Websites not optimized for mobile devices are more annoying than ever. Responsive design is key, but so is how you present your written content.

Copywriting for Mobile: Successful Content Formatting for Mobile

Today’s marketing strategies need to account for the way written content is viewed on a variety of platforms and devices. People are turning to their cell phones and tablets more and more frequently when they go online. This means that some consideration needs to go into how your content will appear on mobile, tablet, feature phones, and across a wide range of screen sizes for laptop and desktop.

Your target audiences use their smart devices on-the-go and have the ability to multitask between errands during their day’s routine. At Full Blast Creative we know that most customers require at least 6 – 8 “touch points” or “micro-moments” engaging with your brand before they make a purchase. What we’re saying is that your customer can and does look you up at any time of the day, on any type of device and if the user experience is poor, you may lose the sale especially if your content is hard to read or presented poorly. So with that in mind, here is Full Blast Creative’s best tips and advice to ensure that your message is easy to read and easy to understand:

Why do we need a separate content strategy for mobile?

Consider how we read information and how this differs from device to device. Why would the copy be different on mobile than on desktop? Mobile device displays are significantly smaller; the user needs to actively and comfortably scroll as they read, while simultaneously performing other tasks on-the-go.

Looks Matter

Carefully consider your choice of font and what size of font may be best for your platform. Your readers shouldn’t have to zoom in to read your content while on mobile. You want to choose a recognizable text, one that is clean and minimal in style. Avoid decorative fonts such as cursive, or any fonts that are difficult to read at a glance. Your mobile viewer’s attention span is shorter since they are likely on-the-go. Remember, mobile sites are browsed with a thumb. Avoid overloading your page with links which can make it difficult for the user to scroll through or lose the flow of your content. Curate your font styles and keep it consistent. The page will look inconsistent and unprofessional if numerous styles and sizes are incorporated. Keep fonts to 2-3 styles (one style for body text and one for headers) and to 2 sizes max.

Content

Remember that your mobile viewer is on-the-go. You want to keep your sentences short and leave moments for pause and reflection in between ideas. A sentence of 25 words will consume the average desktop screen. Keep your mobile screen to a four-line max so the information is easily viewed and the overall presentation is more succinct.

When drafting content, a good writer makes sure to include all of the relevant, key data and information. An exceptional writer goes back, reads the content and works to make the content more succinct. What within the content is unnecessary? Is there a more direct way to say the same thing? Pro-tip: there almost always is!

Structure

Keep efficient spacing and pauses between content concepts or white space which are crucial to keeping your reader engaged.

Limit the number of sentences in a paragraph designed for mobile.

Create sub-headers more often; sub-headers help to link your ideas, as well as create a point of reference if your viewer momentarily leaves the page or gets distracted.

Composition

Keep your text-structure logical and clean. Make sure that each sentence following the last is a nice and easy transition from one idea to the next. A really simple way of doing this is by using transition words between thoughts. Some great transition words include:

above all accordingly additionally after all again all in all all things considered also as a consequence as a result as a rule as an example of as well as aside from at first glance at the same time beginning with being similar in many ways besides beyond briefly but by and large certainly chiefly coincidentally consequently contrary to contrasting conversely comparable corresponding to coupled with depending upon decidedly despite doubly important effectively especially excluding except excepting exclusive of first of all for example for instance for now for one thing for the most part for the time being for this reason fortunately frequently further more generally gradually however in addition

in any case in any event in brief in conclusion in contrast in essence in other words in particular in short in summary in the end in the final analysis in the first place in the long run in this case in turn including independent of instead just as interesting later likewise meanwhile moreover next to normally on one hand on the bright side on the whole ordinarily other than otherwise overall particularly previously rather restating the obvious soon similarly simultaneously specifically subsequent to such as to summarize to begin with that is the next step there is no doubt therefore there upon thus usually where forewhile whereas with attention to with this in mind yet

Keep your messages clear and concise. This will help to ensure your audience can follow along easily even with surrounding distractions!

To Review

Make it visually appealing and readable
Keep it short and simple
Keep it clean and consistent
Be direct in your messaging

By following these easy tips, your mobile copy is sure to be engaging and user friendly!

If you’d like to learn more about copywriting for mobile or desktop, reach out to Full Blast Creative! We’ve probably only scratched the surface on optimizing your content for mobile. If you have any other suggestions or insights on how to copy write for the small screen, we’d love to hear from you!

Thank you!