We’re off…the first post in the new blog series called: Successful Corporate Blogs.

And this first one is about writing for your audience.

Remember the old saying, “If you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick”?

If you’re an amateur plasterer that may work quite effectively but if you’re an internet marketer it won’t work – you have to choose your walls very carefully.

What I’m saying here is if you aim your marketing at receptive people who are interested in your products your efforts will stick – and a lot more effectively.

So where do you find your perfect audience, and secondly how do you find out what they want?

It’s certainly a lot easier finding your target market online than in the old-fashioned door-to-door salesman days.  You never knew who was behind door #3!

Today, marketing online it’s so much easier.  Hang out where your target audience hangs out, and use the two simple techniques that successful offline salesmen know only too well – watch and listen. 

Forums and popular blogs are a great place to hang out.

Call it spying if you like; I prefer to call it intelligence – it sounds so much more polite.

Make a note of the comments people leave and find out what their problems and concerns are.

If you’re new to a competitor’s blog, introduce yourself, become a regular and gradually build up your reputation as a helpful person.  It’s called attraction marketing and it makes sense.

The blogmaster won’t mind because you’re adding content to his site.

He will mind if you run in screaming about how great you, your site and your products are.

Be nice and build relationships.

Nobody likes pushy salespeople; people like those who are helpful and who also know what they’re talking about.  This technique works on all types of social media too, especially Facebook.

There’s an added bonus for your good deeds too.  If you participate on blogs that allow you to put a link in your bio box, you get a valuable backlink – a key to the door to your own site.

Come on in, the content’s fine…

It won’t take you long to understand what your audience wants.

If you sell an electronic product, look at Amazon’s feedback section – especially at the comments left with three stars and below.

Why was this person dissatisfied with the product?

Were they doing something wrong?

Is that something I can address and remedy?

If I make a video or write an article for my site or for posting on article directories will that help people?

If you sell electronic products or anything that consistently raises questions from buyers and prospective buyers, like “How do I…?”  Make a video!  Just let them know to follow your link and they’ll see you doing a demonstration. After all, the last thing people want to do these days is read boring instructions.

If you’re selling acne treatment or dog training products – whatever, if you know your product then you can help.  What you’re aiming to be is the “go-to” person for answers.

It may take some time, but the more you study people’s problems and needs by giving them the right answers, the more “attractive” you become and the more likely they will be to purchase from you.

In the words of the Kinks, a popular British rock band “Give the People What They Want.”

What’s your view on writing for YOUR audience?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.