Reader Zoom Level Affects Screen Space Needed

I have suggested that properly sizing the Jump Break and Title sections of each post is an important decision, when publishing a post in your blog.

Publishing this blog, using carefully sized post title and jump break sections, allows me to consistently publish posts, with maximum detail visible in main page view - and with the "Read more" link visible.

Potential readers may read a post in this blog - instead of returning to a SERP, and reading another blog. This affects a key reader retention metric, the "bounce rate".

All of that considered, sizing of the introductory post sections won't always produce predictable results.

Reader zoom level is a semi random factor, which makes blog section sizing less predictable than one would wish, when trying to increase reader retention.

I size my posts using "100%" zoom, in the Chrome browser. This may, or may not, produce the same effect, for readers using Edge / Internet Explorer, Firefox, or any other browser. And the differing browser will not be the only varying factor.

All of these details can affect zoom level, screen space requirements, and reader retention - for any different blog. Here it is helpful for the blog owner to know about the typical reader.

• Display screen size.
• Reader age.
• Multi tasking activity.
• Tech interest level.

Display screen size will affect how the blog sections look, to each reader.

Browser choice is not the only variation, that can affect screen space and blog section display sizes.

Reader display screen size used is a detail, that I cannot control. The computer on which I compose most posts has a 6" high screen. A second computer, that I use from time to time, has an 8" high screen. The second computer, even at a 125% zoom level, still displays more post content in one screen page.

This post (in main page view) displayed, at 100% zoom, on an 6" vertical display.



Let's compare this post, displayed at several zoom levels.

Here's this post, in the individual post page display - without Jump Break. See how it looks, zoomed in various font sizes. Note that here I use a maximised browser window, though some readers will resize the browser window to fit the blog content.

This post (in Preview mode) displayed, at 100% zoom, on an 6" vertical display.

This post (in Preview mode) displayed, at 100% zoom, on an 10" vertical display.

This post (in Preview mode) displayed, at 75% zoom level.



Smaller zoom is more likely to be used by people with better eyesight - using better resolution and more expensive computers, and smaller browser windows.

This post (in Preview mode) displayed, at 125% zoom level.



Larger zoom is more likely to be used by people with marginally worse eyesight. This will frequently involve older people.

Older readers will be more likely to use higher zoom levels.

Reader age is another detail which each blog author may consider, in blog design.

Blogs which attract older readers should be designed for displays which use higher zoom levels - or use larger fonts, to begin. Older readers, with marginal eyesight, will be more likely to surf the web with their browsers zoomed higher.

Multi tasking encourages smaller browser windows - and lower zoom levels.

Younger readers, who like to multi task, will probably use low zoom - and size the browser window smaller, so they can have multiple windows, simultaneously visible in large computer displays. Older readers will be more likely to focus on one task at a time - and will maximise the browser window, with higher zoom.

Blog subject may produce readers of differing age and tech interest.

Each blog, depending upon its content, may be more or less likely to interest readers of a given age and / or and tech interest level. People of different tech interest levels may also be more or less likely to use computers with higher resolution, and may multi task using smaller browser windows.

The bottom line.

Each blog owner will have to consider the various issues mentioned above - for each post published - and decide what screen sizes and zoom levels might be preferred by the target reader audience.

Only a blog owner can decide what reader audience may be more interested in each individual post - and may benefit from a specific zoom level. And this affects the proper sizing of the jump break and title section of each post.

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Several details of a #Blogger blog audience affect what post title and jump break section will be more appropriate, for each individual blog. These details, in turn, can affect bounce rate / retention rate.

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Music Is Personal - And Player Choice Will Be, Also

Some blog owners decide to include music, to accessorise their blogs - and the first thing they ask for is instructions.

Please give me step by step instructions, to add music.

They don't consider that adding music, for any blog, will be their personal choice - and a music player will be personal too.

The choice of music player needs to be based on the music library provided.

You will probably want your music choice to match the blog content.

Some one who wants to provide classical music won't want to add a music player, published by a disco / techno website. Similarly, if you want to decorate your blog with country music, you will not be pleased by a player provided with a jazz website.

Each music website will provide their own player, to accompany their music library - and their own installation instructions, to install their player. You will probably be provided HTML / JavaScript code, by the website - so you will want to add an HTML / JavaScript gadget.

Position the player so it is convenient and visible, to your readers.

You will want the player controls to be visible - so you should position the new gadget, in a convenient and visible location, on the blog.

The one suggestion, that is consistently provided, is that you should choose a player that lets your readers choose whether to listen to the music. Please, don't use any player that only provides "autoplay".

The choice of music will be yours - and some readers will choose to view your blog. But some will choose to not listen to your music - and unless you want to limit reader population to those who can listen as they view, you will want to make the music optional.

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Some #Blogger blog owners want to decorate their blogs with music - and they request detailed instructions for adding a music player. Music players are individual to the website providing the music - and the smart blog owner will choose the website, for one offering an appropriate music library.

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Let Your Readers Decide Which Dynamic View To Use, When Viewing Your Blog

Some time ago, I pointed out that our readers should provide the final voice, in deciding how to view our blogs. Not everybody seems to agree with me.

I have been told by my readers, having viewed my blog, that they have the option to change which dynamic setting - because the drop down menu is accessible to them. I have tried this myself when not logged in, and it completely messes up the view I want. How can I fix this so only I can change the settings?

This blog owner believes that only he knows how his readers should see his blog.

It is possible, through the use of the right CSS, to remove specific view selections from the View Select menu, in a dynamic template. Your knowledgeable readers, though, know that the dynamic views are directly accessible through the proper URLs.

Here are three views of this blog. Today, you'll see this article, at the top.

1. This blog, in non dynamic view.
2. This blog, in Magazine view.
3. This blog, in Sidebar view.

Click on the second link, in the list. That should open a new tab or window in the browser, showing this blog, in Magazine view. Look at the browser address window.

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/view/magazine

Now, type "sidebar" in place of "magazine", in the address window, and hit Enter.

http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/view/sidebar

Your readers can do the same, when viewing your blog. Why not allow them the convenience of doing just that, without typing? But, it's your blog - and in the end, it's your choice.

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