You want to write easy-to-read hubs that will entice your readers to come back for more? Before we jump into my easy tips for improving your hubs, I'm going to share three gold nuggets about readers on the Internet that you probably already know, but haven't thought to incorporate into your writing. This information is so obvious, you're going to smack yourself on the head and say "but of course! I already knew that!"

Nugget Number One: Adults Don't Read

Adults don't read. They skim. Most of us adults aren't speed readers and there's way too much information out there for us to read things online in a linear fashion all the way through. Usually we read the first few sentences or paragraphs to determine if the article contains useful or entertaining information. Then, unless it is something we really need to know, like what really happened to Michael Jackson, or how to send a traffic ticket to the right place so we don't get our driver's license revoked, we usually skim through the rest. We adults are distracted, too. We're reading on the phone while we're driving (shame on us!) and getting body slammed by toddlers while we try to get our news.

Nugget Number Two: Many of Your Readers Speak English as a Second Language

Many of your readers speak English as a second language. The Internet is an international community of readers from developed countries and countries with emerging economies. Your readers come from a variety of religious and cultural backgrounds. English is one of the most difficult languages to learn in the world (though not as difficult as Mandarin). If you want your articles to be easy to understand, keep this in mind. I'm not saying to dumb your writing down. Later in this article I will share some tips for writing for an international audience.

Nugget Number Three: Readers are Natural Editors

Many adult readers can't spell, but they recognize misspelled words in print. This viscious double standard means that if you are one of those adult readers who also happens to write, then you need to use your spell checker and grammar checker on your hub capsules. It's a sad fact: Articles that are misspelled damage your credibility as a writer. Case in point: I just ran the spell-check too and realized I had misspelled the word MISPELLED! That said, I will be the first to admit that it is difficult to be vigilant. We have to hold ourselves to a high standard if we want to be taken seriously as writers.

Now that I've shared a few basic amazing revelations with you, it is your job to do a little bit of homework about your audience. But that is easy with the Google Analytics tool.

If you are already a contributing member of HubPages, you probably have a Google Adsense account. The folks at Google want you to succeed, because let's face it, you are an important cog in their moneymaking machine, and they are happy to help you be successful because they will share in that success. There are no hidden strings attached.

Once you have set up your AdSense account, you can connect your account to Google Analytics. This free service gives you some powerful information about who is reading your articles on the internet. Google Analytics metrics include:

• The countries where your readers are logging in to read your work.
• The search terms they used to get there.
• How long they are spending on your page.
• A map of your online article (or hub, as they are known here on HubPages), with information about where users are clicking.

If your writing is focused on a specific topic area, reading in between the lines of Google Analytic's data can help you give your readers the information they are seeking.

If you are writing about an informational topic, particularly one that answers a specific question, make use of common techniques that help readers find the information they are seeking quickly. Readers want their information and they want it now.

Tips for formatting your informational topics

• Break up long paragraphs into shorter topical paragraphs. Short paragraphs are easier to read on computer screens, especially mini laptops with 10 or 12-inch screens.
• Use bulleted and numbered lists. Lists help your readers to skim through information quickly. I'm a fan of using lists with bolded text that highlights the key idea. List your main point first and then follow with the details. I'm doing it now!
• Use text boxes to call out specialized terminology. In my article How to Make Chain Mail from Coat Hangers, I use this technique.
• Use relevant pictures and videos to break up your text and illustrate your information. Pictures add visual interest and can illustrate certain ideas more quickly and easily than the written word can. Please see my article How Much is a Terabyte, Anyway? to see how pictures can enhance a technical topic.
• Talk directly to your reader. Use a conversational tone that is polite and direct, but not sloppy or overly personal. Many writers here on HubPages show a mastery of this writing style.
• Use headings, but repeat the idea in the first paragraph too. When I was employed as a professional technical writer for a major corporation, the writers in our department debated about the effectiveness of placing information in headings. Two theories about headings exist. Some professional technical writers think that readers don't actually read headings. These writers still use headings, however, because headings create easy-to-skim structure for an article. Other writers believe readers use headings to catch main ideas. Do make use of headings. Personally, I believe that readers do skim headings.
• Use easy-to-understand language. Keep in mind the purpose of your article. If your purpose is to share information, use easy-to-understand language that is appropriate for your audience. If your article written for a general audience, many technical writers who work for computer companies recommend writing at about a 5th grade reading level.
• Avoid writing in ALL CAPS. IT IS THE ONLINE EQUIVALENT OF YELLING.

Write with sensitivity to your international audience. Before I offer a few tips, I feel I need to explain why you might want to consider the needs of your international readers. Much of HubPages traffic is generated through search engine results. A reader types a question into Google or their search engine of choice, and your article appears on their browser as a potential answer. Your article may be the reader's introduction to HubPages and your writing at large. You want to keep your reader on your page as long as possible, and hopefully click through to other things you have written. If your article is too biased to your cultural paradigm, your reader may feel that the information you provide in your article is irrelevant.

Many readers are seeking answers to very specific questions, and if your article doesn't answer the question in their mind, they will click away and look for an answer elsewhere. Keep in mind where your readers are coming from and try to address their needs.

Tips for Global Writing

• Make use of photo captions. Some global readers use translation software to read your articles in their language. If your article uses photos that include pictures of items with written text (for example a book cover), use captions for your photos. Translation software can translate captions but not the text on your images.
• Don't overuse pronouns. If you are writing about a topic that uses lots of nouns and you start referring back to these items, it is better to repeat the noun you used than to confuse your reader. Be sure that when you are referring to "they" and "them" that your reader knows what you are talking about.
• Do use photos to illustrate key concepts, but use text in these photos sparingly.
• Avoid using culturally-based sayings that may be difficult for a non-native English speaker to translate. These common sayings may confuse translation programs.
• Use humor sparingly. I love to write humorous articles. I'm not advocating the death of laughter here. But be careful about the humor you use. Much humor is culturally based.
• Most important, have fun and don't rush success. Take your time and do your best. You will be happy with your result. And remember, you can always edit, add, remove, or whatever! Happy writing.