Getting Lost in the Shuffle

Honing in on what your audience wants is key to a successful career as a writer, but sometimes that can be hard to pin down.

You have to know what to look for, first of all, and sometimes that can feel like looking for the needle in the proverbial haystack.

It’s kind of like that boss you once had that could never quite tell you directly what it is that they wanted.

Instead, they just beat around the bush and gave you vague direction to the point you wanted to scream at them, “WHAT DO YOU WANT?”

But we’re not going to scream at our audience, are we? Because that would be a bit counterproductive.

Nonetheless, figuring out what your readers want from day to day can be pretty staggering.

It adds a tremendous amount of performance anxiety to the whole gig of being a writer.

They expect you to show up daily and help them with their problems, and that’s what you have to do in order to keep their attention.

I don’t want you having a mental breakdown, so I’m going to try to help you out with this one.

Using just a few tried and true strategies can help you overcome this issue.

I’ve spent years developing techniques that work for me to deal with these minor obstacles, but it’s not rocket surgery.

They’re just little tricks I’ve learned, based on the observed psychology of those I write for, that seems to keep them coming back for more.

Here are five tips that will help you keep your content in line with what your audience expects.

1. Keep your messaging consistent.
   People like familiarity. I know I do. I like knowing what to expect when I open up a book, watch a TV show, or read an article. Find your voice and stick to it. If I’m your reader, your audience, I came to read you in particular because of the way you frame your message. I can probably find a variation of the information you’re sharing in a million places, but I picked you because I like to way you deliver your message.
2. Formatting goes a long way.
   Make it easy for your reader. I, and many others, like things simple. Life is already complicated. Don’t make it harder on me to read what you’re putting out there. Format your work in a way that flows well and makes it easy for me to follow along to get to the end result.
3. Statistics are more than just a vanity metric.
   A lot of people hang on statistics as the value they possess, but try to reframe that in your mind. They don’t indicate your value, but the value you give to the reader. Look at the works that performs well and figure out a strategy that will allow you to produce more like that.
4. Listen to the people.
   Read and engage with any commenters on your work. Sometimes, they may say something that really gets under your skin. It’s very easy to want to talk smack back at them (trust me, I’ve done it.) But maybe the better way is to find out why they feel the way they do. If they can produce a valid reason behind it, take that into account and see if it’s an area you can improve upon.
5. Ask lots of questions.
   You must be committed to a continuing learning experience if you’re going to be a good writer. Ego can be your biggest downfall. I’ve been writing for over two decades and I’m just now really putting myself out in the world for others to see. I spent that entire time honing my craft, and for a short amount of time, thinking I knew it all. That time was short-lived because I quickly realized there is always something new to learn. So, ask questions. Ask your audience, ask your peers, ask friends and family, but never stop asking.

Learning how to refine the input you get from your output is key.

Using these strategies will help you narrow down that signal to noise ratio and pinpoint exactly what your audience wants, and more importantly, what problem you can solve for them.

This will lead down to many different paths you can then use to monetize your writing, help your audience further their own interests, and gain readers that will come back to you time after time.

You become a known quantity they can trust, a brand they can be loyal to and feel comfortable with, knowing you will always be there for them with their best interests at heart.

Thanks for reading!

Hi, I'm Joe. I help creators share their unique voices simply and effectively. Here's how I can help you:

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