How to Write Effectively for Your Target Audience
Writing.

It’s the simple act of using a pen/keyboard to get thoughts and ideas across to another person.

But when it comes to online business, writing is a bit more complicated, isn’t it?

You can just write what comes to your mind…

But how many people will actually read it?

For some of us, writing is therapeutic.

And that’s good.

But if you want your writing to build your online business, it has to matter to the person reading it.

Importance of Writing for Your Audience

We like to write about what we think, feel, or know.

But is that what our readers what to read?

If you want your writing to actually matter to your readers, you need to take the focus off yourself, your brand and your business, and place it squarely on the reader.

Write content that your readers need to read.

Write about solutions for their problems.

Write with empathy, giving them a lifeline of hope.

Write content that will help improve their lives.

Writing with your audience in mind is a sure way to get more people interested in what you/your business has to offer.

Questions to Ask Before You Start Writing

There are two questions you’ll have to ask yourself before you can even start writing.

1. Who is your ideal reader?

When you have a blog or online business, you have a target audience. You will not be attempting to reach all the billions of people living on earth right now!

You need to identify who your ideal audience is.

Taking this blog for example: my target audience is mothers who want to use their talents to make money online and support their families financially. I target my writing towards women who have basic computer skills, and the passion to turn their talents into profits online.

When you know whom you are writing for, it will make your content more relevant and useful for those reading it.

2. What message do you want to convey?

Every piece of content has a goal – whether you realize it or not. You want the reader to take away something from it, or act on what they’ve read.

Identify what is the message you want to convey through each content piece you write. Take this article for instance… I want readers to understand why it’s important to write with their audience in mind. I will be sharing specific tips, and actionable ideas on how they can implement the same through their writing process.

Before you start writing an article, eBook or landing page copy, identify what message you want to convey to your audience through it. This will give you clarity, and help you lay out your content in a better manner.

How to Write for Your Audience

Now that you have clarity on whom you are writing to, and what message you want to convey, it’s time to get into the actual writing.

Start with a catchy title

I can’t stress enough the importance of having a good title for your content. It is your headline that entices readers to actually click through and visit your site.

Make sure your headline is simple, easy to read, and conveys exactly what your content is about. If possible, add an element of suspense. People love a bit of mystery, and will click through and read your content just to satisfy their curiosity.

Draw readers in with your first few lines

On average, 8 out of 10 people will read your headline copy, but only 2 out 10 will read the rest. – Brian Clark

Isn’t that a startling statistic?

If you’ve done a good job with your headline, people are already on your site, ready to read what you’ve written. The first few lines of your content has to convince them to stay on and read the rest.

Engage readers with your opening paragraph and make them want to read more.

Write for different readers

Your target audience will consist of 3 different types of readers. Here’s how you need to write for each of them.

  • The Reluctant Reader – These are people who tend to skim through written content. The usage of sub-headings and lists with bullet points will help them get the gist of your content with ease.
  • The Avid Reader – These are people who like to read lengthy articles. Provide them in-depth, meaty articles, explaining everything in as much detail as possible.
  • The Visual Reader – These are people who prefer visual representations rather than written content. Complement your writing with relevant images, illustrations, and graphs to reach the visual reader.

Have a healthy mix of content that caters to all these three categories of readers, and you’ll definitely have them coming back for more.

Encourage readers to take action

The end of your content is probably as important as its beginning. What do you want readers to do after they finish reading your content? Make sure you have a specific call to action telling them what to do.

You could ask them to:

  • Share your article on social media
  • Subscriber to your newsletter
  • Download a freebie
  • Buy a product
  • Leave a comment
  • Visit another post/page on your site

Tools and Resources

To wind up, here are some tools and resources to help you write for your audience.

Take some time to find out who your ideal reader is and the message you want to convey through your writing. I hope the tips and resources I’ve shared in this article help you write content that your audience will actually read.

Check out the other posts in this series: