Ironically, I stopped reading a great article about reducing distractions to improve focus in order to start this post.
While reading this article, I opened a new tab to search a company name from the article, then went back to the article, only to click on a link in the next sentence. I realized inline links to reference articles or videos are only encouraging readers to leave your site, get distracted and perhaps never finish reading what you wrote.
I’ve made a concentrated effort recently to read an entire article before going back through and clicking the links. Occasionally, a link out is a required prerequisite, but unless it is, I stay away.
In the interest of making it easier for you, the reader, to use my site and do what you came here to do, I’m going to start putting the reference links at the end of my posts. Perhaps, occasionally, I might use footnotes (if they add value and I ever learn how to do it quickly).
Anyhow, this might be nothing; it might be something. I’m going to experiment with it, and I’d love to hear your thoughts on the matter.
Post references:
- The article: “The Only Way to Get Important Things Done” by Tony Schwartz
- I heard about the article from Shawn Blanc, who also references this great article by Kathy Sierra, and this one by Matt Gemmell.
This is an excellent point. I’ve noticed that over the last several posts I’ve written, I’ve unintentionally done the same thing — and it does make for a lot more clarity. Thanks for pointing it out. I think I’m going to follow suit.
I’ve noticed myself struggling when I’m reading in RSS readers or on sites, because I want to immediately click through to the referenced story/image/video. It was definitely keeping me from focusing on the original article. I guess I hope it will improve readability/usability of this site in some small way. Worth the experiment anyway.
I like this. I’ve been doing both things… putting the links where they come up in a post and then also in a list at the end. I have them set to open in a new tab to make it easy to go back & forth if the reader wishes.
Thanks for your thoughts on this.
I like it.