It all starts with a writing plan. When you have a solid plan, you’ll make a good first impression. And when you make a good first impression, you’ll attract readers to your writing. Then, convince them to stay around by presenting yourself honestly.
When you write with a plan, you’ll create clear and compelling content readers will remember, and you’ll become a credible source of information for your new audience.
A 5-step plan to attract an audience with clear writing and effective copy
It takes planning to attract an audience for your writing. A plan gives your writing a purpose and a reason for your audience to keep coming back for more.
As you create your plan, decide on the type of information you want to share with your audience, organize your thoughts with an outline, consider how you want your content to appear on the page, and make a commitment to honesty and integrity.
A successful plan will help you create memorable written content that convinces readers to join your audience.
Let’s look at the 5 steps your plan needs so that you can write clear and effective copy that attracts readers and captivates an audience.
5 steps to attracting an audience through clear writing
Appeal and good design are the way to a reader’s attention
Readers are bombarded with information and don’t have the time to read every piece of news or every story that crosses their screens.
If you want their attention, you have to look good. Cluttered copy won’t cut it with busy readers. Nonsense headings will get your message nowhere.
Readers form a quick first impression of your writing with a two-second scan. At this stage, they don’t care how well the words are written. They skim the text, read the large print, and decide whether they want to keep reading.
Here are some tips on how to make a good first impression with readers and attract an audience:
- Make sure the topic and purpose of the document are clear.
- Format the writing with an appealing layout that is easy to read.
- Write a descriptive title and use headings throughout the piece.
- Use bullet lists and numbered lists to break up paragraphs and create white space.
Be honest with readers and they’ll come back again
After you convince readers to look at your writing, you must convince them to keep reading and become a part of your audience.
To accomplish this, be true to the impression you made on these readers. And, your writing must be as easy to read as it is to skim.
Create great content that is easy to follow and encourages readers to come back for more and become regular members of your audience.
This encouragement happens when the content is focused, not distracting. When the writing is straightforward, not confusing. When the tone is helpful, not condescending.
Respect your audience and you’ll gain a loyal following
Don’t let your audience have a Rodney Dangerfield moment that makes them say, “I don’t get no respect!” Show your readers that you care about them and want them to understand the information you are presenting.
When your writing is culturally correct, you’ll make your readers feel like you are talking directly to them. Here are a few tips:
- Use information that fits their cultural knowledge, beliefs, and values.
- Respond to their interests and experiences.
- Anticipate their questions and concerns.
- Give your writing a friendly and supportive tone.
In short, make your writing all about your audience, not about you. Show your audience what’s in it for them.
Write with a purpose to help readers gain new knowledge
Your writing is useless if your audience cannot comprehend what you are saying. Comprehension is a mixture of several elements:
- Material that can be skimmed to learn the main points.
- A simple design that does not distract from the written content.
- Information that is easy to find and understand.
Close with a specified result and convince readers to take action
At the end of it all, you want your readers to take some type of action. Maybe you want them to buy the book you reviewed. Or, you may want them to try out the fun crafting project that you carefully documented step-by-step.
Whatever type of written content you’ve created, you wrote it for a reason, and you want your readers to do something.
Write it in a clear and effective way that people can easily read and can use the information to do something of value to them.
How to know if your writing will attract an audience
When you’re finished writing, take a step back, put on your editor’s hat and be honest with yourself. Would you want to read the piece you just wrote if you weren’t the writer?