Writing
How the Best Writers Keep Their Readers Engaged
Although I do my best to finish all the books I purchase, I can not say I have never put one down before completing it. And I am sure it is the same for many of us.
After searching hard for a statistic to find out just how often this phenomenon happens in the world, I gave up. The numbers are inconsistent, and I could not find one accurate enough to put in this article. However, I am sure no writer on this platform has a 100% read ratio.
I am sure this article will not get to a 100% read ratio. We could blame social media for shortening our attention spans due to short content.
We see reels and fun short voiceover content dominating most of the social media space. We went from stories on Snapchat to an everlasting feed of reels that last no longer than 20 seconds. And funny enough, we still skip past things quickly.
Although this certainly holds some truth, I do not think this is a primary concern for writers. We have to assume that we have readers willing to read our articles for the full duration. After all, what would be the point of writing it?
Keeping our writers engaged should be the primary concern of our writing. And this is why I discourage writing a tonne of articles if it means a lack of quality. It is better to take your time with each paragraph you write to ensure your reader remains engaged.
As a writer, I know that this is easier said than done. So, here are two things I have started doing that has proven to help my read ratio significantly.
1. See Each Article as a Unique Contribution
My first tip has less to do with your writing and more to do with your mindset. How we approach each article will inevitably dictate its quality.
Readers will continue reading if they see the quality of the work you have produced. And that means taking the time to make your article unique and unlike anything they could find.
You will never produce a completely unique article. There has been someone who has already written on your topic and produced a good piece. However, your article can be unique in the sense that it answers the question differently or delivers a new perspective.
When we prepare to write an article, we should have two things in mind. The first is, how does my article add value to my reader? And the second is, what makes mine different to others?
The latter question is way more pivotal in determining how long your readers will remain engaged. If your reader clicks on your article, you must assume that it is a topic they are interested in and have probably come across before.
So, if it sounds like every article or video they have already seen, they will be less engaged. So, how do you solve this problem? My answer is to see each article as a unique contribution to the field you are writing in. That means carrying out enough research to write an article that is different to the rest.
I do this by carrying out a keyword search on this platform before starting to write. I browse through some of the articles that have already been written and look at the things that have already been discussed.
By doing this, you equip yourself to write a better article because you are now more aware of the other pieces around you. That way, you can critique and build on ideas that you and your reader already know.
Then, you can add your take on the overall discussion. Your reader is more likely to remain engaged if they realise you are well informed on the topic. And if you write well, they will be itching to hear what you have to say on the topic.
2. Highlight the Discoveries
If you are a writer, I hope you are a reader too. One of the things readers want is to feel the value behind what they read. This is different to giving your reader value.
Giving our readers value is ensuring that the information they receive solves a pain point or fills a gap in their knowledge. However, allowing them to feel the value is ensuring that the reader associates an emotion with the value they have been given. And that emotion often leads to your reader taking action.
There are many self-improvement articles on this platform, but you will find that only a few do well. The authors may all be adding similar value to their readers, but some have a deeper story or take their readers through a better journey.
Many writers do not take time to highlight the gems in their articles. They either leave them as a bullet point or move past them as if it was a regular sentence in the whole article.
When you have found a solution to a problem or have a unique perspective on something, take time to highlight it. For me, I do this in three ways:
- Take your reader through the journey to how you landed on this discovery
- Highlight how this discovery has changed your life
- Tell your reader why this discovery applies to them
By following this three-step process, you can make more convincing arguments and impactful points. Your readers do not just want the value, they want the journey to the value too.
Closing Thought
There is so much to consider as a writer. You must have a good headline, ensure your formatting is correct and so forth. But the most important of them all is making your article worthwhile reading.
That means thinking about your reader and respecting their time. I believe that if you respect their time, you will do your very best to engage them in each article you write. And that will show in the way you both approach and write your pieces.
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