Give Your Audience Empathy, Encouragement, and Engagement
Your Audience is a Gift
As a writer, your audience is a gift, part of a unique symbiosis driving you to write. Just imagine the impact of having one person learn, do, or be better. What a joy!
Begin with this mindset for every piece you write. Otherwise, all the research in the world will not move the reader. What is the point if you do not move the reader, make them feel something, or address their pain?
Your Readers are a Gift
As an author, my readers are a gift. Whenever someone refers to my book, 33 Ways Not To Screw Up Cybersecurity, for a tip, checklist, or story, perhaps on good password hygiene or understanding what multi-factor authentication means, they allow me to teach them something about cybersecurity. What a joy!
We face many challenges and problems that cause pain. Digital transformation, for all of its good intentions, requires some diligence and care on our part as online device users. We may be too tired or frustrated to care about cybersecurity. We may think, “Why can’t I simply log on and use my device without much thinking?”
When I speak to groups of seniors, now referred to as lifelong learners, they relate to my story of the yellow pages, white pages, and how long it took to find an old friend or service provider in those phone books. Now, we have the miraculous internet. How dare hackers ruin it for us by taking advantage of us! We can win the fight with a bit of patience and diligence. Then, they get it. They know to slow down, think, pause, ask for help, or research before rushing to reply or click on a link. They know because it is still much faster than the old days of thick paper phone books.
Simplify the Complex
When I worked for brokers, I sometimes received feedback, “You need to simplify the content because cyber insurance is complex, and the policyholders simply will not understand it.”
When I offered my brand statement at an event this week, the attendees replied, “Wow, that is complicated!” Unlike those working in the sector, cyber, like a foreign language, is unknown to most people. No wonder people are not aware of how to reduce cyber risks!
My Book’s Audience
As for my book, I have had highly-trained technical experts say that my book is too basic. They are not my audience.
At the same time, I’ve had business owners and their employees, who are beginners in cybersecurity, say that my book helps them get it. They are my audience.
Here is what I’ve learned. I must tailor my content for each audience. That’s it.
No slide deck, speech, webinar, Zoom meeting, or phone call applies to everyone 100% of the time. When someone asks me for slides, I ask, “Who is the audience?”
My goals for my audience and readers are the three E’s:
- Empathy
- Encouragement
- Engagement
If one of the E’s is missing, you lose your audience. You return the gift of their time, attention, and action. If it does happen, share it with me.
The Value of Book Reviews
As an author, I have learned a valuable lesson – the importance of book reviews from our audience.
Since writing my book, I have given more reviews than ever before. I’ve learned that we must give and receive book reviews.
Make the time, so the book becomes visible and reaches the intended readers.
Here and now, I say “Thank You” to all my book reviewers on Amazon and Goodreads. I am grateful for your honest feedback.
There Is Hope.
