7 Tips for Better Website Content Readability

Here’s how you can improve your website’s readability today:

1. Write Simply and Directly: Use short sentences, avoid jargon, and stick to active voice.

2. Add Clear Headers: Break up text with logical, concise headers to guide readers.

3. Choose the Right Fonts and Sizes: Stick to web-safe fonts and ensure text is large enough to read comfortably.

4. Space Out Text Elements: Use proper line spacing and white space to avoid overwhelming readers.

5. Use Lists: Organize information into bullet points or numbered steps for better clarity.

6. Mix Text with Images: Add visuals like charts, screenshots, or diagrams to make your content more engaging.

7. Optimize for Mobile: Ensure your text is readable on smaller screens with proper font sizes and spacing.

1. Write Simply and Directly

Clear and straightforward writing helps your audience quickly understand your message without confusion.

Match Your Audience's Reading Level

Keep your content easy to read by aiming for an 8th-grade level. Here's how:

• Use short sentences (15–20 words)

• Stick to everyday language

• Structure paragraphs simply

For example, instead of saying, "Our organization facilitates the implementation of innovative digital solutions", try, "We help businesses use new digital tools." The second version is shorter and easier to understand.

Skip Technical Terms When Possible

Once you've matched your tone to your audience, simplify further by avoiding unnecessary jargon. Replace complex terms with simpler ones, like this:

If technical terms are unavoidable (for SEO or industry reasons), include a brief explanation in parentheses or add a glossary.

Choose Active Voice Over Passive

Pair simple language with active voice to make your writing more direct and engaging. Active voice also shortens sentences and improves clarity. Compare these examples:

Using active voice grabs attention, reduces wordiness, and makes your message clearer. Rewrite passive phrases like "was designed" into active ones to keep your writing sharp.

2. Add Clear Headers Throughout Text

Headers act as signposts, guiding readers through your content and breaking up large blocks of text into manageable sections. A well-structured piece becomes easier to read and understand when headers are used effectively.

Why Headers Matter

Headers play an important role in improving how readers interact with your content. They:

• Divide content into logical sections

• Make it easier for readers to skim and find specific information

• Establish a clear visual hierarchy

• Improve accessibility for screen readers

• Help search engines understand your content's structure

Tips for Formatting Headers

To make your headers more effective, follow these simple guidelines:

1. Structure

   Stick to a logical hierarchy (H1 → H2 → H3 → H4) and avoid skipping levels.

2. Length

   Keep headers short and to the point - ideally between 4 and 8 words.

3. Spacing

   Ensure there's enough white space around headers to make them stand out.

4. Responsiveness

   Make sure headers look good and are easy to read on all screen sizes.

3. Pick the Right Fonts and Sizes

Choosing the right fonts and sizes plays a big role in how easy your website is to read. Pairing clear typography with straightforward content makes a strong foundation. Let’s break it down.

Choose Fonts That Are Easy to Read

Stick to web-safe fonts for your body text, such as:

• Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Verdana

• Serif fonts like Georgia or Times New Roman

Keep it simple by limiting yourself to 2–3 font families across your site.

Get the Font Size Right

Font size directly impacts how comfortable your content is to read. Here’s a quick guide:

Keep in mind that font sizes may look different on various devices and browsers. Always test how your text appears on multiple screen sizes to ensure readability.

Stay Consistent with Font Styles

Use a consistent font hierarchy throughout your site. Stick to no more than two font weights and document these choices in a style guide for easy reference.

For better readability, set your line height to 1.5–1.6 times the font size. For example, if your font size is 16px, aim for a line height between 24px and 26px.

Pairing these typography tips with thoughtful spacing and layout decisions will make your content easy to read on any device.

4. Add Space Between Text Elements

White space plays a key role in making your content easier to read. Proper spacing helps readers absorb information without feeling overwhelmed.

Set the Right Line Spacing

Line spacing, or leading, affects how smoothly readers move from one line to the next. To make your content easier to read:

• Set the line height to 150%-175% of your font size.

• Adjust spacing based on the type of content.

• Keep line spacing consistent across similar content types.

For example, if your body text is 16px, aim for line spacing between 24px and 28px. This provides enough breathing room without making the text feel disconnected.

Add Space Around Text Blocks

Beyond line spacing, spacing between text blocks also boosts clarity:

• Use spacing equal to 1.5–2x the body text size between paragraphs.

• Leave larger gaps (2x to 3x the text size) between major sections.

• Ensure margins are consistent on both sides of your text.

• Add more space above headers than below them.

For a 16px font size, aim for 24-32px between paragraphs and 32-48px between major sections. This spacing helps guide the reader through your content.

On mobile screens, reduce spacing by about 25%, and test on different devices to ensure readability. Proper spacing isn't just about making things look nice - it directly influences how easily readers can scan and understand your content.

Use lists thoughtfully to keep your design organized and easy to follow.

5. Use Lists When Possible

Lists make it easier to digest complex information.

When Lists Work Best

Lists are particularly useful in situations like:

• Step-by-step instructions: Breaking down processes into manageable steps.

• Feature comparisons: Highlighting product features or services side-by-side.

• Key takeaways: Summarizing main points from lengthy content.

• Resource collections: Organizing related links, tools, or references.

• Checklists: Listing requirements or tasks to complete.

For example, instead of cramming details about website navigation into a paragraph, you could present it like this:

Navigation Requirements:
- Clear menu labels
- Consistent placement
- Mobile-friendly design
- Search functionality
- Breadcrumb trails

How to Format Lists

To create lists that are easy to read and effective, follow these tips:

1. Pick the right type: Use bulleted lists for related items with no specific order and numbered lists for steps or priorities.

2. Be consistent: Keep the same grammatical structure for all items, like starting each with a verb.

3. Keep it short: Stick to 5-9 items per list. Break longer ones into smaller groups if needed.

4. Make it scannable:

   • Use bold for key terms.

   • Keep items to one or two lines.

   • Use consistent punctuation and spacing.

5. Optimize for mobile:

   • Shorten line lengths.

   • Add extra space between items.

   • Avoid complex nested lists.

6. Mix Text with Images

Adding visuals can make your content more engaging and easier to understand. Smart use of images and charts can help readers absorb information faster.

Add Useful Images

Images should enhance your content and serve a specific purpose. Here are a few types to consider:

• Screenshots: Perfect for showing steps or features in action.

• Product photos: Highlight items from different angles to give a complete view.

• Diagrams: Simplify and explain complicated processes.

• Illustrations: Help explain abstract ideas visually.

• Icons: Improve navigation and establish a clear visual hierarchy.

When using images, keep these tips in mind:

1. Optimize file size: Use compression tools to keep images under 200KB for faster loading.

2. Add descriptive alt text: Write clear descriptions to improve accessibility and SEO. For instance:

<img src="navigation-menu.jpg" alt="Website navigation menu showing dropdown options for Products, Services, and Contact pages">

3. Ensure consistent styling: Maintain uniform image dimensions, borders, padding, and colors that complement your design.

Use Charts for Clarity

Charts are great for presenting data in a way that’s easy to understand. Choose the right chart type for your content:

To make your charts effective:

1. Keep it simple: Focus on one main point per chart. Avoid clutter like extra gridlines or unnecessary labels.

2. Use clear labels: Make text easy to read with:

   • A font size of at least 12px

   • High-contrast colors

   • Clear axis labels and concise legends

3. Make them mobile-friendly: Ensure charts adapt to smaller screens by:

   • Using relative sizing

   • Stacking elements vertically when needed

   • Simplifying complex visuals

   • Testing across various screen sizes

7. Make Text Work on Mobile Devices

With over 60% of web traffic coming from mobile devices, ensuring your content is easy to read on smaller screens is critical. If your text isn’t mobile-friendly, visitors are likely to leave, and your search rankings could take a hit.

Format Text for Small Screens

Making text readable on mobile devices involves a few key adjustments:

• Font Size: Keep body text between 16px and 18px. Anything smaller forces users to zoom. For headers, use these ranges:

  • H1: 28-32px

  • H2: 24-28px

  • H3: 20-24px

• Line Length: Limit lines to 60-75 characters for comfortable reading. Use CSS to control this:

  .content {
    max-width: 60ch;
    margin: 0 auto;
  }

• Clickable Elements: Ensure buttons and links are at least 44×44 pixels to avoid accidental taps:

  a, button {
    padding: 12px;
    margin: 8px;
  }

Check Reading on All Devices

After formatting, test how your content looks and functions across various devices. Here’s a quick guide:

Tips for Effective Testing:

1. Use Real Devices: Test on both iOS and Android devices with various screen sizes to ensure consistency.

2. Check Paragraph Flow: Make sure text flows naturally, avoiding awkward breaks or single words stranded on lines.

3. Verify Spacing: Maintain sufficient white space for readability:

   • Paragraph margins: 16-24px

   • List item spacing: 12-16px

   • Section breaks: 32-48px

4. Test Interactive Elements: Buttons, links, and forms should be easy to tap without zooming.

5. Optimize Load Times: Keep loading times under 3 seconds by:

   • Compressing images

   • Reducing CSS and JavaScript

   • Using system fonts

   • Enabling lazy loading for images

Conclusion: Making Website Content Easy to Read

Improving your website's readability is an ongoing process. By applying these strategies consistently, you can create content that keeps visitors engaged and coming back.

Readable websites encourage interaction and reduce bounce rates. To take things further, working with professionals like Striking Alchemy can refine your site's design. They emphasize clean typography, proper spacing, and mobile-first designs that align with these principles.

Focus on your audience's experience. Apply readability techniques to all types of content. The easier it is for visitors to understand your material, the more successful your site will be. Make these practices a regular part of your design updates.

Set aside time every quarter to review your site's readability. Use tools like WebAIM's contrast checker and Google's Mobile-Friendly Test to ensure your content remains accessible on any device.