| This article is going to tick off a lot of people...and | | | | Now let's do a total 180. Let's say we're writing an |
| that's fine. But let me tell you something, there is | | | | article on some serious health issue. Let's say it's |
| more to being a good article writer than just | | | | cancer and we're going to be covering what it is, |
| being a good writer. No matter how good you | | | | what causes it and what treatments there are. |
| are, if you don't know your target market...how | | | | You certainly aren't going to start your article |
| they think and feel...you're dead in the water. This | | | | with, "Yo momma, you got a bad case of |
| article is going to get into this subject in some | | | | cancer?" I think your target market would |
| detail so that you understand what I'm talking | | | | probably be shocked at best and offended at |
| about. | | | | worst. My point is, there is a tone that you need |
| Probably the best way to explain what I mean is | | | | to take depending on who you're writing for. |
| with examples. So let's say you were going to | | | | But tone is only part of the problem. You also |
| write an article for the music production niche. I'm | | | | have to know what these people want. What are |
| talking about people who are into producing music | | | | they looking for? What is their biggest concern? |
| videos or maybe even doing local club gigs as DJs. | | | | That is what you have to focus on when you |
| What kind of people do you think you're going to | | | | write. Somebody suffering from cancer is not as |
| be dealing with? | | | | much concerned with what the different types of |
| Do you think you're going to be dealing with some | | | | cancer are and what the history of cancer |
| stuffy middle class guy in a suit who does the 9 | | | | research is. They want to know how they can |
| to 5 thing and wouldn't know a good time if it bit | | | | get rid of this horrible disease. So if you start |
| him in the rear, or are you going to be dealing | | | | bombarding them with a lot of irrelevant |
| with somebody who considers themselves cool | | | | information, no matter how well written, they're |
| and hip? I know one thing. If I were writing an | | | | going to tune you out. |
| article on how to do hip hop grooves, I certainly | | | | Bottom line is simple. You need to understand |
| wouldn't talk to these people like I was giving a | | | | your target market and what makes them tick. |
| lecture at Harvard. I'd put them all to sleep. So I'd | | | | Otherwise, no matter how well written your |
| want to learn their lingo and how to talk in a | | | | article is, you're not going to reach them. |
| language that THEY understand. | | | | |