Web Strategy and Development Blog

3 tools to improve your writing

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How do you give your writing power and meaning?

With readability.

Your writing carries more impact if more people can understand it.

Using Microsoft Word’s spelling and grammar checker isn’t enough.

These online tools can improve the readability of your writing.

Hemingway App

Screen shot of HemingwayApp.com website
Hemingway App shows you words and sentences to fix for better writing.

This app was a hit at our recent digital training session. Count me as a fan, too.

I love Hemingway App’s simplicity. Visit the website, copy/paste your text and have your writing evaluated. Boom.

No downloads, sign-ups or registration. Only action. Perfect.

Hemingway App catches complicated sentences and words, adverbs and passive voice. You receive a readability grade (aim for the 5th-8th grade range). Gauge your progress as you go.

Hemingway App’s full desktop version ($19.99) goes more in-depth. You’ll have options like publishing, exporting and offline use.

But for most, the no-frills free version offers plenty.

Yoast SEO

Screenshot of Yoast SEO readability analysis.
Yoast SEO evaluates your content’s readability and SEO. Select the “Keyword” tab for SEO.

If you have a Missouri State blog, you use WordPress.com. This handy plug-in gives you the SEO benefits that Hemingway App does not.

Yoast SEO previews your content on a Google search result. It helps you strengthen a targeted keyword.

An analysis spots SEO issues to improve or address. Yoast SEO is a great way to improve your blog’s Google search rankings.

Yoast SEO improves readability as well. Use the “eye” icon to identify which specific areas are strong or need improvement.

You’ll find some readability measures that aren’t available in Hemingway App:

Like Hemingway App, Yoast SEO offers a premium version. We recommend trying the free version, first.

Story Toolz: Readability

Screen shot of Story Toolz: Readability results.
Check the structure and formatting of your writing with Story Toolz: Readability analysis.

Crunch your numbers, err, writing with this tool.

Copy and paste your content into Story Toolz’ text box. Select the “Check Readability” button and look through the results.

It rates your content in four areas: reading levels, sentence information, word usage and sentence beginnings.

Story Toolz: Readability isn’t as interactive as Hemingway App or Yoast SEO. But it’s helpful if you want to get into the specifics of your writing.

By the way, Hemingway App rated this blog post at a 6th grade reading level. That’s your sweet spot for readability.

Recap: Making Your Statement in a Digital World – Sept. 29, 2017

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We recently presented Making Your Statement in a Digital World, a comprehensive training session for Missouri State website, blog and social media managers.

Still have questions or need help?

We’re hosting two post-training open labs, to answer your questions and provide support. Please join us. No preregistration is required.

Key details

  • Dates: Friday, Oct. 27 and Friday, Nov. 10
  • Time: 2-4 p.m., both dates
  • Location: Meyer Library 106 Cheek Hall 100
  • About: Both sessions will be held in conjunction with the Web Help Desk open lab.

Access the presentations

The Sept. 29 training session was presented in four parts.

wideshot of people walking on campus

Key takeaways

Readability

  • Use concise text and a scannable layout to make your content more readable. Put the most important information at the top.
  • Always ask, “how does this look on mobile?” Current and future students are researching your department/program on their phones.
  • Write less, people will read more. People will read more of a 300-word article than they will a 600-word article.
  • No one wants to put extra effort into reading. Seventy percent of people read at an intermediate (middle school) level. Newspapers aim for a 7th grade reading level.
  • Headings, bulleted lists and visual elements. Use them.
  • The YoastSEO plugin for WordPress is a great tool for improving your writing.
  • Improving your content readability has many benefits, including audience reach and audience action.

Blogging

  • Does your blog tell a story? Who is speaking in your story and how are you conveying that meaning? It’s important to start in the action and develop some sort of conflict that is resolved.
  • Be sure you are defining your audience; alumni, faculty, staff, and/or students?
  • Utilize the formatting strategies from readability while adding photography and pull quotes.
  • Update your blog with engaging stories at least once a month, if not more.

Students taking photo with Boomer

Accessibility

  • Accessibility means people with disabilities can use and navigate your website.
  • There are federal guidelines for accessibility. MSU, which receives federal funding, falls under WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
  • Think of your website as a public space (i.e. a courthouse or city hall). Make accommodations for all.
  • Accessibility overlaps with readability and best practices for websites. Having an accessible website means your website is better overall.
  • Alt text, headings and descriptive links are crucial for accessibility. Our Accessibility blog series also covers these topics, and more.

Social media and visual platforms

  • Share human – don’t be afraid to act like a human and interact with your audience one-on-one.
  • Set up a Facebook business account where people can find your contact information. Be prepared to respond to their questions.
  • Think visual – when on location for an event share raw photos, but when promoting the event utilize photo services to help boost your presence.
  • Video is king across all platforms. Be sure to add captioning for accessibility and to increase views.
  • Measure your success based off the goals your team sets: more followers, increased engagement, more views, etc. Keep a log of your analytics so you can compare data from previous years.

Students in computer lab

Improve your digital marking strategy at this free training

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Join us for a free half-day session about best practices for websites, blogs and social media. We’ll offer tips and tricks for online marketing and communications.

Making your statement in a digital world

You’ll learn practical strategies for managing websites, blogs and social media. We’ll answer questions like:

  • How do we repurpose our website and blog content and distribute it on social media?
  • What do users want my website, blog or social media to provide?
  • How do we become better strategic storytellers?
  • How can we utilize the newest features of the upgraded blog themes?
  • What are some tips and tricks we can use to make sure our site is accessible for all users?
  • How do we manage messaging on multiple social media channels?
  • What are some advanced strategies to increase our effectiveness on Facebook, Twitter
    and Instagram?
  • How can we best leverage photo and video content?
  • What can we do immediately to make our digital communications more strategic?

Key details

  • What: Making Your Statement in a Digital World, a free training session on websites and social media presented by Erika Brame and Kai Raymer
  • When: 1-5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29.
  • Where: Karls Hall, room 102
  • Who: Open to faculty, staff and students who manage content for Missouri State University websites, blogs and social media platforms.
  • How: This event is free; registration though My Learning Connection is requested. Please feel free to bring your own laptop or tablet.

Improving website security

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Several university websites (My Missouri State, Blackboard, Office365) already use secure connections. Over the next month, we’ll be extending that security to all websites on the central web servers (homepage, map, calendar, websites published from Web Press, blogs, application development websites, course websites and personal websites).

How can I tell that a website uses a secure connection?

Websites with secure connections have addresses that begin with “https://” — you can usually see this in the address bar of your web browser. You’ll also often see a closed green lock or the word “secure” next to the website address.

Secure website notice

I edit a university website. What should I do?

For most of the websites, the upgrades will be done centrally by the office of web and new media. We’ll be changing the templates/content within blogs and Web Press needed for the update. Individual editors of these websites will not need to make changes.

If you edit a website on apps.missouristate.edu, courses.missouristate.edu or people.missouristate.edu, then you may need to assist in making changes or testing your website. We’ll be emailing editors of each of these websites with more instructions.

What if I receive an error on my website?

We value your help in reporting any problems with your website. If you encounter a mixed content warning or “not secure” message, please report the error.

The messages could look similar to the following examples:

Example: parts of this page are not secure

Example: not secure

Faculty and staff free portrait days: Aug. 30-31

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Do you work at Missouri State University? Come get your photo taken during faculty and staff free portrait days, Aug. 30-31 at Plaster Student Union.

Photographic Services will be taking portrait pictures of faculty and staff, free of charge.

Attending this event is the easiest way to ensure that your professional photo is both current and suitable for university websites.

Professional or business casual attire is preferred. No pre-registration is required.

Please contact Chuck Busby, Office of the Provost, at 836-6495, if you have any questions.

Key details

Select your free photo on-site

You will review and choose your photo on-site at the event. This photo will then be uploaded to the university directory – with no additional effort on your part.

Within a few days of the event, you will receive the photo you selected via email. This photo is provided at no charge and you are free to use it for other professional purposes.