Tip
Person on iPad

As more employees rely on their smartphones and tablets to “stay connected” and do their work, companies are starting to make their intranet content accessible on mobile devices.

But before you rush to IT to migrate your intranet to a mobile platform, consider revamping those 500-word articles that lead to endless scrolling and discouraged readers.

The solution is to create intranet content that’s concise, visual and easy to navigate. Here are five things to keep in mind when writing for mobile.

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Keep it short
People who read on mobile devices want quick and concise information to digest and move on. To keep the reader’s attention, keep your articles to 100 words or less and use subheads to make content scannable.

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Make it visual
Another way to cut back on copy and keep readers interested is by adding compelling visuals to your intranet content, such as an intriguing photo, a simple chart or an infographic

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Be interactive
If you can’t touch the article, then what is the point of viewing it on a touch screen? Even a simple photo gallery can go a long way. With the swipe of a finger you can “like” and “share” the photos with your colleagues.

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Use a summary deck
Mobile users tend to be skimmers and want information fast. That’s why you should include a summary deck to let the reader know exactly what the article is about before they dive in. A deck is a short, one-sentence summary that sits below the headline and provides a bit more context for the article.

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Incorporate keywords
It doesn’t matter what you write if no one can find it. Your article should always include keywords to make it searchable. Keywords should be included in your headline and deck, as well as throughout your article to ensure it rises to the top in search results.