ENGAGEMENT:
Why the PDF loses 90% of engagement

The eye-tracking results

People engage with content more than 10x longer in Turtl than the PDF.

How and why?

Participants of this study spent 1006% longer with the Turtl Doc open on desktop than those who were shown the same content in PDF.
Using eye-tracking technology, the researchers found participants also spent 815% more time engaging intently where their eyes were actively focused on the text and imagery on the screen.
The difference in engagement was also significant when the PDF desktop version was compared to Turtl Doc on mobile, despite the much smaller screen and readjusted layout.
The study participants spent 738% more time on the mobile version of the Turtl Doc than the PDF on desktop.
There was a 400% increase in active engagement on mobile as well, with participants focusing on the content much longer on the mobile Turtl Doc versus the PDF.

So why do we see such a dramatic increase in engagement?

01. Designed for maximum attention

Turtl offers the only digital reading format rooted in psychology, designed to maximize reader attention. Turtl's unique content format is based on principles of psychology on how we read and retain information.

Turtl Docs are structured into two types of pages, the first of which is our highly visual Surf page. These are inspired by the power visuals have over our brains and are designed to lock down the attention of skim readers in particular.

02. A two-way experience

Below each Surf page are Immerse pages, which support a variety of layouts, visuals, and interactive features. Interactivity keeps the mind active and gives readers autonomy over how they explore a document - without relying on long-scroll experiences.

Dynamic features like Turtl’s polls and charts encourage us to feel more connected with the experience, keeping readers engaged for longer.

03. Optimized for digital devices

Unlike PDF documents, Turtl’s format offers an excellent reading experience across devices. No pinching or excessive scrolling necessary

04. Rooted in psychology

For more on the psychology behind digital engagement and what goes on in the heads of our readers, head to our guide on content psychology 101.