Who Are You Talking To Part 2

First, thank you to the brave ones who've taken up my challenge and posted their thoughts and questions! I'm sure there are more out there, keep 'em coming!

Next, here are a few tips for narrowing down who your target audience is and what you are going to offer them:

1. Who is interested in the information you want to write about? There may be multiple groups.
2. How are the people in those groups different, how are they similar, do they need separate info or can you combine?
3. Who needs your the services/products you're offering?
4. More importantly, who wants the services/products you're offering?

If you're still having trouble figuring it all out, maybe it's time to consider chatting with me in a consultation. Sometimes it just takes an outsider's point of view to get past the block. Reach me via my website http://www.publishinganswers.com/services.php

Good Writing & God Bless,
Cheryl Pickett

Who Are You Talking To?

In the most recent issue of the Publishing Answers Newsletter, I related another lesson learned with regard to the forum "hecklers" I talked about in my last post. The lesson involves the concept of target audiences.

For any of you who might be unfamiliar, target audience marketing involves figuring out and then marketing to the groups of people most interested in what you have to say. This is in contrast to those who believe "everyone" should buy their book and who market in a shotgun approach trying to make that happen.

In the heckler situation, I was reminded that even though there are definitely people in that forum who need my information, it's also important that they want it. That being the case, I can eliminate a group who's not truly interested, thus not my target audience and put my efforts elsewhere.

Who are you talking to?
My assignment/challenge for you today is to comment here with a brief statement as to the identity of your target audience. Why? It's good practice and who knows, one of my current or future readers might be a good match!


Good Writing & God Bless,

Cheryl Pickett
www.publishinganswers.com

P.S. If you aren't getting my bi-monthly newsletter, pop over to my site and sign up today. I'll be happy to send you this week's issue as well.

Handling Hecklers

Most comedians expect and are used to heckling, someone from the audience shooting them down, yelling obnoxious comments and the like. But I'm not a comedian, I'm a writer. Writers are generally known for helping others in the community and for being cordial even when we disagree. I wasn't prepared for heckling.

I wasn't taunted in person, but rather online in a forum. It actually happened a few days ago, but I just happened to read it today and it stunned me for a minute. In forums, heckling is called flaming and most, have rules against it. The official rules of this forum indicate they do too, looks good to say so I guess.

My reaction? Honestly, my first desire was to play by their rules and dish it back. It would have been really easy and it would have momentarily let me burn off some steam.

What did I actually write? A few politely worded statements pointing out their "rules", and that stated my disagreement with their opinions while still noting the fact that they were entitled to them.

Why? Of course I won't post there again, but who knows who will read that thread today, tomorrow or next year? If I'd stooped to name calling and snide comments, how would that reflect on my reputation? It wasn't worth it.

I also know it won't be the last time this will happen. As long as I'm in business and putting my work out there, the potential exists for this to happen anytime and anyplace. If nothing else, now I'm a little more prepared.

Has this happened to you? Feel free to share.

Cheryl Pickett
http://publishinganswers.com

P.S.
Feedburner customer service finally responded and things seem okay for now. Thanks for sticking with me.