Want to write more valuable content? Want to tell stories that engage readers, while turning them into customers?
Maybe the issue is not so much what you’re putting out, but what you’re taking in. It’s time to clean out your ears, and listen. Journalists must practice this skill regularly. A story is only as good as the reporting that goes into it.
The same thing is true of your marketing materials. They are the culmination of your industry experiences.
Listen to your customer base. What are they looking for? Sometimes they are giving you the answer, and you just have to be aware enough to listen. Don’t fall in love with the sound of your own voice. It’s important to sound confident and authoritative as a business owner, but it’s also important to process what others are saying.
Listen to competitors. What can they tell you about your industry? There are ideas there that may or may not be good for what you are producing. You have to value what others tell you.
Read as much as you can. Study up on everything having to do with your industry, but go outside of it as well. It’s important to maintain fresh ideas on how to do what you do, better. This requires a large knowledge base.
When you can extract the value from these experiences, your writing will greatly benefit.
What Do You Think?
Matt Brennan is a Chicago-area marketing writer and copy editor. He is also the author of Write Right-Sell Now.
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