So, how much do people actually read?

Okay, so it isnt exactly the same thing as reviews... BUT... we came across an interesting study that shares insights as to how much text people read on a blog during their visit. It is INTERESTING as we discuss how long or short a review should be. Check it out.

For those that dont want to read too much (the irony!) here is a quick summary:
There seem to be two styles of bloggers. Those that drop shorter snippets into posts but do so once or twice a day and those that like to write longer posts but do so once a week/month.

Reasearchers concluded that the average web page has around 600 words and the average reader only spends time on around 100 of them (about 20-30%). To them, this means you should keep the posts to under 100 words...Interesting!

Now this doesnt exactly relate to reviews, especially if it is a big ticket item, but it definitely shows you that:

1. Clear headlines are important- so make 'em meaningful (and include the name of the product or service you are reviewing to remind people what they are looking at when they get distracted).
2. People read a little in the beginning and then scan a page. So, offering a quick recap at the top is probably meaningful and helpful.
3. Know that writing 4 pages does not really appeal to most people. Do you have that kind of attention span anywhere on the web?

Hope this helps!!!