The 5 Biggest Annoyances When Reading Content Online

As the span of the Internet continues to grow larger, it can be harder for readers to know who and where to trust. Unfortunately (and contrary to some commercials), not everything that goes online is true. Or even relevant. While some websites are full of informative help and/or tips, others post regurgitated content used mainly for SEO or click-gaining purposes. And until we click and actually read a post, we have no idea which scenario we’re getting ourselves into. A site that will share, or one that will take.

From writers who haven’t done their research to websites that are out purely for the click, here are some of the most frustrating occurrences that take place online.

5. The Swipe

Mainly a mobile-based problem comes articles that require “the swipe.” Meaning users must literally swipe each post in order to access the next page. On phones, half the time this swipe content doesn’t work and/or load, leaving us hanging. Some websites’ content (which asks for clicks vs. swipes, but still moves pages laterally) won’t even work on the computer – there are so many glitches that no matter how many times users refresh, only a small portion of the content can actually be seen. Whether this is an oversight or continual technical difficulty, it’s one that downgrades the content’s quality and frustrates users to the point where they won’t return. (I sure don’t.)

4. Click to Read

How often are you in the middle of a great article (or summary) before it reads “click to read more”? Why must we click? Why can’t content just exist on the page it’s said to be listed? Because that website wants to follow your traffic, and they want another click. Shortening on home pages is one thing (and allows more headlines to gain exposure), but when it’s the story’s actual home and multiple clicks are needed to read a single post, it’s downright tedious.

3. Titles that Don’t Deliver

As the art of the “grabbing” headline continues to be perfected, readers click on more and more unique content. Or rather, content that they think will be unique. But when writers are more focused on grabbing attention than keeping it, readers are left disappointed and uninformed. Rather than making false promises, it’s time writers provide the titles they’re claiming to serve.

2. Articles that Read in Circles

As a writer, it’s easy to use plenty of words to say nothing. Rather than making an actual point, you just write in circles until a word count has been met, or a subject thoroughly avoided. Instead of wasting everyone’s time, why not make an actual point – preferably a unique one that offers plenty of insight and research to back you up.

1. Irrelevant Keywords

Random words that are placed just for search engine results are a real pain in the you-know-what. It leaves the searcher with irrelevant results, and forces them to sort through the mess to find posts worth reading. Thankfully Google’s always on the lookout for such operations, but that doesn’t mean tricksters don’t still look for easy clicks. For authentic results, keep it on topic. Quality may not always mean quantity, but it does mean the audience that does show up is there for a reason: they trust your writing.

via Business 2 Community http://ift.tt/1eWj71X