2. Table of content:
• Review, edit and review again
• Text Statistics
• What is Readability Test?
• Reading Level Algorithms
• Readability Scores and SEO
• Conclusion
4. Linguistic:
First review: paraphrasing, spelling and grammatical mistakes.
Accuracy:
Review with Subject matter expert
Or
Make sure that the research is completely correct.
Marketing:
Content is On brand:
Match the tone of voice, and follow the style guide, that your
organization uses in the website and other channels.
Three aspects of Revision;
6. Numbers
• Number of Words
• Number of Characters
• Number of Sentences
• Number of Paragraphs
Averages
• Characters per Word
• Syllables per Word
• Words per Sentence
• Sentence per paragraph
Break text down to Numbers and Averages:
Check this on Word or in readability-score.com*
8. Readability is the measure of how easy a piece of
text is for reading and understanding.
How to measure it?
Based on the average number of syllables per word
or Characters per word.
There are many different formulas of measurement!
What is Readability Scores?
10. Readability tests (Algorithms) were first developed in the 1920s in the
United States.
Mathematical formulas, designed to determine the suitability of books
for American students at a certain age, or grade level.
Readability tests are unable to determine the document is
comprehensible, interesting, or enjoyable.
Short sentences of monosyllabic words, can obtain a good readability
score, while long sentences of polysyllabic words can't.
Layout and design are also important factors to the readability of a
document.
11. Flesch Kincaid Reading Ease
It calculates how easy or difficult a piece of content is to read.
Formula
206.835 - (1.015 * average_words_sentence) - (84.6 * average_syllables_word)
Based on a 0-100 scale. A high score means the text is easier to read. Low scores suggest the text
is complicated to understand.
12. Flesch Kincaid Grade Level
Equates the readability of the text to the US schools grade level system (From 0 to 12).
Formula
(0.39 * average_words_sentence) + (11.8 * average_syllables_word) - 15.9
A score of 8.0 means that an eighth grader can understand the document.
Best practice: approximately 7.0 to 8.0
*Negative results are reported as zero, and numbers over twelve are reported as
twelve.
14. Gunning Fog Score
The index estimates the years of formal education needed to
understand the text on a first reading.
The fog index is commonly used to confirm that text can be
read easily by the intended audience.
Formula:
(average_words_sentence + number_words_ three_syllables_plus)
* 0.4
The lower the number, the more understandable the
content will be to your visitors.
*Results over 17 are reported as seventeen, where 17 is considered post-graduate level.
16. Coleman Liau Index
Same as Gunning Fog index, it estimates the years of formal education needed to understand the text
on a first reading.
Formula
5.89 x (characters/words) - 0.3 x (sentences/words) - 15.8
Unlike most of the other indices, Coleman–Liau relies on characters instead of syllables per word.
17. Smog Index
is a measure of readability that estimates the years of education needed to understand a piece of
writing.
It is widely used, particularly for checking health messages
"Simple Measure of Gobbledygook“
Formula
1.0430 x sqrt ( 30 x complexWords/sentences ) + 3.1291
Or
18. Automated Readability
Index (ARI)
It produces an approximate representation of the US grade
level needed to comprehend the text.
Formula
4.71 x (characters/words) + 0.5 x (words/sentences) - 21.43
If your score ends up at a decimal (example 10.6, or 10.1)
always round up, the score should be 11.
21. Indirect impact of readability levels on SEO
Unclear Whether Google uses it as an organic Ranking Factor!
Either way, readability is very important.
If your Text is at high difficulty level, it will be hard to read for your audience.
They won't stay at your site and check for the information elsewhere.
This will result in a high Bounce rate, which lead to lower ranking in the long run.
High readability = high rankings
23. How to write real simple posts?
Search for good alternative words for complex ones
Cut out long sentences
Prefer active over passive voice
Use bullets and numbering (Google considers this)
Use headings (Google considers this)
Easily understood
Writing style should be clear, simple, direct and familiar to the intended user.
Structure of the content logical, unambiguous, avoid redundant words.
Document should be:
