How to Write Content For a Targeted Audience

by Cris Yeager | DIGITAL MEDIA GHOST | WRITING, GHOSTWRITING

How to Write Content For a Targeted Audience
Being in your audience's shoes is critical when it comes to writing for them, but if you want to get inside their heads, ask yourself what questions they'll have about your topic.

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It can be difficult to write something relevant to everyone who will read it. The truth is, though, if you don’t cater to your audience’s needs and what they want to know, your content may not reach as many people as it could and should be reaching. If you need to write content that engages a certain targeted audience and has them coming back for more, follow these tips on how to write content for a targeted audience so you can give your readers exactly what they need!

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1) What does a reading audience want?
Your reading audience wants information that is relevant and timely. Ensure that whatever information you’re providing is up-to-date, accurate and relevant. You also want your content to be easily digestible. It’s okay if you have one hard piece of content in your body of work — for example, an academic report or lengthy feature story — but everything else should be designed so it can be skimmed or quickly consumed. There are two kinds of readers: those who want complete knowledge and those who just want a gist. Serve both, but understand which kind each reader falls into so they can get exactly what they need from your writing.

2) Imagining an audience's questions 
Before writing anything, take some time to imagine what questions your audience might have. For example:

• If you're writing for HR managers, they may be curious about how salary decisions are made.
• If you're writing for technology enthusiasts, they might wonder about upcoming advancements in virtual reality.
• If you're writing for science fans, they'll probably want updates on future space exploration missions.

Think of what your audience's burning questions are and make sure that information is easily accessible in your post. Your readers will thank you!

3) Using the correct writing style
Your writing style must match your audience. If you’re writing for an audience of business executives, using slang and casual phrases isn’t going to resonate with them. Similarly, you wouldn’t use complex or overly technical terms when communicating with younger or less educated readers. The more in tune you are with your readers, the easier it will be for you to understand their perspective and write in a way that resonates with them. It also means knowing what level of professionalism is expected in any given situation so you can adjust accordingly.

In conclusion
When writing for any purpose, it's important to remember that your audience is not always reading for pleasure — sometimes, they're looking for answers or solutions. Understanding your audience requires conducting research, but it also means putting yourself in their shoes and asking yourself what you'd want if you were reading the content. By taking these considerations into account ahead of time, writers can increase their ability to produce successful content while simultaneously making readers feel more appreciated.

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