SEO Tip of the Week: Write Like an Eighth-Grader

Dear Michael,

Never thought about that before. Interesting.

Notwithstanding the heretofore objections - this makes sense! Thank you for the links!

Michael- Thanks for sharing the link for us to paste our writing into. I didn't realize something like that existed. When an article is clear and easy to read I think it holds more weight so it makes sense that google likes 8th grade level content that the masses can comprehend.

It used to be 6th grade so I guess we've elevated ourselves. It is true that some just get too long winded & can make their point in 1/2 the time.  It's literally for readability.

Besides, most attorneys take 2 sentences when they could have just used 8 nicely chosen words.

Thank you. I had no idea. I will keep this in mind when blogging.

Very useful information.  I've saved it to play with seriously.    I learn something every day on AR.

You're telling me that my eighth grade English teacher, Mrs Vanderbilt, who always taught us to write like young adults, wouldn't make it on Google? Oh my.

Good advice.  The simpler for people to comprehend the better.  Long complicated words chase a lot of people off. Have you know your audience.

Thanks for the great tip, Michael. I will have to go back and review your Yoast posts. Really good stuff! One of the great benefits of Active Rain is members who share valuable information.

Good post and it makes perfect logical sense. 

Great advice and thanks for sharing that link.  8th grade level it is!

Michael:

Your blogs are very informative and packed with great tips.  I will have to check to see if I write like an 8th grader.  

Great tips. I had heard that the average reader reads at the 8th grade level. Is that just in the US or do you think it's a global phenom?

For most blogs I would say that is true, but you have to consider your audience. Most luxury and new home buyers have a higher education and may look down on a professional who uses 8th grade language in all of their posts. I know, there are exceptions, but I believe this to be true. 

I checked out some of the "high end" real estate websites in my area that rank high in Google example: Corona Del Mar Homes where the first organic, non-syndication Trulia type website in search results is: http://www.surterreproperties.com/corona-del-mar-real-estate.php.

Their Gunning Fog Index (grade level) score was 9.05. That's pretty close to 8th grade reading level. I'd say the theory is absolutely correct as pertains to Google ranking. 

Then I checked out the blog for the grandaddy of luxury real estate websites, Sotheby's International. The blog scored 10.65. Not exactly college level reading.

Finally, I decided to examine the website of one of America's currently best known persuaders, Barackobama.com. The top two posts scored 9th grade and 8th grade reading levels.

I think Michael may be on to something here. If you want to impress people (not necessarily convert into sales) then write at levels that make an attorney's eyballs bleed. That always makes an "impression" on me just before I move along to a less academic website. If you want to convert prospects into buyers and you want to be ranked well in Google, I'd consider refining the content toward that end. It is a known fact that people are not moved to purchase by critical thinking but by emotion. There is little emotion in the rarified air of stratospheric levels of esoteric soliloquy. 

When I first began my own websites, they scored at post-graduate reading levels. They didn't rank very well in Google. Now they score around 9th to 12th grade reading and rank much better in Google.

Boy Michael, i have been watching my Flesch index and I'm writing above level & need to change my style...this is just huge that it makes such a difference....

I guess we need to make a choice.  Do we want to be found and read or do we want to impress a well educated buyer or seller who is never going to find our words of wisdom.  I think busy people enjoy an easily read informative article. Let's get real.  They are not inviting us to dinner; they just want us to sell their home. Besides I have met too many high end buyers and sellers who did not acquire their wealth because of their education. 

Michael, sometimes I just don't care. I write like I am and it attracts a certain type of Buyer. They tend to be CFOs or IT guys who head their companies. Works for me! But I get where you are coming from. To attract the masses, one must write at their grade level.

Sharon