Have You Set Word Limits For Your Web Copy?

In a previous post I wrote about people consuming content on their mobile phones. Owen also pointed out that 81% of people read email on their mobile devices. On that tiny little screen, readers really need copy to get to the point, in as few words as possible. For that reason, setting word limits on your copy is important – then make sure every word counts.

Even on a regular computer screen, too many words will leave readers bored, confused, or frustrated. As a rule, I limit the length of my copy to about 300 words per page (with a few exceptions). I want to be sure that the important stuff is in the first few lines, and where possible, summarized at the end where readers’ eyes are most likely to fall. I like to appeal to the people who tend to scan blocks of content quickly, get what they need, and move on. Because nowadays, that’s almost all of us.

Is your copy mobile-friendly?  Have you set word limits?