Crafting Content for Your Audience: A Writer’s Perspective on Audience vs. Self-Writing
As a writer, the balance between writing what you want and adapting your content to meet the needs of your target audience can be challenging. In today's digital landscape, especially in the world of search engine optimization (SEO), understanding who your audience is and what they are looking for is crucial. Here, we explore how writers can strike this balance and write content that resonates with their intended audience.
Identifying Your Target Audience
Whether you are working with publishers, agents, or as a self-published author, it is essential to identify your target audience. This information is key to connecting with readers and effectively marketing your content. Robin de Jongh’s advice rings true: when choosing a story, it often stems from a silent, personal conversation with your audience.
As a writer, you may initially focus on the story that excites you. However, as you refine your narrative, you must consider the impact it will have on your target audience. Writing for a specific individual can yield a more personal and unique story. Conversely, writing for a general audience can lead to oversights and incoherent content.
Writing for Specific Individuals
When writing for a specific individual, such as a friend or reader, you can tailor your content to their preferences and interests. For example, if you are writing for your friend Melissa, you might realize that she is not particularly interested in detailed descriptions of a character training for a big fight. Instead, you might include more intimate details that your target audience, such as Melissa and others like her, would appreciate. This personalization can make your content more relatable and engaging.
Contrast this with writing for a general audience, where you must make difficult decisions. Writing for a general audience means that you cannot include sensitive or explicit content without considering the comfort level of a wide range of readers. It is important to strike a balance between entertainment and inclusivity. Sometimes, you might have to skip certain elements that would resonate with a specific reader, such as intimate scenes, to keep the narrative flowing for a broader audience.
Striking the Balance
As a writer, it can be challenging to predict what your audience will enjoy or what might throw them out of the story. Writers often have a hard time judging what their best and worst work is. It is crucial to write for someone you know, such as a close friend, relative, or even a beloved pet. Writing for a specific individual can help you create content that is more inviting and relatable than a piece written for an anonymous audience.
However, you should not write solely for your target audience to the point where the content no longer entertains you. It is important to strike a balance where you still find enjoyment in the writing process. The key is to write content that resonates with your audience but also entertains you as the author.
Conclusion
Writing for your audience is a delicate balance of personal expression and market demand. By identifying your target audience and writing for specific individuals, you can create content that is more relatable and engaging. However, it is crucial to strike a balance and ensure that your work still entertains and inspires you as the writer. This approach will help you create content that resonates with your audience and drives higher engagement and satisfaction.