Let's talk saccades

People scan webpages tracing an F-shaped path. Eyes dart across the top, drop along the left, then skim a bit lower before trailing off. That’s not random; it’s how brains hunt meaning fast. Saccades—those quick, jerky eye jumps between focal points—drive it. A split-second pause on a headline, a flicker to a subhead, then out. Understanding this shifts how words land on the screen.

The F-pattern reveals where attention sticks. Top bar gets the first sweep—make it count. “Free Trial” up there pulls harder than “Welcome” ever will. The left edge holds the next beat—short, punchy lines like “Save Time” or “Start Now” snag the gaze as it slides down. Middle and right fade fast; fluff lives there to die unread.

Brevity wins; density flops. A checkout page bloated with “Please ensure all required fields are completed accurately” gets ignored—swapped to “Fill in the blanks,” and completion spikes.

Put words where eyes go, and make them stick. Headlines rule the top, bold cues line the left, and details shrink below. Users chase signals. Shape the words to match their rhythm, and they’ll find what they need before bouncing.