get lost in translation!
A picture is worth a thousand words
Who needs words when you can use images instead? Creating engaging and meaningful graphics can boost your online visibility and helps to convey your message. Visuals are especially helpful on social media platforms as more and more platforms rely entirely on images – such as Instagram. Figuring out how to edit your photos on the go, for instance, can be a game-changer. You can also turn words into graphics, such as using a quote as part of your imagery – quotes are highly engaging online! Any freelancer who wants to keep their branded template loves Canva, which lets you create your own layout and insert your brand logo. Not only does it keep your graphics consistent, but it also makes you look a lot more professional.
Actually, forget pictures, videos are trending
Last but not least, while images can convey complex meaning, they don’t replace a blog article. However, a video can provide the same level of information and content complexity as a blog. Vlogging is not only fashionable, but it is also a more intuitive communication platform. You can start vlogging using your smartphone camera and dedicated apps to boost the video quality and edit them. Quik is a fantastic choice for both iPhones and androids. For regular vloggers, however, a tool such as Adobe Premiere Rush on a membership fee is the best option.
Do you need to write more to reach out to your audience? The answer is no. In fact, you can get your message across by writing less and relying on visuals to inject the layer of meaning you need.
