Page 32 - How_To_Start_Writing_Online_The_Ship_30_For_30_Ultimate_Guide
P. 32

the author's personal story. They will remember those details.

               Similarly, if you are writing about achieving financial freedom but going on and on about
               your personal story (without giving the reader anything they can do themselves), your

               content might be emotionally engaged but it isn't very actionable.

               Readers want both.

               So, answer their question, and then tell them a (short) story about how you learned
               what you're explaining to them, or how you overcame the obstacle you're encouraging
               them to overcome, etc.

               Readers usually come for the actionable advice, but stay for the personal stories.




               Framework #4: Formatting Your Writing For

               Skimmability



               Here's a brutal truth that takes new Digital Writers a long time to learn:

               Readers on the Internet don't read—at first.

               What they do is they skim. And then, once they've decided whether or not this piece of
               writing speaks to their interests, then they go back and start reading.

               As a result, what separates content that attracts millions of readers versus content that
               falls on deaf ears (even if the words on the page are identical) usually comes down to
               formatting. If your online writing is full of big, blocky paragraphs and no subheads,

               readers are going to think, "Wow, this looks taxing. I have no idea what this is even
               about—or if it's going to be worth my time." Whereas content that alternates between
               big paragraphs and short, single-sentence lines, and is organized with bolded subheads
               makes it very easy for readers to get a sense of what the piece is about before they

               even start reading. Visually the piece looks actionable, easy to follow, and quick to read.


               Skimmability = Readability

               If your online writing isn't skimmable, it's not readable.


               For legacy writers and "purists," this is a hard pill to swallow. Legacy writers want to
               believe they are the one who is important (not the reader), and that readers should








                                                                                                                  32
        How To Start Writing Online: The Ship 30 For 30 Ultimate Guide   
   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37