Are You Writing for Your Followers or The Internet
Writing has evolved significantly. Gone are the days when our words were confined to paper; now, they travel across the vast expanses of the internet.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further accelerated this transformation, leading to a surge in bloggers.
This raises an essential question: Are you writing for your followers or the internet?
The Blogging Boom
With lockdowns in place, many of us found more time on our hands.
Writing became a way to cope with the isolation and uncertainty. As a result, the internet saw a wave of new bloggers.
From seasoned writers to complete beginners, everyone found a platform to share their thoughts, experiences, and stories.
Platforms like Medium, WordPress, and Blogger have made it easy for anyone with an internet connection to become a writer.
Democratization has created different voices and made capturing and holding readers' attention more challenging.
The million-dollar question is: are we writing for the internet or looking for better internet?
The Internet: A Double-Edged Sword
The internet has offered a vast audience, instant feedback, and opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals.
However, it also presents challenges.
The desire for visibility can sometimes overshadow the joy of writing. Pursuing likes, shares, and followers can lead writers to focus on what’s popular rather than meaningful.
Writing for the internet often means following trends, optimizing for search engines, and crafting attention-grabbing titles. While these strategies can increase visibility, they can also compromise the authenticity of your voice.
Writing for Your Followers
In contrast, writing for your followers means building a loyal community.
These people appreciate your unique perspective, resonate with your stories, and eagerly await your next post.
Your followers are your support system.
They provide constructive feedback, share your work with others, and engage with your content on a deeper level.
Writing for them means creating content that adds value to their lives through insightful articles, entertaining stories, or helpful tips.
Striking a Balance
How do you balance writing for your followers and writing for the internet?
Here are a few tips:
- Know Your Audience: Understanding your audience is crucial. What are their interests? What kind of content do they enjoy? Knowing your audience allows you to tailor your content to meet their needs while staying true to your voice.
- Stay Authentic: Write about what you are passionate about and share your unique perspective. Your authenticity will shine through and attract readers who appreciate your genuine voice.
- Engage with Your Followers: Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and create content based on their suggestions. This will strengthen your relationship with your followers and make them feel valued.
- Leverage SEO Strategically: While optimizing your content for search engines is crucial, don’t let it dictate your writing. Use SEO strategically to enhance your visibility without compromising your authenticity. Focus on creating high-quality content that resonates with your audience.
- Balance Trendy and Timeless Content: While jumping on every trending topic is tempting, it’s equally important to create timeless content. Trendy content can drive short-term traffic, but timeless content will continue to attract readers over time.
Writing for the internet and writing for your followers are not mutually exclusive.
As we adapt to this new normal, let’s remember to write not just for the internet but for the people who find solace, inspiration, and value in our words.
After all, it is these connections that make the digital world a little more human.
