Short articles have become an increasingly popular format for web content in today's fast-paced and information-rich environment. Short articles are generally 500 words or fewer in length, as opposed to lengthy pieces, which may easily reach into the thousands. While some may claim that larger articles provide greater depth and insight, there are numerous convincing reasons why people prefer short articles.
One of the key benefits of brief articles is that they are more adapted to our current attention span. With so much information competing for our attention, individuals today have shorter attention spans than ever before. According to a Microsoft research, the average human attention span has decreased from 12 seconds in 2000 to barely 8 seconds in 2013. This means that individuals are less inclined to read big articles for longer periods of time, and are more likely to skim for crucial points or go on to something else completely.
Short articles are more convenient for readers in a variety of ways. For one thing, they are more readily consumed on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, which are increasingly the major method that consumers access web material. With smaller screens and longer load times, reading large articles on a mobile device may be an unpleasant experience. Short articles, on the other hand, maybe read quickly and simply on a small screen without the need for scrolling or going through many pages.
Short pieces also have the advantage of being more concentrated and to-the-point. Authors of brief pieces must condense their content down to its most important aspects due to limited space. This can lead to a more clear and more succinct presentation of information, making it simpler for readers to grasp and recall. Longer pieces, on the other hand, might be rambling or unfocused, with the author trying to meet the word limit.
All in all, short articles are also more shareable than longer ones. In today's social media-driven world, people are more likely to share content that they find interesting or entertaining. Short articles can be read quickly and easily, making them more likely to be shared among friends and followers on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. By contrast, longer articles may be too time-consuming or difficult to share, leading to a lower likelihood of viral spread.
I'd love to hear from you! Please take a moment and let me know what you think of this week's newsletter, or share your own thoughts and experiences on this topic or any other topic you think we should discuss next.
Also if you want to learn more about the importance of reading here is the Amazon link to Alan Jacobs's book, The Pleasures of Reading in an Age of Distraction.