communication on the internet: making it work

Yesterday, some of the neighborhood kids were playing at our house. One little girl’s family hails from the Caribbean, her name is Elie and she’s in the 1st grade. She was happily exploring our play kitchen, when my daughter (2) tossed her shoes off the couch without looking and one of them ricocheted off of Elie’s arm.

Sophie said she was sorry, and then my son, Jack (also 2), ambled over and started asking Elie if she was all right. But his two year-old language skills haven’t really mastered the evasive ‘R’ sound, so it sounded like this, “Are you all wite?’ To which Elie replied matter-of-factly, “No, I’m brown.”

I love that our children are not nearly as fazed by color as older generations – it is truly heartening and shows that we are, in fact, moving forward (that along with the first African-American presidential nominee!)

But the scenario, after I stopped laughing, made me think about the miscommunications that happen online via email, blogs or social media – when we aren’t necessarily missing the ‘R’ sound, but we are all so culturally different and may be missing social skills or losing the natural politeness inherent in face-to-face interactions because we’re shielded by the computer screen.

And in these political times, I can’t help but think of all of this and not relate it to Sarah Palin, John McCain and their campaign slinging hate towards Barack Obama; hiding not behind the internet, but rather behind the shady curtain of the Right flank that surrounds them.

For us interneters, here’s my list on how to avoid miscommunications online (and off):

1. If you are smiling, laughing, being sarcastic, etc. within your message, put a symbol or actually include your written intention. Don’t expect people to guess.
2. As the receiver, ASK if you are confused. Just the other day someone sent me a message that sounded rather mean, so I asked. She was glad I did and we had a great exchange. (She wasn’t mad at all)
3. Know your audience.
4. Always be nice. I would never ask you to compromise your passion, your beliefs and your right to sing them bravely out loud – but, you can never go wrong with kindness and respect (it will probably get you even farther).

Let’s end with this: Speak clearly and carry an open mind, a kind heart & endless ideas for progress.

Have a great weekend, people! I’ll be in Vermont in a house with…(cue scary music)…DIAL-UP (the horror, the horror).

Filed under Blogging, How To, Politics, Social Media | Tags: african-american, Barack Obama, email communication, John McCain, online communication, online etiquette, social media | Comments (8)

the target market of one: finding your blog audience

Blogging is about the conversation, right? That said, there are certain ‘big’ blogs that I read where I can tell the writer is talking to thousands of people – I feel it, I feel like I’m just one of the many. There are other ‘big’ blogs that always leave me feeling like I’m the only one in the room – and that’s the goal – for any kind of marketing writing, perhaps any kind of writing.

Some of my readers have gone out of their way to tell me that they feel like I’m talking directly to them…which I find superb, because I am. I’m most certainly talking to one person – and that intimacy is able to come through. I’ve picked one person to write my blog to, and every time I sit down to write, I imagine this person sitting in front of me. I purpose my message to this individual allowing my conversational style to be authentic.

So, why then, you may ask, do so many of my readers feel like I’m writing to them personally? They, possibly you, feel that connection because it’s a contact high. It’s catharsis at its best. My best example of this phenomenon has to be the movies. Note: I am a writer with a very potent imagination, this might not show up for you in exactly the same way it does for me.

Take any romantic movie, throw George Clooney (still my favorite) in (or whoever does it for you) and let him/her romance the hell out of someone (could be a girl or a boy – have you seen the Ocean’s movies?)…somehow, sitting there, watching that movie, the viewer gets the sensation that George is talking to them, that they are in love and being loved by GC…and they literally feel full of bliss. Catharsis by movie: you get to revel in your emotions by watching someone else’s experience.

Anyway, as I write to my one and only, you pick up on our intimacy, our connection. I hope it makes you feel included, like you’re part of something. Because you are. This is an excellent writing tool that enables you to meet your audience and influence them. It’s the difference between talking to them and shouting at them, really. The difference between inviting them over to try your fabulous new coffee maker and telling them that they BETTER GET ONE BEFORE THEY’RE ALL GONE! Think about it.

The best part is, with the blog platform, you (the audience) get to talk back. You can keep that conversation going – say what you like, reveal what you don’t, ask for what’s missing. A conversation wants two or more – it can’t exist with just one. In effect, I am writing to you. And, I love it when you join me with emails or comments. I promise to always talk back.

Filed under Blogging, Critical Copywriting, How To, Marketing | Tags: audience, blog comments, blog writing, catharsis, email communication, how to write a blog, Julie Roads, Liz Strauss, marketing writing, persuasive copy, target market, Writing Roads | Comments (7)