How Can You Adapt to Write for a Different Target Audience?
In the craft of writing, the ability to tailor your message to different audiences is key. We've gathered insights from a freelance writer and a director, among others, on how they've navigated this challenge. From learning about your audience before writing to engaging a younger demographic with trendy content, discover how these four professionals successfully adapted their writing for diverse target audiences.
- Learn About Your Audience Before Writing
- Adapt Tone for Freelancers and Entrepreneurs
- Simplify Content for Startup Audience
- Engage Younger Demographic With Trendy Content
Learn About Your Audience Before Writing
As a freelance writer catering to a variety of SaaS clients, I serve a lot of different target audiences. The best way to approach it is to spend time learning before you start writing. Ask your client to describe their target reader in detail, including their age, reading level, location, job title, and how they will use the content. Then, read the client's existing content to get a feel for what tone their audience responds to and what you can do to recreate it.
Ideally, your client will also include any important information about the target reader in the brief, such as the search intent behind the topic, what competitors have written, and the purpose behind the piece. Putting all this information together will give you a better sense of not just what you're writing, but who you're writing it for, allowing you to adapt to serve a different target audience than you're used to.
Adapt Tone for Freelancers and Entrepreneurs
The ability to adapt my writing style to resonate with different audiences is a crucial skill for any content writer. A recent project for a coworking company exemplifies this. Initially, I drafted blog posts packed with industry jargon and statistics about the rise of remote work and the benefits of flexible office space. While informative, I worried it might miss the mark.
The target audience wasn't necessarily CEOs or workplace strategists, but freelancers, entrepreneurs, and remote workers. They likely wouldn't be swayed by broad statistics. Instead, I needed to connect with their specific needs. I revamped the content to focus on the day-to-day struggles of remote work—feeling isolated, lacking collaboration, or needing a professional atmosphere. The blog posts now offered solutions—the benefits of a vibrant coworking community, access to meeting rooms, and the ability to network with like-minded professionals. The tone shifted to be more conversational and relatable, using examples and success stories from real coworking members.
This audience-centric approach proved successful. Website traffic and inquiries from potential members soared. The content resonated because it addressed their pain points and showcased how the coworking space could provide a valuable solution. This project solidified the importance of understanding your target audience and tailoring your writing style to speak directly to their needs and aspirations.
Simplify Content for Startup Audience
At Digital Web Solutions, we recently tackled an exciting project where we had to tailor our content for a startup audience—a shift from our usual corporate and tech-savvy clients. The challenge was to make our digital marketing strategies relatable and accessible to entrepreneurs who are just starting out and might not yet be deeply familiar with advanced marketing concepts or jargon.
We created a series of introductory blog posts, webinars, and newsletters that broke down complex digital marketing strategies into fundamental steps that were easy to understand and implement. We used more conversational tones, vivid storytelling, and practical examples to illustrate points clearly.
This approach helped the new entrepreneurs grasp the basics and feel more confident in applying these strategies to grow their businesses. The response was fantastic, with significant increases in engagement on our platform from this segment, demonstrating the effectiveness of audience-specific content adaptation.
Engage Younger Demographic With Trendy Content
One interesting project involved creating content for a client who decided to extend their e-commerce platform to include a younger, more trend-sensitive audience. Initially, the brand's tone was conservative and focused on middle-aged consumers. To engage a younger demographic, we infused a vibrant, energetic tone into the content, incorporated contemporary slang appropriately, and referenced current pop culture trends.
We also leveraged platforms popular with this group, like Instagram and TikTok, for distribution. The content was visually appealing, with bright colors and dynamic designs to attract attention. This strategic shift resonated well with the younger audience and brought a fresh vibe to the brand, significantly increasing social media engagement and sales from this demographic.
