Writing for Mobile Users

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝘁. Everyone’s obsessed with writing more content. Long-form. Authority-building. Expert-driven. But here’s the truth nobody wants to say out loud: 👉 If your content isn't designed for skim-readers, it's invisible. Most SEO blog posts are digital wallpaper - just SEO checklists dressed as “value.” They’ve got H2s. Maybe a list. Maybe a CTA. But they’re missing what your audience actually needs: 🧠 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗼𝗳𝗳. Because your readers? They're scrolling on phones, half-distracted, with 17 tabs open and a toddler throwing Cheerios at the wall. They’re not reading. They’re scanning. They want dopamine, not dissertations. Here’s the new SEO content strategy that actually works in 2025: 🔹 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘀. Two lines max. Break up the wall of grey. 🔹 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀. Let skimmers land on the meat without the potatoes. 🔹 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀. Custom graphics, icons, gifs—whatever helps the eye stick. 🔹 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘀. Don’t warm up. Hook hard, immediately. 🔹 𝗠𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗲-𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲. Ask yourself: would you read this on a 6.1” screen in a queue at Greggs? This isn’t “pretty formatting.” It’s persuasion design. And it directly impacts your rankings. Why? Because Google isn’t just rewarding keyword density or backlinks. It’s rewarding people-first content that delivers value fast - something you’d bookmark, share, or recommend to a mate because it’s so easy to get the answer you need. From Google’s own Helpful Content Guidelines: 'Does your content provide readers with sufficient knowledge to accomplish their objectives?' 'Will someone reading your content leave feeling like they’ve had a satisfying experience?' You don’t get that with a giant wall of jargon. You get it by respecting your reader’s attention span - and designing every element of your page around scan-ability. So here’s the paradox: 🛑 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗘𝗢 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀. 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲. You’re not crafting essays. You’re building digital interfaces. Think 𝘪𝘯-𝘢𝘱𝘱 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦, 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘤 article. Want your content to win? Don’t just keyword-optimise it. Format it like a product. If you found this useful, follow me for more contrarian SEO takes that cut through the noise. #SEO #ContentMarketing #UXWriting #HelpfulContent #DigitalMarketing #SkimmableContent #GoogleSEO

62% of LinkedIn users scroll on mobile. Yet most creators still design posts like everyone's on a 27-inch monitor. (I have made these mistakes too.) The result? Your content gets skipped. Not because it's bad, but because it's unreadable. Here are the 5 mobile design mistakes killing your engagement: 1. Tiny text on images • If your audience needs to pinch and zoom, they won't. • Keep text at least 40pt and limit it to 6 words per line. 2. Heavy images that load slowly • Anything over 1MB will frustrate mobile users. • Compress your visuals before uploading. 3. Carousels crammed with information • Mobile screens are small. • Fitting 8 bullet points on one slide? You've already lost people. • Aim for 3 lines max per slide. 4. Poor color contrast • That light gray text on white background? • Invisible in sunlight. • Use high contrast combinations. • Test your designs in bright light. 5. CTAs hidden below the fold • If your CTA is buried at the bottom of a long post, mobile users will never see it. • Put your ask in the first 3 lines or repeat it at the end. The fix is simple: design on mobile first, then check desktop. ✓ What's the biggest mobile design mistake you see on LinkedIn? PS: I am not a designer. But I always cross-check my posts on the mobile to ensure they are reader-friendly.

A simple pointer for accessible copy? Don’t write for a focused, well-rested person sat at a laptop. Write for the frazzled person who’s trying to read your email on her phone as she cooks a risotto while she joining a Zoom call. (In other words, write for skim readers.*) • Use short words. • Be literal - say exactly what you mean. • Replace adverbs with strong verbs. • Use short sentences (no more than 25 words). • Stick to one idea per paragraph. • Use meaningful headings and subheadings. • Use lists. That way, your copy will be easy to scan, easy to navigate, and easy to absorb. *Users typically read just 20% of a webpage’s content. So, again, this accessibility tip benefits everyone 😊 P.S. Tap here for a practical - mega-detailed - ADHD-friendly communication guide: https://lnkd.in/eWMTR__w

People don't read paragraphs on LinkedIn anymore. They scroll past them. Why? Because walls of text are overwhelming. Your brain literally shuts down when it sees them. But here's what actually works: Short lines. Quick thoughts. Punchy statements. Each new line creates a pause. A moment for the brain to process. That's why breaking up your content is crucial: • It gets more engagement • It looks better on mobile • It's easier to read • It's faster to scan The psychology is simple: When text looks digestible, people actually read it. When it looks heavy, they bounce. I've tested this extensively: Same content, different format. The broken-up version always wins. Always. Stop writing like you're submitting a college paper. Start writing for how people actually consume content: • Break it up • Create rhythm • Keep it simple • Make it scannable Your message matters. Make sure it gets read.

💡4 strategies for optimizing text content for better readability For most products, written language makes up about 95% of the content — which means making text readable is vital if you want to offer a great user experience. 1️⃣ Content layout & structure ✔ Use headings (H1, H2, and H3) to create individual sections and guide readers through them. ✔ Write short sentences: Aim for 15-20 words per sentence. ✔ Use bullet points & numbered lists: Bullet lists both help improve scannability and highlight key points. ✔ Add callouts/quotes: Use them to emphasize critical information. 2️⃣ Optimal character count per line Too long lines make it difficult to track lines, causing fatigue and reducing comprehension.  Too short lines force frequent line breaks, disrupting reading flow and causing frustration. ✔ 40-60 characters per line (CPL), including spaces, is generally ideal. ✔ Shorter lines (20-40 CPL) are preferable for mobile devices and narrow screens. ✔ Longer lines (75-100 CPL) can work for wide displays but may reduce readability. 3️⃣ Content flow  ✔ Use inverted pyramid style: Place the most important information at the top to maximize the chance users will see it.  ✔ Utilise common content scanning patterns (F-shape, Z-shape, Spotted): https://lnkd.in/dnAQ3aqF  ✔ First sentences of paragraphs should summarize the main point or create context. ✔ Ensure smooth transitions between sections and ideas. Individual sections should always feel like parts of a whole rather than a collection of individual pieces of information.  ✔ Write short paragraphs: Limit paragraphs to 3-4 sentences to prevent overwhelming readers. ✔ Break up text with relevant visuals. Paired with a good layout structure, it will help you avoid walls of text 4️⃣ Font & formatting ✔ Choose readable fonts: Choose sans-serif fonts for body text. Fonts like Open Sans or Roboto are easier to read on screens. ✔ Use 16px or larger for body text to improve legibility ✔ Align type to the baseline grid (i.e., 8px) ✔ Choose line height proportional to type size. Use 1.5x line spacing for web content to give text room to breathe. ✔ Keep paragraph spacing in the range between .75x and 1.25x of the type size. 🛠️ Tools to Improve Readability ✔ Hemingway Editor Check for complexity and highlight long sentences. https://hemingwayapp.com/ ✔ Readability Score Checkers Aim for a Flesch-Kincaid score that suits your audience (8th grade or lower for general audiences). https://lnkd.in/dzQijnYw 🖼️ Line length and text readability by Google (Material Design) #UI #uidesign #productdesign #design #uxdesign

After writing 900+ posts on LinkedIn, I finally cracked the code. Not the algorithm code. Not the engagement bait code. But the real cheat code that makes people stop, read, and remember what you say. And here’s the truth: Most people don’t have a content problem. They have a communication problem. They try to sound smart. Use complex words. Write like a college essay. But on LinkedIn? That kills your message. Let me save you the 900 post journey and give you the real cheat code  1. Write like you're texting 1 person Not a crowd. Not the whole industry. Just ONE human. The confused client. The curious reader. The younger version of you. This instantly makes your tone natural, relatable, and real.  2. Keep your language simple Big words ≠ big impact. Clear > clever. If a 13-year-old can’t understand it, rewrite it. 3. Make your post mobile-friendly – Use short paragraphs – Add line breaks – Avoid chunky blocks of text Because people are scrolling at traffic lights and coffee lines  not reading like it’s a book. 4. Stay under 1000 characters (800–1000 is perfect) This keeps your message tight, focused, and scannable. You’ll be surprised how much power lives in brevity. 5. Structure with arrows, lists, and formatting This isn’t a journal. It’s social media. Your reader needs: – A clear structure – Fast takeaways – Visual cues Like this post you're reading right now. 😉 I used to spend hours writing posts that barely got 10 likes. Now? I spend 20 minutes getting real engagement, DMs, and conversations. Why? Because I stopped trying to “sound professional”… …and started trying to be understood. That’s the cheat code. That’s the real game. And the best part? Anyone can use it. You don’t need 900 posts. You just need to start writing like you care about the person reading it. What’s one mistake you’ve made (or still make) when writing LinkedIn posts?

One thing I always do before hitting publish - whether for myself or my clients? I preview the post on mobile. Why? Because everyone is on mobile. If your content isn’t built for small screens… there's a good chance that you aren't maximising your results. I recently reviewed dozens of profiles from institutions, NGOs, and associations in the EU bubble, and too many fail this simple but crucial step. Here’s how to fix it: - Captions → keep them scannable. Use short paragraphs and line breaks for easy reading. - Visuals → skip horizontal images. Use square or vertical formats to take up more screen space. - Videos → so vertical! Let them fill the whole screen, and don’t forget an eye-catching thumbnail. People you want to reach are scrolling on mobile - make sure your content is ready for them.

Just had a frustrating experience trying to download a report on my cell phone and it got me thinking...📱🤔 In this increasingly mobile world, our content needs to be easily accessible on handheld devices. If it's challenging to fill out a form or adjust the content for a smaller screen, users are likely to bounce, just like I did. Imagine you've crafted a compelling piece of content, yet your audience struggles to engage because the mobile experience is subpar. What a missed opportunity! Not only does this affect your engagement rates, but it can also negatively impact your brand image. 😕📉 So here are a few pointers to ensure your content is mobile-friendly: 1️⃣ Responsive Design: Opt for a website design that automatically adjusts to the screen size of the device being used. 2️⃣ Simple Forms: If you're using forms, keep them simple. The fewer the fields, the better. 3️⃣ Optimize Images and Videos: Make sure images and videos load quickly and correctly. No one enjoys squinting at a blurry picture or waiting for a video to buffer! 4️⃣ Readable Text: Choose fonts and sizes that are easy to read on a small screen. Your audience should be able to read your content without having to zoom in. Creating mobile-friendly content isn't just an option, it's a necessity. By prioritizing a smooth mobile experience, we not only meet our audience where they are, but we also create a positive user experience that can significantly boost engagement and conversion rates. So, let's create content that's as mobile as our audience is. 🚀📲 #MobileMarketing #UserExperience #ContentStrategy