Do You Read Your Own Content?

bymikehobson

220 followers

11 years ago

Sometimes we can get carried away by what to us seems a good idea.

We create content that describes this idea which might be a product, an encouraging article or an inspirational message. This may be backed up with supporting evidence, easy to read and pleasing to the eye.

We sit back and feel proud of our work. Then wait for the responses (and sales) to come flooding in.Only to feel somewhat disheartened when nothing comes in.

What was wrong? Quite often I found that I've written for myself. I need to write with my target audience in mind. How would the feel on reading my page? Would they get past the first paragraph?

If you know your target audience (if not that's the first job) ask what they are looking for? What are their needs? What are their interests? Write for them, it all builds a relationship. Then if your idea is relevant you can bring it into the conversation.

Sometimes what we write has the opposite effect to what we intended. We can become too defensive in our approach that we turn the reader's attention to the negative. For example when I see the statement "I'm not selling anything" I automatically read the piece looking for the sales hook. It's often at the bottom of the article and might be a soft sales pitch, even just a request for comments. I see this and think ah they want my contact details to make further stronger pitches. Then I conclude "so it was selling" and all the helpful information was wasted and I don't feel trust. Don't bring up the negative, be calm, friendly, honest and helpful and the link at the bottom might be reached in a positive attitude. OK some will come in a cynical frame of mind, you can't do anything about that but there's no reason to take others there too.

Read your content as you read other people's material. Be aware of how some statements can make the reader look for the negative.

Ha , don't think I'll put this on my site, I think it's aimed squarely at me! ;-)