How Do You Rate On Readability?

By
Real Estate Agent with Franklin Homes Realty LLC (615) 495-0752 or www.FranklinHomesRealty.com TN License #326261

How Do You Rate On Readability?

How Do You Rate on Readability?I really enjoy reading posts. I've discovered that every single one of us writes differently and has a unique "voice". That is a really good thing. But I've also discovered that some posts are easier to read than others.

I'm not talking about content here. Sometimes a very technical subject requires a lot of words that I may not understand. Some of the home inspector posts are like that, and that is in no way a criticism.  I love their posts. They often use a lot of pictures to help me understand what they are trying to convey.

What I'm talking about is the way that the blog is presented to AR members and the public. Hey, the truth is that it is tough to read a post that is five or six hundred words long ...or even longer. It's difficult to read a post that is written in the smallest font. It's tough when there are very few paragraphs and no pictures to break up the text.

I haven't been doing this very long and I'm not in any way pretending to be an expert. Some long time bloggers may be upset with me for even saying these things. It just seems important to say that readability matters!

If you want more feedback in the way of comments and more impact on the public, ask yourself,

How Do I Rate On Readability?

Posted by

TW Realty Group
 
Tom White, REALTOR®
Franklin Homes Realty LLC
(615) 870-8169
 

 

 
 
This posting with the content written here and photographs displayed are the intellectual property and opinions of Tom White of Franklin Homes Realty LLC. Any party who uses this material without the written permission of Tom White is subject to copyright infringement and possible lawsuit.

Comments (61)

Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Excellent post and comments...The tallies are in...Blog and you will be heard. Blog well and you will be found more often

Dec 02, 2013 11:22 PM
Heidi Kelley
Keller Williams Realty Leading Edge - East Providence, RI
Your Rhode Island Real Estate Connection

Tom, well thought out post. I myself am working on bringing my blogging into a whole new level. Readability is crucial I believe. I'm looking at my posts over this year and seeing what needs to change to be better. You have made a very timely post in my opinion.

Dec 03, 2013 12:46 AM
Tom White
Franklin Homes Realty LLC (615) 495-0752 or www.FranklinHomesRealty.com - Franklin, TN
Franklin Homes Realty LLC, Franklin TN

Mike--Most of my posts are 250-300 words. Works for me.

Michael--I think so too.

Charita--Zooming in is an idea, but I'm probably too lazy to do it!

Kathleen--Sorry about that! I know you would have done a great job. BTW, you make me chuckle...

Ruth--You said that really well!

Richie--Thanks. You are so right.

Heidi--We can always improve and learn from each other, that's for sure!

 

 

Dec 03, 2013 12:58 AM
Donna Foerster
HomeSmart Realty Group - Parker, CO
Metro Denver Real Estate Assistant

Great post Tom. Seems you are hitting your stride. You've had a bunch of featured posts recently. Well done. I agree with you and I'm sure many long time bloggers do. White space, shorter paragraphs, shorter posts in general, clipart, photos, large fonts all add to readability in my book.

Dec 03, 2013 01:02 AM
Elizabeth Weintraub Sacramento Realtor Top 1%
RE/MAX Gold - Sacramento, CA
Put 40 years of experience to work for you

I think 300 to 500 words is an appropriate blog length, if you're talking about a certain subject in depth. If you're just blabbing, then 250 to 300 is OK, like an observation. I trade off between the two depending on mood. However, I thought by readability you meant how easy the words were to read such as grade level. I try to write for those at a 6th-grade reading level because that covers the bulk of the population, believe it or not.

//

Dec 03, 2013 01:57 AM
Charlie Dresen
Steamboat Sotheby's International Realty - Steamboat Springs, CO
Steamboat Springs, CO e-Pro

Good points, Tom. Photos are always nice and help break up the text. Your post is very readable!

 

Dec 03, 2013 03:02 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Tom:  Some topics are harder to tackle with minimal words than others.  I think Lenders run across this often, as we must be concerned about explaining things thoroughly.  With today's mortgages being more challenging .. thorough explanations come harder.  To counteract that, I try to breakdown my topics and paragraphs into easily digestable bits.  That definitely helps.  Hope my readers agree ...

Gene

Dec 03, 2013 05:11 AM
Laura Filip
Laura Filip Broker , Opening doors for All Seasons of Life - Whitesboro, TX
What can we do for you today?

Great post looks good to me font is about right thank you

Dec 03, 2013 05:28 AM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Tom, sadly we click away from posts that are hard on the eyes. You ARE becoming quite the expert here!

Dec 03, 2013 06:12 AM
Jeff Fritzson: Frisco Real Estate Pro
Jeff Fritzson Real Estate, Ebby Halliday Realtors - Frisco, TX
Your Success is My Focus!

Tom - concise and edutaining (educational and entertaining.) That is my focus on the majority of my blogs. Sometimes it is just to satisfy a requirement but the majority of time it is to share. For me it is hard to say in 100 words when I can have so much more fun (for me) in 250. Thanks for some great suggestions.

Dec 03, 2013 06:19 AM
Tom White
Franklin Homes Realty LLC (615) 495-0752 or www.FranklinHomesRealty.com - Franklin, TN
Franklin Homes Realty LLC, Franklin TN

Donna--Thanks for your encouragement! All those things you mention really do it in my book.

Elizabeth--I agree that some subjects require an in depth study...and probably more words. I have heard that about reading levels BTW.

Charlie--I think a photo or some sort of appropriate picture helps convey what you want to say. And breaks up the text!

Gene--I absolutely agree. I look forward to seeing your posts which are always readable!

Laura--Thank you.

Connie--I have to update my readers regularly! LOL

Jeff--It sounds like you have the right idea to me.

 

 

 

Dec 03, 2013 06:50 AM
Helen and Larry Prier- Re-Max Gateway - Residential Real Estate
RE-MAX Gateway- Residential Real Estate Sales - Anacortes, WA
Anacortes & surrounding Skagit & Island Counties

Tom, So often I see a blog that is a wall of words and in small print and I just click through. Readability is all important otherwise what is the point.

Dec 03, 2013 09:04 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Tom, readability surely matters a lot - however, I do not have patience for reading long posts. And smaller paragraphs and pictures help.

Dec 03, 2013 12:43 PM
Drick Ward Property Management / Broker Assoc
NEPTUNE REALTY - Virginia Beach, VA
"RealtorDrick" - Experienced Representation

Good post-thanks!

Dec 03, 2013 10:49 PM
Phil Stevenson, CRMP
PS Mortgage Lending 305-791-4874 or 888-845-6630 - Miami, FL
"Mortgage Nerd" in Miami, Florida and Texas

Tom, I would rate my readability at a 7 or 8, mostly for lack of pictures because there are too many hectic crazy hoops to jump through before you can post that picture without any consequences but I think everything else is up to par (I hope). Thanks for your post though, it was an informative run through to consider whenever laying out a post. Content is definitely just as important as presentation.

Dec 04, 2013 03:43 AM
Bryan Robertson
Los Altos, CA

Readility is probably one of the most overlooked factors in blogging success.  The "voice" can also vary when writting for consumers or colleagues.  Keeping that in mind is critical to long term succcess.

Dec 04, 2013 11:45 AM
Brad MacKenzie
Brad MacKenzie - Duxbury, MA
Turning Houses into Homes on the South Shore

I agree. There are also people who have a hard time, by the looks of it, "hearing" whether their style is readable

Dec 06, 2013 01:12 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
www.iCharlotteHomes.com | The Maxwell House Group | RE/MAX Executive | (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The right Charlotte REALTOR!

Tom, I completely agree - sometimes I get lost in the sea of words and just move on...it has to keep your interest with either the readers ability to 'hear' the post or see it with graphics.  If it becomes monotone, many are lost.

Dec 06, 2013 01:12 PM
Jason Crouch
Austin Texas Homes, LLC - Austin, TX
Broker - Austin Texas Real Estate (512-796-7653)

I think paragraphs, bullet points, and bold and/or italic font all help, along with a picture or two.

Dec 09, 2013 03:50 AM
Elva Branson-Lee
Solid Source Realty GA - Atlanta, GA
CDPE - Atlanta Real Estate & Short Sale Agent

I like posts that are short, sweet and real, Tom, as if I were in real conversation with a person. That's how I like to write and read. This post fits the bill exactly.

Dec 09, 2013 10:29 AM

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