Everyone keeps saying that the future of publishing is all about content. But without context, content is just a bunch of words. And an excess of words just creates static. After clarifying a platform, creating a context becomes the next step.
Creating context is key to platform development because writers need to attract a base of readers…and naturally this takes time and patience…and eventually content. But without a context for your content that resonates with readers, a writer is really missing a wonderful opportunity to create community. Content and context really go hand in hand and feed each other.
What forms will your content take to address readers’ wants and needs? Once you are creating appropriate content for your specific audience, you’ve very likely created a context where something exciting can happen between you and your audience.
A common mistake I see that pertains to context is writers teaming up with other writers to create a group presence but then neglecting to establish their personal online presence. Guys, it's just not helpful to ask people who are interested in you to go on a wild link chase to find out more about you. You need to name and claim and build your own site about you too.
When this happens to me, I'll click a couple of times, but once I realize the person has no central home-base of info about who they are, what they offer, and why I should care, I'm done.
Use the five-second rule. If I can't find out all the WWWWWH about you in five seconds, you've lost my attention. Start with Google. That takes about five seconds. Plug in your name and hit return.
Okay, now at a quick glance can I see exactly where to go to find just the right amount of details about who you are and what you offer? (Hint: The place I'll find this info is probably your website or blog.)
If not, then back to the basics. You'll find them in section three of Get Known. The very first thing your context should do is make my life easier when I want to find out everything about you and I have no time to do it.
That's just one example of context in action. I'll say more on the topic later because it's obviously a big and complex topic. And the Internet is a big and complex place. So keep some of your most crucial contexts simple.
Some very good points here - remembering the medium is the message as one context and the sustainable identity of the author as the other, the gateway to connection is opened, and will stay open only when content lives up to, and delivers on, expectations. Nicely put.
Posted by: John Reddish (@Get Results) | May 13, 2009 at 09:13 AM
Great advice! I was just talking with a friend about how women (particularly) have a tendency to want to form alliances (sometimes at the expense of their own professional identities) with other creative women before establishing themselves. I know I have been guilty of this. But it makes sense to have a foundation and identity as a writer first and then reach out to others once you are clear on "what you are all about."
Posted by: nicole kraft | May 13, 2009 at 09:50 AM