In the fast-paced world of today’s legal practice, content accessibility has never been more important. JD Supra Perspectives’ latest piece, “Is Your Content Skimmable or Skippable?“, offers valuable insight into this often overlooked aspect of legal writing. The article explores the reasoning behind why content creators should aim for readers to skim their work, as opposed to skipping it.
It may seem counterintuitive but, as the article emphasizes, the average online reader prefers to skim through content, absorbing key points rather than combing through every word. This means that content needs to be structured in a way that allows readers to glean the most important information quickly. In essence, a successful content creator is one who adeptly makes their work skimmable, not skippable. This perspective is thoroughly illustrated by Tom Nixon in his explanation within the piece.
This critical shift in perspective has implications beyond just the written word, stretching into all areas of content creation. For legal professionals – who often need to share complex information in a concise manner – this form of writing can prove beneficial. Understanding and utilizing this strategy can lead to the production of more effective legal documents, memos, and case briefings.
The skimmable versus skippable issue brings forth the modern dilemma of quantity over quality, or more accurately, the fusion of both. As legal professionals striving to convey intricate arguments or theoretical issues, the ability to mould complex concepts into comprehensible, simplified forms without compromising intellectual rigor or accuracy will differentiate the good from the great. The ability to have your content read at all in an era of information overload should not be underestimated.
In summary, this article enlightens the legal fraternity about the importance of creating content that is skimmable instead of skippable. The change in perspective towards digestible, concise content may not only enhances reader engagement but could also be instrumental in determining the success of a document’s purpose.