Why You Need to Be Writing for One Person

You write something.

You think it’s great.

One of your best pieces ever.

You think this is it. This is what is going to get me to the big time.

With great care you take all the steps, you proof it. Run it through your chosen grammar checker.

You hit publish.

And crickets.

That’s okay you think it’s early. But a day later you come back and the needle hasn’t moved at all.

Instead of comments, and views. Just zeroes across the board.

How can this be you think?

It was so well written and I did everything right?

The thing is. You aren’t.

It might be good. But it’s generic. It could apply to anyone.

No.

You need to be writing to one single person.

Here’s why.

Writing to Everyone Means Generic Advice

If you write your post with everyone in mind then it will resonate with no one. It will sound bland like a corporate memo not something you wrote with heart and feeling.

Also, it dilutes your message. If you appeal to everybody, then you appeal to nobody.

You don’t want the reader clicking on your article and think this could be for everyone.

You want them to think you wrote this to them specifically.

Why Writing to a Single Reader Works

You want it to feel like you’re talking to the reader specifically.

It’s not just words on a page, but a dialogue.

This builds intimacy and trust and allows you to build a connection with the reader.

This is important because if the reader trusts you they will give you more of their time and energy.

You get the reader to trust you and they will read a second and third post.

More importantly, they will buy what you’re selling.

Say you have a book out. The reader is far more likely to purchase the book if they feel your articles are talking directly to them.

How do you do this?

First imagine the reader you’re trying to reach.

For instance, for this article. I’m thinking of a hungry, probably beginning writer, that want to start getting traction on their work. They’ve maybe started but don’t have good direction to go and their articles aren’t getting the response they want. They need something to show them how to start resonating with readers.

Keep this reader in mind.

What do they want?

What do they need?

What helped you when you were in a similar situation?

How do you keep it conversational?

If it sounds like boring corporate jargon people will skip over it.

Keep it light.

Keep the sentences short and the pace moving.

Keep it honest.

How do you know it’s working?

You will be able to tell if it’s working if you start getting responses on your work. People will comment telling you that the advice really helped.

Your views start going up.

You start making sales.

So start writing to one person.

Keep a certain reader in mind.

Things will start to click with people and soon you’ll be killing it.