Craft of Writing

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Craft of Writing

Leanne Johnston

Marketing To Target Audience
(Internet marketing – remarkable epoch)

When computers arrived, my father expressed these concerns:

Children of the future will forget how to read the printed page. Computers will take over the world and there will be no jobs for people. Computers will do all the work!

He spoke of a new language that would allow incorrect spellings, slang, less and inaccurate use of grammar, punctuation, and shortened versions of words. His fear, in part, became reality. Correct in his theory on how human interaction would change and shortening of words would evolve, but he may not have understood the immense expansion of the Internet across the world and the resultant fact that children and adults would read more than ever!

Users of the Internet look at pictures, play games, chat, watch video footage, and read jokes on screen. Often, the subject matter conveyed creates curiosity in the user, resulting in further research into both electronic and print form. Many computer users seek further education and improve their communication and writing skills in the process.

If anything, the desire for expression and reading others' thoughts over the Internet, whether it be through chat rooms or via email, has expanded rapidly. People of all ages improve their education levels unwittingly in order to voice their opinions or concerns.

The Internet has created a whole new set of markets and associated support services. The way people receive information is changing, giving writers new creative avenues to explore.

Which leads me to an often asked question, since the advent of the Internet: Are newspaper circulations decreasing?

Newspaper circulations have decreased as Internet-based news and information services have increased exponentially along with increasing online activity. This unlocks vast opportunities for newspaper publishers receptive to diversifying and exploiting new markets. If newspaper publishers are sensitive to the needs of the consumer they stand to gain an increased market share of news-related services. Unfortunately my regular newspaper publisher has resorted to filling white space with advertising to help pay the ever increasing costs of production instead of capitalizing on areas consumers want and that they cannot hope to attain through Internet-based services.

On the front page of this capital city based newspaper, Saturday’s edition displayed the usual stop-you-dead-in-your-tracks headline. The second page was advertisements and the third page a few short articles in between more advertisements! Who is going to keep buying a newspaper full of advertisements? Not me, that’s for sure. Smart publishers need to shift gears toward new markets or expand existing to increase their market share.

People’s preference in receiving information has changed. Many people receive daily news directly in their email box at home or work. We are bombarded with advertising, billboards, television, (ugh, dare I repeat myself), newspapers, shopping centers and even outside churches. Is nothing sacred anymore?

Internet-based news services survive by using quick punchy headlines to persuade readers to click on that mouse linking to a summary article with an option to read the full story. This makes money in many ways. The advertising leads consumers to other products or services through ISPs sponsoring the sites and the advertisements themselves create income through other sources. It is a complicated and fascinating maze.

Writers are required more than ever to capture reader’s interest in the first sentence of an article or even with the first word. The Internet Service Providers need writers to post comments, submit articles, teach computers and internet use, provide online feedback, run forums, and hold Internet-based interviews. All of which require scripts or manuals. These are newly developing markets of which writers and marketing personnel play a crucial role. If you are in any way proficient in writing or marketing, you may have a potential goldmine to capitalize on.

Publishers’ methods have changed.

New methods of gaining income have been developed along with the introduction of the Internet. After all, marketing is about making money, not just filling needs and wants. Reading material is offered freely to the person surfing the web. Income is gained by associated advertising. The writer of the article gets paid up front—not bad—and a lucrative way for a writer to survive while waiting for that big break! No longer is distance or remoteness an impediment to being heard. Writers in locations all over the world have as much opportunity of being published as their NYC counterparts. (NYC publishers are able to market and sell products to a wide range of consumers on past reputation alone!)

Books have the remarkable quality of being available all over the world at low cost via the Internet. These opportunities have not only opened the marketplace up through easy access but have also increased competition. This also means you, the writer, have to compete with every other writer in the world who happens to enjoy writing in the same genre as you.

These and many other facts are things you need to consider when seeking publication and distribution of your articles or manuscripts. This article only briefly touches on the many other issues to consider.

Feel free to contact the writer for any further ideas.

Good luck. I hope you get published soon.

About the Author
Imagine 60’s Australia: A cool, early, autumn morning. A mother gives birth to a girl child. This child continues to wake early every morning, talk the leg off an iron pot,* including any animals nearby, entertains herself with her vivid imagination and detest late nights because they interfere with her precious dreamtime.

Nowadays Leanne lives and works on a Stud Murray Grey cattle farm. She considers the Murray Grey breed exceptional and one that will become the most popular breed in the world due to their wonderful temperament and marbling. She shows absolutely no bias of course. Her love of animals will not cease.

The other side of her personality loves to tell tales and until a few years ago she worked in office management. One wild Wednesday she quit her job to pursue a career as a writer. She believes everyone is here for a reason. Everyone has something unique or great about them and others should encourage them to develop their special skills. Leanne likes to use her ability as a writer to help others become all they can, realising there is heaps of good in the world if you seek it in people.

Life is like a large brainteaser to Leanne and she believes in things unseen, unheard of, and sometimes only felt.

If you wish to contact Leanne, you may, at huonmurraygreys@bigpond.com.

*Common Aussie slang

Craft of Writing

Marketing To Target Audience (Internet marketing – remarkable epoch)

Marketing To Target Audience
(Internet marketing – remarkable epoch)