Training / Resources
Mobile Responsive Content Creation Tips
Here's a summary of guidelines to use when you revise your content for mobile. Just remember: these recommendations apply regardless of platform or channel. Mobile is just a useful constraint:
- Plain language: use shorter, simpler words. Write short sentences and avoid convoluted sentence structure.
- Objective language: neutral language is easier to read and more credible than marketing fluff. Use words your user will know, not jargon.
- Be concise: aim to get your main point across on a single screen, which is approximately 100 words. Ruthlessly delete unnecessary words. (That doesn't mean all anyone will read is a single screen—but it provides a helpful editing guideline.)
- Write headings as links: assume that headings and sub-heads could be re purposed as navigation. Make them actionable and fill them with trigger words – words that users themselves would say if asked to describe what they are looking for.
- Write the first sentence as a summary: assume that the first line of the page or section could be re purposed as a navigation summary. Put the main idea and important key-words in the first sentence.
- Inverted pyramid: don't bury the leads. Start with the con-clusion. Put the most important idea first. Bottom line up front (BLUF).
- One topic per paragraph: when readers scan the page, they look at initial sentences for main ideas. If additional ideas are presented in a single paragraph, users are likely to skip over them.
- Highlight keywords: readers scan for hyperlinks in text, so this is a particularly effective way to highlight. You may also bold keywords, but avoid color variations or underlining words that are not hyperlinks.
Content Strategy for Mobile, A Book Apart, Karen McGrane 2012
Mobile Device Emulators
Remember to check your content as it would be seen on a mobile device!
http://www.brickandmobile.com/mobile-emulator/
If you are using Firefox -
You can use the Tools > Web Developer > Responsive Design View
The following add on can also be installed -
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/firefox-os-simulator/
Content Audits
Reading suggestions -
Doing a Content Inventory - June 18, 2002 | By Jeffrey Veen
Accessibility
Visit our new accessibility website
Writing for Mobile/Web
Writing exercises, witting tips, cheat sheets and other free resources to help develop your web writing skills are available on the Dey Alexander, 4 Syllables website.