Sep
16
Writing with your own voice is a good strategy to use when blogging because you are giving personality to your blog, and hopefully separating it from all the other ones at least to some extent.
When you write for more than one blog, however, it can help to adjust that voice so that it better fits the target audience of each particular blog. For example, I’m writing this for an audience that is interested in blogging, but on my own personal MySpace blog (which is set to private), I’m writing with my close friends and family in mind.
Here I can talk about RSS feeds, Technorati, WordPress, Movable Type, etc. But on My MySpace blog, not all of my audience will know what I’m talking about, because many of my friends do not work online or share the enthusiasm about blogging that PureBlogging.com readers do. Just the same, I may have inside jokes that my MySpace friends will get, but if I referenced them here, they would fall completely flat (although I do try to inject my own sense of humor into other writing projects from time to time).
When I write for SmallBusinessNewz, I’m not going to throw in a bunch of technical security terms like I might at SecurityProNews, without explaining what they mean.
That’s really the point I’m trying to make. It is easy to forget that not everybody knows about everything you do, and will not understand what you’re talking about if you don’t give them a little help. It’s not that they’re stupid. They may just be well versed in different areas. Sure they can look up things you say that they don’t understand, but why make them? If the core of your audience should “get” what you’re talking about then that’s one thing, but it pays to consider who is reading your blog. Otherwise, you just might risk alienating them.
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good post, thanks. it was a great reminder that you need to constantly know your audience/readers. stay in touch with them (even with multiple blogs) and see what they best react to. you still have to be you, but sometimes need to refine it!!
I think another way to look at this is to create a blog and write for the audience you want to attract.
Instead of trying to make your writing fit your readership, go get a readership which suits what you’re writing about.
That certainly makes sense too, but after writing for a while, it is easy to lose track of who you’re speaking to. Especially if you write for a variety of different blogs.
Then of course there are examples of when the writer starts writing for an established audience like me here.
Very apt. The need to understand your audience and what they will understand is the key to increased traffic.
I think figuring out your voice and the way you plan on connecting with your users is one of the most important pieces of developing any web property – not only blogs. Great post – thanks!
Its one of the key points in making a good presentation. If you speak over their heads, they are not going to listen or understand.