Print versus web content: more than just formatting
Jakob Nielsen makes a salient point about the differences between writing for print and writing for the web.
“In print, you can spice up linear narrative with anecdotes and individual examples that support a storytelling approach to exposition. On the Web, such content often feels like filler; it slows down users and stands in the way of their getting to the point.
…
“Web content must be brief and get to the point quickly, because users are likely to be on a specific mission. In many cases, they’ve pulled up the page through search. Web users want actionable content; they don’t want to fritter away their time on (otherwise enjoyable) stories that are tangential to their current goals.”
This comes from Nielsen’s idea about passive and active ‘constructions’ regarding linear and non-linear media. That is, when you consume passive media, such as print, you want the experience to be constructed; on the web, you want to construct it yourself. Print content, therefore, should provide a package, and web content should provide the raw materials.
Read the rest of Nielsen’s article here, where he also touches on the importance of linear, narrative-driven content (i.e., ‘old’ media that people seem to think is dying) for deep learning.
