“People who say they write for themselves write for no one. The reader is the spark that makes your work explode into being.” — Mary Karr
audience
Your E-Letter Content Matters
A few weeks ago, I overheard two women in a coffee shop talking about e-letters. One of the women said, “I don’t care all that much about the content in my business’ e-letters. It’s the touch point that matters. You know, keeping the business’ name in front of people.” I was more than a little aghast at the statement, but what was I to do? They were on their way out the door, and I was waiting on my latte. Besides, I doubt they would have looked kindly on an eavesdropper, and I didn’t have a good argument at the ready.
How’s Your Tone of Voice?
My younger brother rarely catches my tone of voice. More often than not, he takes offense with something I say because he misinterprets how I say or mean it. I then have to explain my intention. Because of that, I’ve learned to watch my tone of voice when I text with him or comment on his Facebook status. I would prefer not to fight with him 257 days out of the year.
Are You Speaking with or at Your Audience?
I believe that a product or service is best served by speaking with one’s audience rather than speaking to or at that audience. The former suggests conversation; the latter connotes superiority. The first allows for dialogue. The second results in alienation at best and hurt feelings at worst.
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How Blogging is Like Baking
One of my favorite things to do is to bake; however, it’s baking with a purpose. I rarely bake for myself unless I have a strong craving for cookie dough. I like to bake for others. I’m happiest when I’m making other people happy.
Who’s in My Audience?
A lot of time is spent identifying the right audience for one’s message, and rightfully so. It’s important to target a receptive audience. Sometimes, though, a person doesn’t have any control over who is in the audience. The person then has to deal with different types of audience members, something I discuss in my latest video.¹