Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

February 23, 2006

Turning Reluctant Readers into Loyal Fans

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 11:51 am

In just a brief one-twentieth of a second–less than half the time it takes to blink–people make aesthetic judgments that influence the rest of their experience with an Internet site.

–Kamakshi Tandon
REUTERS, Internet users judge Web sites in less than a blink
Jan. 17, 2006
Liz reading computer

We’ve got less than a blink to grab a reader’s attention. The reader clicks in. Looks. Decides and then . . . and then what? . . . Do they stay or do they leave? If they stay, did what they see lend our words more credibility or did it take some away?

Design, curb appeal, packaging–whatever you call it–it’s what brings customer-readers further into our businesses and our blogs. They recognize what works for them and what doesn’t. If it doesn’t, they’re gone so quickly that even our stats programs don’t know. Try the Blink Test if you want a baseline idea of what your readers are seeing before they blink.

What about reluctant readers, undecideds who decide to stay a little longer? What can we do to convince them to stay? Better yet, how can we turn them into fans?

Capturing the Attention of Reluctant Readers

Uber Reader Sign

In educational publishing, we have a euphemism, “reluctant readers.” It’s used to describe kids who, when they see a textbook, they turn away to find their inline skates. When I write on literacy, they are my favorite customers to write for and about.

I don’t much like that euphemism applied only to those kids because I’m constantly having to remind other teachers that,

. . . we’re all reluctant readers and becoming more and more so. If you’re a skeptic on this point, try reading the tax code–or any “have-to” document on your least favorite subject. You’ll wish that there were something more to see than long columns of endless text, something to break up the boring words.

With more and more ways to spend our leisure time, even television shows are becoming bulleted lists.

Reader Support as Part of Your Brand

Those kids we call reluctant readers do leave their inline skates to read what they’re interested in–things like books on extreme sports and the latest gaming websites and blogs–if they’re made right. Here’s what you can take from educational research to catch the attention of normal, everday reluctant readers. You can use it to brand your blog as a worthwhile source of quality content. It’s one more way, that you can make customer-reader support a resounding part of your niche brand.

Each of these points are about helping reluctant readers like me figure out quickly what’s important and what’s not, so that when I’m done reading what you wrote. I feel like we’re both smart.

Reluctant Readers to Loyal Fans

Ever read something that made you feel like the writer was saying something you always thought? . . . or something that just made you feel smart for reading it? Bet you went back to see what else that writer had to say . . . .

But then, you knew all this. You have a favorites list. You know what it takes to make a fan. I’m just offering some hints on how to get the undecideds to come in, so that you get a chance to do just that.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Success in a Blink and a Blink Test
Business, Blogs, and Niche-Brand Marketing
How to Code Accessible Links–Part 1
What Is Content that Keeps Readers?
Audience is Your Destination





Filed under Audience, Branding, Design, Marketing, Successful Blog, Writing |




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13 Comments to “Turning Reluctant Readers into Loyal Fans”

  1. February 23rd, 2006 at 4:21 pm
    Successful Blog said

    [...] Turning Reluctant Readers into Loyal Fans Success in a Blink and a Blink Test Blog Promotion: Checking Out Curb Appeal Technorati Tags: blog promotion free stock photos images photoshop tutorials photo resources [...]

  2. February 23rd, 2006 at 6:28 pm
    Mike said

    Now that’s a finely written well thought out post that gives us goobers some action steps.

    Can it get any better ?

  3. February 23rd, 2006 at 7:23 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey you, Mike,
    You’re no goober. At least, you’re not a goober like any goober I ever met before.

    Thanks for the words of support. This reluctant reader can use all that I can get.
    Liz

  4. February 24th, 2006 at 5:22 am
    Brian Clark said

    Good stuff, Liz.

  5. February 24th, 2006 at 5:24 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Brian,
    Thanks for the supportive comment.

    What are you doing up so early? Only crazy folks like me get up before the sun.

    Liz

  6. February 24th, 2006 at 1:11 pm
    chartreuse said

    I getting tired of giving you compliments :)

    I enjoyed this post. As a reluctant reader it was nice to see ips to help me get people like me to read my blog.

    When are you coming out with an ebook on this stuff?

  7. February 24th, 2006 at 1:15 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey there, Char.
    LIke I said, everybody is a reluctant reader. Most people just don’t realize it.

    Which stuff do you think the ebook should be about? :)
    Liz

  8. February 24th, 2006 at 3:49 pm
    chartreuse said

    successful blogging?

  9. February 24th, 2006 at 4:27 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Aw shucks Chartreuse. That would be too easy.
    Liz

  10. March 17th, 2006 at 7:31 pm
    Successful Blog - Great Find: Blog Promotions Using Stats said

    [...] Related articles: Stats: A Question? Turning Reluctant Readers into Loyal Fans Google Measure Map Tracks Readers Great Find: SEOmoz Beginner’s Guide Technorati Tags: blog basics blog promotion browsers operating systems readers [...]

  11. June 13th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
    Jesse Petersen said

    I think this is one of your best foundational posts, Liz.

  12. June 13th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Jesse,
    thank you. It’s so deep in my archives I almost forgot about it. :)

  13. May 7th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
    Loraleigh Vance said

    I actually read the whole post.

    Good example!

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