I’ve had two reality checks in the last 24 hours:
Firstly, I was helping a friend with something last night when he asked me to explain one of my articles to him (this one).
And I thought I wrote clear, jargon-free posts!
The second was a question someone asked in the Warrior Forum: ‘What is WordPress’?
And I’d been thinking for ages that everyone (at least everyone working on-line) knew what it was.
Both those incidents made me pause and think.
Here’s why:
I write this blog for people who are new or fairly new to working on-line. So to have someone who’s been blogging for a year ask me to explain one of my articles is a rude awakening.
I’m clearly not writing for the people I’m targetting.
Likewise, the person who asked what WordPress is. I’ve never explained that on this site – yet I’m targetting on-line newbies.
So what’s the lesson I learnt?
To get out of my head and into the heads of the people I’m writing for.
It’s too easy to assume a level of knowledge in others, whether you’re writing for them or talking to them.
And people don’t like to tell you they don’t understand what you’re on about for fear of looking dumb.
Which leads to the huge likelihood of a botched communication.
I’d forgotten a great lesson I learnt years ago: don’t assume. If you do, you’re likely to make an:
ASS out of U and ME
So my apologies to everyone who I’ve confused in the past, and I’ll do my best to be clearer going forwards.
And in return, a favour: if I’ve not made my points clear please give me a hard time in the comments section.
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Martin,
I think we are all guilty of this. Personally, I thought the post you referenced was very helpful and I am a newbie blogger. I visit a lot of SEO and online marketing blogs though, but I can see how it may have been hard to follow if someone is not tuned in to these topocs.
It’s nice though to see that you take an interest in your reader’s comments and look to see if there is a better way to do things. I need to do more of looking through my blogger’s eyes when I write myself.
Brad
Brad Harmon´s last blog ..Is Your Small Business Kissable?
It’s tough to maintain it though
I find it so easy to slip back into assuming a level of knowledge in others – and I do it all the time.
I need to put a sticker on my PC screen or something…
Thanks for your kind words on that post,
Cheers,
Martin.
I love it! For some reason I am picturing a big bumper.
I tape quotes or bible verses on my monitor to remind me of things I have committed to working on in myself. It works.
Brad Harmon´s last blog ..Is This How You Picture a Christian Small Business?
A bumper, huh..!? Afraid not
It’s a piece of A4 (Letter) paper which is taped to the panel behind my monitor.
Let’s hope it works too..!
Martin.