You already know these things – I would bet my last dollar on it! But every now and then it’s a good idea to take a look at any type of process to make sure we are employing the best practices possible. We can’t get complacent if we want to be at the top of our blogging game.
Do You Remember These 4 Elements of the Writing Process?
• Audience
• Purpose
• Content
• Tone
These are the four basic elements to consider when it’s time to start writing – anything! Whether we are writing an academic paper, a memo, or a blog article, there is a process – and it all begins the same way, or at least it should.
The argument of which of these elements is the most important and which we should consider first will probably remain forever undecided, but that really isn’t the most important thing. That we consider all of them – before we begin writing is the most important – and I do mean we!
Let’s Start With Audience
If we do not evaluate who our target audience is, how can we possibly reach out to them in a meaningful way? If we are writing to other professionals in our field, we won’t write the same as we would if we were informing the uninformed about some aspect of our products or services, right? So, basically, establishing who our audience is affects the other three elements tremendously.
Hopefully We All Have A Real Purpose
Why are we writing what we are writing? Is it to inform, to persuade, to entertain, to guide, to lead, to follow, to sell? We must have a purpose so we can set the right tone and develop the content to meet our goals and our purpose. Deciding on our true purpose will help us stay focused on writing in a way that will make it worthwhile to our readers.
Content Counts And So Does Our Tone
The content of whatever we choose to write should be developed around our purpose and our audience. Our writing should reflect that we know who our audience is by using appropriate language and tone to keep them interested.
The tone we use will have a big effect on whether our readers are receptive to what we have to say and keep reading after the first paragraph or move on. And, let me add that even if we are not conscious of our tone, it will be evident to our readers; so it pays to think about how we’re coming across to our readers. One of the best ways to “hear” our tone is to read the finished article aloud. It can be a big surprise sometime!
The Power of the Positive
Sticking with a positive, respectful tone will likely be any writer’s best bet, regardless of content. I am a firm believer in the power of being positive, especially if we are hoping our readers will return to read more of what we have to say. All in all, if we take time to analyze our audience, purpose, and tone (in any order), the content will be of more value – without a doubt.
Until next time…keep reading and writing and blogging. Do you have any blogging strategies to share with us? We would love to hear from you – leave us a comment!
