Writers, Your Article Format Matters!
2 Reasons why you should always structure your posts!
As writers, we only have one job — to create content that provides value to our readers.
All other things — our hopes and aspirations — can only come after that.
But how do we provide value to readers if our article has no structure? How do we keep their interest and urge them to read the entirety of the post?
The truth is that when an article’s format is messy and unstructured, readers are disappointed. Yes, disappointed!
I know by now you’ve heard that a good title and a great intro are keys to creating a successful article. Yes, that’s true. But just put yourself in your readers’ shoes:
You saw a great topic online and clicked on the post. The intro was the best you’ve read your entire life. You kept on reading and enjoying the article. All of a sudden: The end!
What? Why?
You’re still puzzled at the abrupt ending, so you scroll back to the top and read it again. This time, not because you’re amazed but because you’re confused. No subtitle, no highlights, no bullets — just plain bland! Because these elements are lacking, you can’t even pick out the main points. How would you feel? Disappointed, right?
While that post may not have been the worst yet, it could have been so much better with those elements.
So, you don’t want your readers to feel that way? Structure your article! Not convinced? Here are two more reasons why good formatting matters in a post.
And here’s my subtitle…
2 Reasons for Never Overlooking Formatting Styles
1. READABILITY AND VISUAL APPEAL
In the above scenario, we looked at a situation where there’s no format in the post, but it’s still readable. Yes, we didn’t touch on a possible worst-case scenario: One where the post can’t be read.
Now I know cases like this are rare, especially at this time when writers are constantly giving their best to attract readers. (Man, writers really are amazing!)
But that said, no structure makes readability hard. As mentioned in the above scenario, your readers won’t be able to pick out the main points. If that’s the case, what’s the point of even publishing the article?
In addition to readability, using varying text formats (such as numbering, italics, and bold texts) create a nice visual appeal. Readers won’t only be able to pick out your points, but they’ll easily remember them.
2. RANKINGS
For those of you who may not be too familiar with SEO, this may sound weird but your paragraph formats (H1, H2, H3, and so on.) matter for rankings on Google. I won’t go into details with this one, but here’s the gist:
Just like how your readers can understand your article with the proper formats, it also helps search engines understand the context of your post. And the best-case scenario is that you’ll attain a featured snippet (the highest position on Google’s pages).
For those Interested, I’ve written a comprehensive guide on this:
Wrapping Up
Your format is one thing that can make or break your writing efforts. Granted, your title and intro do the job of pulling readers in.
And when they do, it’s up to your article’s body to maintain the reader’s interest and deliver as expected. That’s why you need to properly structure that body: in a way that will make your readers keep coming for more.
AN ADDITIONAL TIP: USE IMAGES!
While images are not a formatting style, they help to enhance your article’s readability and visual appeal.
So, that’s it from me on this post. Feel free to let me know your take on the topic. Till next time!
