As a professional, I’ve seen countless articles and website copy that make assumptions about their readers. This can be damaging to a website’s SEO ranking and can turn off potential readers and customers. That’s why it’s important to follow the “don’t make assumptions” agreement when creating content.

The “don’t make assumptions” agreement means that you don’t assume your reader’s knowledge or understanding of a topic, their culture or background, or their interests. Instead, you aim to provide clear and concise information that can be easily understood by anyone.

One of the most common assumptions in content creation is assuming that your readers have the same level of knowledge or understanding as you do. For example, if you’re writing an article about a specific industry, you may be tempted to use industry-specific jargon or acronyms. But unless your readers are also experts in that industry, they may not know what you’re talking about. This can lead to confusion and disengagement.

Another common assumption is assuming your readers’ cultural background or interests. For example, if you’re writing an article about American football, you may assume that all of your readers are from the United States or are interested in sports. But your readers could be from anywhere in the world and have a variety of interests. Instead of assuming, try to provide context and explain any cultural references.

The “don’t make assumptions” agreement also applies to accessibility. For example, assuming that all of your readers can see the images on your website or read the small font can be exclusionary to those with visual impairments. Making your content accessible to all readers not only ensures that everyone can enjoy your content, but it can also improve your website’s SEO ranking.

By following the “don’t make assumptions” agreement, you can create content that is engaging and accessible to all readers. This not only improves your SEO ranking but it also builds trust with your readers and can lead to increased conversions and customer loyalty.