Writing content your audience will love can feel totally overwhelming. Recently on Instagram, somebody asked me this:
“How do you sit down and write?? I know that sounds silly, but I've wanted to start a blog for a while… I'll come up with ideas and have a whole outline, then nothing….”
I think this is an issue that we all struggle with as bloggers or writers. Personally, when first starting out, I would have all the ideas, and then sit down to write, and nothing would come out because I wasn't sure if anyone would be interested in it. I had this mental block. Then I switched things up, tried to find things that I am currently going through. This allows me to feel more passionate about the topic as I write. It also makes it a whole heck of a lot easier to infuse my personality when I am excited about something.
A year ago I started blogging again after a multi-year hiatus, I really struggled to find my voice. I wrote everything very stiff and text book-y because that’s what I was taught to do in school. I worried about curse words or jokes people wouldn’t get. Ultimately I hated what I was producing and so did others. the page views and shares were low, and nobody was interested because I wasn’t saying anything interesting.
Now I am definitely not a fantastic writer. I have plenty of disclaimers throughout my site about typos and grammar. No matter how many times I proofread, there will always be a typo. I like to think they show my passion for the topic, I'm typing so fast and thinking so fast about sharing something with you all that I can't contain the excitement and overlook those things. One thing people who know my IRL always tell me is they can hear me when I am writing. For those who don't know what my voice sounds like in IRL, they give me the same feedback, they tell me it feels like we are in a conversation or hanging out. It's engaging. *seriously my heart is melting even writing this, thanks for the feedback guys*
I am not telling you this to toot my own horn, I am telling you this because I feel like it was the key that nobody told me when I first launched my business online in 2015. The internet is full of content, very useful and relevant content, but if I am zoning out after the first paragraph, does it really matter how valuable or useful the content really is?
No, because nobody will remember it.
So how can you be engaging on-line? 3 Tips for creating content your audience will love:
1. Real Talk.
Talk about real issues or questions that you are experiencing n your life. Are you teaching yourself a new skill? Are you struggling to tackle a topic or experience in your life? Write about it! Chances are if you are feeling puzzled by it others are too!
2. Know Your Audience.
Check out the demographics section in your google analytics. It actually will tell you what your audience is interested in! people that read my blog are typically interested in home, career/business advice, travel tips, and entertainment (tv/movies), and finance. Which makes sense since that’s what I primarily write about. Since I have a lifestyle blog, it’s especially important to understand what my audience is interested in because there are so many possibilities of what I can write about!
4. Answer Questions.
Write about questions your audience frequently asks you about! If people are asking you questions, chances are they see you as an expert in that space or like what you have to say, so use this opportunity to reach a larger audience with your expertise or voice! *Don't forget to drop me an e-mail or comment and ask me a question for “Ask Rachel“!*
5. Know Your Mission.
Get clear on your blog's mission statement. The theme of my blog is providing valuable advice based off my real life experience or research. I want to help other confused millennials navigate this whole “adult” thing. Each of my posts go through a similar formula, where I talk about either a question or topic, my experience/struggle with it, and close with a valuable solution or life lesson. This makes it a lot easier for filtering information or ideas into “useful or not useful”.
[RELATED] Writing Your Life's Mission Statement –> it'll help your write your blog mission statement!
If you are still feeling stuck, grab this list of content creation ideas I put together. You can use these for social media or blog posts!
This is a great post Rachel! The best advice I ever received when I started blogging was to make sure my writing was on a 6th-8th grade level. With graduate school writing huge papers with lots of big words was crucial for getting an A, but in the blogging world if you want to connect with real people then you have to write on a level that they can easily understand. Great tips!
These are great tips! One thing I try to focus on is really knowing my audience and trying to put something together that I know they will love and that will help them.
I am working on another survey now just to make sure I am putting out there what my audience wants to read!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing!!
I think it is so hard to tetermine what your audience wants to see. I have found that posts that come from the heart usually do best!
Great tips, I shall definitely be following these!
I think knowing your audience is key! Doing questionnaires with them is so helpful!
Knowing my mission has helped me really figure out how to write content because I always know what my main purpose is – to show others how to pursue a vibrant life!!
One thing that’s really helped me this year is planning out (evergreen) content way in advance!! My fashion content I do closer to posting dates. These are some great tips!
xoxo A
http://www.southernbelleintraining.com
These are all great tips. I have been in a writing slump lately and I’m getting back into. These are all things I will think about when writing.
It’s usually the writing part that takes me awhile to get motivated to do! I’m good with coming up with a story in my head and taking the photos, but then it takes me awhile to put it all together!
http://www.sugarmaplenotes.com
You laid down some awesome truth bombs and real talk in this post and I loved reading all of it! Thanks for sharing, Rachel!
Love these tips! I often find myself hitting a wall or slump in terms of ideas. It’s so much easier when you’re passionate and knowledgeable about something. If you’re passionate, your readers will pick up on it and give good feedback!
These tips are so helpful! Sometimes I wonder if people are even reading my content or if it’s helpful. I will keep these tips in mind when writing my next post!
Thanks for the tips! I´m fairly new at blogging and trying to absorb all the different channels and media outlets :s !
Great tips! I recently sat down and narrowed down my mission and it’s definitely helped me get more direction and motivation!
Love this! I’m all about “real talk” over on my blog. I’ve always written what comes from my heart instead of trying to write for someone or a specific audience. It seems to be working for you! (and me, too!)
One of the best things I did was ask my audience what questions they wanted answered about my topic. It really put me in tune with what they were looking for and inspired a lot of blog post ideas!
Knowing your audience is so important. I always try to remember that I am writing for someone else, not myself and make sure that my post will be valuable to them.
My struggle is with knowing my audience. I cover everything from country life to photography to cooking and so forth, but I love all of these subjects so much I can’t really imagine narrowing it down.
Lately I feel like my blog is all over the place. It’s mostly for me as more of an online journal but I want to connect with others at the same time. It’s hard to find that balance! Great post with lots of helpful tips for getting out of a rut. Time to reassess!
Totally agree with all of these! I def agree that knowing your audience is so important!
This is super helpful! I *think* I write like I talk? But I resonate with you as far as feeling like you’re supposed to write a certain way because that’s what school taught. It’s tough to break out of that. Because I DO talk about some clinical-type stuff, I have to remind myself to not use clinical language and that’s difficult! I’m learning. ¯_(ツ)_/¯
Haha you are doing great though!! It’s okay to use clinical language as long as you explain it I think!
I definitely agree with these. Knowing your audience is super important!
These are all such great tips! I love the “real talk” idea, I think it’s something I’m gonna try out in the future on my blog 🙂 Also, I hear ya on the typos girl…no matter how many times I proofread there’s always at least one typo that somehow squeaks by!
Kristen | http://www.sophisticatedgal.com
I think knowing your audience is super important! I know the stats on what % are males and females. I even though what % comes from my state, and even what % comes from my city! As of now, over 78% of my Kentucky traffic is from my city!
Yes to all of these! Another great post, Rachel.
These are great tips! Plus I love anything with a Boy Meets World Gif!
Sticking to your mission is so important. Thank you for the pointers.
Great tips. It took time to get to know my audience and define my niche but totally worth it.
So true – even great writers can forget that posts need to provide value for their audience. When you’re not regularly digging in to your analytics (as I’m definitely guilty of when things get busy), you can get far away from what your audience actually wants.
Great advice. I feel like finding a voice online is really hard. It’s something I had a hard time doing and still do sometimes, but I’m learning and re-evaluating things so that my posts are lot better. Thanks for sharing.
Yes! Love this post (and the GIFs!).
These are great tips and I love the idea of revamping old content!
I love this! I’ve been working on knowing my audience more and more lately. Since I’ve been doing so it’s definitely helping me with comments from my readers!
xx
The Felicia Renee | a minimalist lifestyle & beauty blog
Love this so much! As a new blogger, I definitely struggled with finding my voice (and still do sometimes), but engaging more and more with my audience really helps build my confidence! I finally started working out my content planner in advance and keeping those things I get from my audience in my mind when I do so I can really work at proving that value to them.
Yes! engaging is key!
I didn’t realize you could find all that information in the demographics section of GA. I’ll have to look into this more.
Yes! It’s a life saver!
Good tips! Google analytics really help me to know who I’m writing to!
i think being real always helps. People love authenticity! Answering questions also draws people in because it shows that you’re truly there for them. Thanks for this.
YESSS!! You have to show you care and there’s a direct connection to you today!
I love this! Yes to Real Talk! I really appreciate it when someone being real with me. And knowing your audience. The thing I struggle with is even though I see the analytics when I ask the readers what they want the answers suggest that they don’t know what they want. haha Maybe I just need to go off of analytics alone but that is something I have noticed lately.
What do you mean? Like you ask readers what they want, you write a post, and the analytics show it doesnt do well? It could be a titling/marketing issue if thats the case, not that your readers don’t want it. I would look at your return visitor rate to get a better idea of that though!
I love real talk! I like to know what people love and how they feel about it, but want to hear it from their perspective not a brands. You do such an awesome job of catering to your audience.
Thank you so much Helen! Excited for us to chat one of these days!! Let me know if you have any questions about your bosspitch session!
Girl I literally bookmark all your blogger 101 type posts, you’re my go-to source haha. Love these tips!! real talk is the best talk x
OMG you’re so sweet!!! Thank you!!
I am trying to have more real talks my next couple of posts. Some times I get in a real talk rut.
Great tips! Thanks for sharing. I definitely struggle with breaking out of “journalist” mode and blogging from the heart. When I do, the content is so much more authentic. This list is a great reminder!
xoxo,
Liv
http://www.livslookbook.com
I seriously want to print this out and hang it above my desk!! Yes to all of it! Especially know your audience and answer questions!
Great Tips! I know writing is a struggle for a lot of people.
When I just started blogging (ok, that was three months ago, but it feels like much longer haha) I had all the inspiration in the world. Right now I’m dealing with some life changing stuff, so my inspiration is a little low. Tip number 1 usually really helps me get through a writer’s block! Thank you for the reminder!
These are such great tips! It really can be so hard to think of topics that people are actually going to WANT to read/share/comment on – I love this!
When I’m feeling inspired, I have started drafting tons of post to use when I’m not feeling very inspired.
XOXO
mQs
http://www.shorelifeofm.blogspot.com
AMEN AMEN AMEN AMEN. Amen. I get the same thing – that people can *hear* me. That’s so key. And it really is more engaging!
Coming Up Roses
This is an inspirational post! I love all your tips that you share here about content.
xo,
Stephanie
Diary of a Debutante
http://www.thediaryofadebutante.com
Yes Yes Yes!! All these things are perfect!!
Love these tips! So helpful to ensure your blog posts are actually being read 🙂
Such great tips/insight! So true that coming up with content can be difficult, if you’re not thinking about your audience or sticking to your mission.
Love this! I think answering questions is HUGE! If they are asking… they want to know!
xx
Love these tips! I struggled at first to fine my voice and I struggle now and then on what to write about. Keeping an ongoing list of topics has really helped me
Thank you Rachel! Your posts are helpful ?