You Already Know This
After decades of print publishing, writing publicly was never a big deal for me. I didn’t have a shy moment about my first blog post. I still consider it fine writing. I did watch my stats to see whether anyone read it. Waited days on end for my first comment from someone I didn’t know.
But I was surprised to find the difference of having an audience show up soon after I wrote.
And there was the difference in how they responded.
When I’d been in publishing, people responding had always been responding from a work point of view.
This responding to ideas because they were important, interesting, thought-provoking, or intriguing was something new.
People were connecting by what they said.
Minds were meeting in what they typed and what they read.
It was different than print.
Words like conversation and community took on new meaning.
We explored what they meant.
It was different from print.
I began observing, testing, asking, listening, and learning.
Yet the more I started trying, less I was succeeding.
Then, I came face to face with the answer in a short note someone wrote on his own blog about my writing. He said my blog posts were so well written the only response he could come up with was “beautiful job.”
The blog posts I’d been writing were full, finished, final and composed.
There wasn’t much room for anyone to participate in them.
I began observing, testing, asking, listening, and learning again. What I learned were four keys to keeping the conversation open. These won’t surprise or stun you. You already know them. They’re what we all do when we talk to any person we value.
Do these four things and you’ll find people getting inside what you’re writing.
- Come down from the podium. Talk to your audience like a people who can listen. Let them be as smart as you are, even when they don’t know what you do.
- Don’t tie things up with a bow. Leave what you say a little unfinished. Don’t try so hard to ferret out everything on your bulleted list. Don’t ask and answer every question. Then your audience has room to add a word in. When a talking person fills in every idea and detail before anyone else talks, that’s called a speech. The response becomes applause or an awful silence.
- Blog your experience. Information is everywhere, but your experience of that information is unique and interesting. People respond to what you share that’s you. I don’t have to see myself responding the way you would for what you say to resonate.
- Care about what you’re saying. Care so much that you write without hesitation, without apology. Don’t shy away from the true north of what it means to you. Anything less is too complicated and makes me nervous for you. If you don’t care enough to put yourself into it, why would I care enough to read it?
- Make the ending satisfying and about them. Let them know again why they care about what they just read. If you end with a question, think about what you’re asking. Could you answer it? What sort answer are you expecting? As a reader would you take time to answer it?
Nothing stunning. It’s remembering that the people reading are people who want to connect with us not people who want to grade our papers. It all gets easier when we remember to let people be part of what we’re writing.
Have you found things get easier when you focus on the people reading?
Be irresistible.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz on your business!!
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Liz, thanks for writing this. I’m still honing my craft so I’m certain to keep all of these in mind going forward. I particularly liked your 2 point. My first couple posts definitely had bows on them. My last few post did a better job at leaving some loose ends untied. Alternatively, I’ve never been on a social media podium so it’s safe to say that I’m on an equal level with my audience! This post is so simple that it’s genius 🙂
Thanks so much for this. I manage a daily blog, and this helps me a ton in thinking through why maybe people aren’t participating. I think the one that resonated most is to leave it without being fully ferreted out. I think I’m afraid of leaving loose ends, but this gives me a little more freedom. Thanks for your thoughts!
Morning, Liz!
I couldn’t agree more. 🙂
I think many bloggers (especially newly minted ones) tend to get caught up in wanting to look smart – like they know everything. They want to cram every possible observation and insight into each post they write, and wind up – as you said – leaving little room for audience participation.
Listening is as important a blogging skill as writing. Being aware of your audience isn’t enough. You have to be able to listen actively … read between the lines … pick up on the cues.
Encouraging conversation is something we can always be working on. Like the conversations themselves, honing the skill of inspiring people to respond is something that’s never finished.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this … and leaving room to hear others.
😉
Happy Monday!
I completely agree that when we stop answering all the questions and start asking them, we open doors for collaborative learning and cross sector conversation.
Isn’t it funny how much we learn when we shut up and listen?
Thank you for these excellent reminders to engage, engage, engage!
Thanks for another great post, Liz. #3 speaks loudest to me, as I love to share stories, but I need to remember the “aha” takeaways are through my experience lens. Others may see things differently.
Lately, I’ve been ending posts with an “Agree or Disagree” type question and it’s helping.
Interesting post, Liz, and absolutely borne out by my experience. Like you, I had previously written books and was used to the creative cycle that goes with that. I’ve been blogging for nearly a year and realise that the more work I do on a piece, the less people are interested in reading it. Worthy, perhaps, but with all the fizz taken out. Two or three posts, however, where I get an idea in my head and dash off a few hundred words in a great hurry, have gone viral. The emotion, the sheer adrenaline that went into producing them evidently comes out in the page.
Great post, thanks Liz!
I love this whole piece and this especially grabbed me… “Care so much that you write without hesitation, without apology. Don’t shy away from the true north of what it means to you.” Thanks, Liz!
When I’m writing for the internet I think as though I’m writing speech rather than writing prose. Internet readers seem to prefer smaller blocks of text, often single sentences as paragraphs.
Donna’s suggestion of finishing with a question is good, engagement is about the stages of a conversation.
Once again, My Girl Rocks…Have a Super Day!
This is a great piece on illuminating what I’ve been trying search for. You made it so easily understandable and switched the thought process onto me to my thinking process on instead of reading process.
Love this post, interesting comments that add to the continued conversation. We get a lot of media attention and it all matters because someone (clients, staff, vendors) are watching it.
Thank you Liz, thoughtful and insightful commentary.
Thank you for the tips. It is information that I will be applying to my blogs.
Liz, I so agree with each point you make. I just rediscovered these things for myself after sliding into a stagnant, perfected writing rhythm. Standing brave enough to be publicly vulnerable garners far more response as the relatability factor makes others appreciate our humanity while validating their own. And isn’t this the key to everything in connection, community, and life?
Thanks a ton for the write-up. What you’ve said is100% true and spreading the word will make the world a place of better speakers.
Thanks a ton. Have a Great Day.
Thanks for the information, Liz! Words of wisdom!
I wish more speakers and writers understood how to engage. It’s the greatest form of customer service, and attracts such better results. Thanks for a great post.
The point about caring what you say is well made. Caring to the extent, we never forget others are listening. There are more listening that we never hear from, than the regular crowd who daily cheer us on. That said, we must never lose our courage, or edge. Without that, we are just one of the crowd.
Liz – #2 screams at me – I like to leave everything tidy – but I know that is impossible, however have learned to remain open to questions and encourage engagement.
Thank you so much Liz for reminding me to have a conversation with my readers!!!
A great read Liz. When I read I am usually interested in the both the author and the subject matter. I want to understand the writer’s experience, yet I still like to think retain my own experience with the subject when I’m reading. When author’s drive to validate or prove only their own experience I guess I tend to think there is no room for me at the inn. When that happens I generally don’t feel inclined to subscribe. It’s an interesting subject/topic you have raised. I shall also be taking these points on board and as a guide in relation to my blogs. Thank you.
I appreciate your insights. I have found that when you leave room for comments, people talk back. I love that.
This post reminds me of our conversation when we met in person, Liz and had a wonderful chat. Thanks for putting it down in writing. Hope you’re keeping well!
Hugs,
Shai
http://Shaicoggins.com/
I am indeed envious of those people who can write fluidly and easily. As one who struggles to convert thoughts that flow so readily to the written form I thank you for your words of encouragement.
Thanks a lot for posting such an informative Blog Article. It gives helpful tips to Debutant Bloggers on how to write their blogs in a well balanced manner.