To simplify your content, write short sentences and paragraphs, break a complex idea into simpler parts, and explain it with an analogy everyone understands. Simple content saves your readers time and helps the many readers who scan instead of reading every word.
When you write an article for a blog or a website, your goal is not to win a Pulitzer Prize. A Shakespearean writing style will not make the sale, and it will not win you subscribers. It just will not.
Simple content sells. Online marketers have preached this simple truth since the early days of the internet.
But why should you simplify your content?
Why simple content works
There are two main reasons to keep your content simple. The first is to save your readers' time. Writing that is hard to understand makes people read a sentence twice. Why would you want that? It is better to get your point across as quickly as possible.
The second reason is to serve the scanners. People who look for specific information do not read: they scan. A simple and concise structure makes it easier for them to find what they want. Once their eyes spot that information, they have a reason to read the rest.
So how do you simplify your content? There are a few easy ways. Here they are, one by one.
Write short sentences and paragraphs
A huge block of text is hard to read on paper, and it gets even harder on a screen.
Many people browse the internet on their phones. Even a large phone screen is tiny compared with a laptop.
Reading on a small screen takes more concentration than reading on a large monitor. Help your readers by keeping everything short and simple. You owe them that much.
If a sentence runs over three lines, break it in two. Is a paragraph more than five lines long? Break it up too. For more on this, see how long paragraphs should be.
Break a complex idea into simpler parts
Say you are writing about cryptocurrency. Do not start by explaining the hardware people need for mining. All that talk about graphics cards, hash rates, and so on will only confuse readers who are new to the idea.
It is better to start with what cryptocurrency is and why it is a good idea. Or explain why it is not a good idea, if that is your point of view.
Once the basics are out of the way, you can explain the details of cryptocurrency in separate parts, such as the economics, the technology, mining, and development.
Use a simple analogy
An analogy works well when everyone understands it. If you cannot come up with a good one yourself, borrowing one from a movie is fine, too.
Is that plagiarism? No. Quoting a famous line and saying where it comes from is not plagiarism (the guide on how to avoid plagiarism explains the difference). So if you are writing about everyday life and how unpredictable it can be, slip in the famous line from Forrest Gump:
"My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."
Even without a long explanation, most people will understand what you mean.
Those are the easy ways to make your content simpler. Follow them, and your readers will have a better experience.
One last thing: check your content for spelling and grammar mistakes, for example with the Spell Checker. Some readers see grammar mistakes as minor faults, while others judge them more harshly. Play it safe and always check your work twice.