How to Make Your Readers Fall in Love With You

5 ways to develop a long-term relationship

The first article someone reads about you is like a first date.

The person who clicks on your article without knowing you accept a challenge. He puts himself in the game. He still does not know whether the words he will read will be sincere or not. He’s giving you a chance.

What have you to offer in return? You have to engage with them, otherwise, the relationship will end before it begins.

And it’s not so different from having a romantic relationship.

Writing is a mutual act. It’s a mutual exchange of thoughts, vulnerabilities, and ideas between you and the reader. The only exception is that while your thinking is in black on white, their reply is in their heads.

But how to cultivate and thrive in this relationship?

1. Don’t Be Boring

Do you want a second date with your readers? Do you want them to follow you after reading one of your articles? Then don’t be boring.

In a study of why most first dates fail, 66% of men said that she was boring.

Because on first dates, most people stick to neutral topics. No one wants to say something that could be a turn-off. But playing it safe is counter-productive.

Often aspiring writers happen to censor themselves to get along with all the possible readers, picking warm topics in the beginning. We want everyone to like our articles. It’s not easy to have your controversial opinions out in the world.

We’re afraid of mean comments, but I need to tell you this:

Mean comments will come anyway, and we shouldn’t be afraid of them.

Our opinions cannot please everyone. If we put our true selves into what we write, not everyone will like us.

But remember: there’s no point trying to get first dates with people you aren’t likely to win over.

2. Don’t Talk Just About Yourself

One of the biggest turn-off in many articles I read are writers who use the word I 20 times only in the first paragraph. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about open-heart stories, I devour them. I’m talking about articles that are meant to help me, to teach me something. As well as a love relationship, writing should also be bidirectional.

Show interest in the person who reads on the other side of the screen. Treat them with respect, and with high regard for their point of view.

We don’t want our followers to feel stupid, ignorant, or defensive. How can we avoid that? Expressing our opinion, supporting it with evidence (newspaper articles, studies), and being kind.

3. Don’t Brag Too Much

There isn’t anything more annoying than people bragging about their salary on a first date, the supercar they drive, or the amazing holidays around the world.

It should be the same for writers.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to share with those who read us our goals, our accomplishments, and celebrate them together.

But the line is thin, and the readers will hear if there is sincerity behind the words.

4. Don’t Make Fake Promises, Be Honest

I wish it was easy to change my life and be happy forever reading a 4-minute article that promises me eternal glory. I’d love that.

Unfortunately, this is unlikely to be the case for many articles.

Considering this we should try to respect those who read us and compose articles’ headlines as transparent as possible.

This means only writing that an amazing weird routine works after experiencing it on our skin. The key is to be humble and eager to build a sincere relationship.

Honesty is the basis of all long-term relationships. If we want to have loyal readers and not just click and go in exchange for 0.20 cents more we should be aware of our words.

5. Build Trust

The last point and the most important one.

Trust. Trust is what all long-term successful relationships have in common.

Trust is a seed that needs to be watered with patience, and after some time, hopefully, will grow into a strong tree. If planted in the right soil.

But trust must be deserved, with time and after many sacrifices. Just as we will not ask after the first date for a loan, we should not even ask our readers to buy a $500 course just because we have a pretty face.

It doesn’t work.

Successful writers have earned the following they have.

They gave articles and articles full of quality content for free, before even trying to ask for a return.

Give, and then take.

We should be grateful for the people who follow us, but they aren’t just claps or numbers on the statistic page.

They are real people, that we want to fall in love with our writing.

We have to listen to their feedback, look for the right target for us, keep giving and giving. Love will blossom.

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