Working in digital media for the last few years, I have learned some ways to make online documents shine.

First, think about your white space. More white space makes documents easier to read. That doesn’t mean to start a new paragraph every sentence, but your paragraphs don’t have to be 100 words long, either. Shorter paragraphs (and varied lengths of paragraphs) help people process information more quickly and efficiently. One idea should be one paragraph.

Second, always give the Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF). Put the important things first, and make them obvious. People want to know what you’re talking about without taking all day.

Third, don’t be afraid to mix it up. Some ways to present information simply include:

• Bullet points
• Tables
• Diagrams

These are the three most important tricks I have learned. Others, which I will write more about later, include using plain English and making sure the document is readable across different platforms.

For further reading, go to this article I co-wrote on the ATA Savvy Newcomer blog.