Why too much text kills your website’s user experience

The problem with too much text

Websites overloaded with text often frustrate users instead of engaging them. These are some common ways excessive content can hurt user experience.

Information overload

People don’t read websites like they read books. Most users scan, looking for the information they want. If users have to slowly read through long paragraphs with lots of fluff words, you’ve already lost the user's attention.

Lack of focus

When your website is crammed with text, it’s hard for users to know what’s important. Key points get buried, and your call-to-action? Probably ignored.

Visual fatigue

A wall of text isn’t just hard to read, it’s visually unappealing. It feels like work, and no one wants to work when browsing a website.

How to fix it

Cutting down on text doesn’t mean sacrificing important information. It’s about presenting your message in a way that’s clear, concise, and easy to digest.

Be ruthless with cutting the fluff

Ask yourself, does this sentence or word add value? If not, cut it. Stick to one main idea per section, and make sure your key points are clear and concise.

Use headings and bullet points

Break up text with headers, lists, and short paragraphs. This make content easier to scan through, and it also helps guide users to the information they’re looking for.

Think mobile-first

On smaller screens, excessive text feels even worse. Preview your site on mobile and make sure your content is as scannable as it is on desktop.

Show, don’t tell

Instead of explaining everything in text, use visuals where possible. A well designed infographic or image can communicate more effectively than a paragraph ever could. 

Sometimes, a picture really is worth a thousand words

What good content looks like

Here’s an example. Instead of saying:

"Our company specializes in providing high-quality solutions for businesses that need to streamline their operations and improve efficiency by implementing cutting-edge technologies."

Try this:

"We help businesses streamline operations with cutting-edge tech."

Short. Clear. To the point.

When in doubt, simplify. Users don’t need to know everything, just what’s most important.

My take

Too much text is one of the easiest ways to ruin an otherwise great website. Users value clarity, and in web design, less is often more. By keeping your content concise and focusing on visual appeal, you’ll create a site that feels inviting instead of intimidating.

Remember, your website isn’t the place to say everything. It’s the place to say just enough.