This is for the bloggers, the creators, the website makers, the social media types, the writers of the world. Specifically the online world where so many of us are spending more and more of our days.
The internet used to be a fun place to surf around.
We were free to roam. No fear of finding websites where we had to navigate a multitude of pop-ups just to get to some good old fashioned content.
If we liked a site we stayed, if not we left.
We didn't get strong armed into sharing what we were reading but were happy to share anyway. We wanted others to find value in the site as well, happy to pay it forward.
We didn't get pushed to subscribe to an email list but we signed up anyway, happy to get new posts straight to our inbox but otherwise not be bothered unduly.
Each site we visited felt like it had its own heartbeat, we could feel the human/s behind it trying to share their message. Of course sites fell into broad subject headings (although some didn't) but each felt like it had its own take on that subject, not just a rehash of something already written that day elsewhere.
Blog posts had titles that meant something but that were not overly controversial or full of hyperbole just to get attention. There was the odd list post but not everything was "252 Secret Ways to..., or 675 Things You Are Missing Out On."
We opened posts and felt like we were actually reading them for the first time, rather than feeling we had already read them before. The writer's unique voice shining through and adding something fresh, even on well-worn subjects.
Of course, that's not where we are now. Today's online world is a little more Wild West.
Respect the Reader
Here's an idea. Let's give our readers the upmost respect. Let's treat them like the welcome friend they are. Let's treat them with open arms when they visit our work.
How do we do that? We go back to Ground Zero. We start with a new framework. We break away from the current model of the sell at all costs or make as much noise as possible. Instead, we try to create something meaningful first and foremost. If it earns us a living or some kudos along the way, great but the work has to stand up on its own.
Internet Ground Zero
Let's start again. Let's breathe new life into the online world. Let's agree some rules of engagement:
No More (or at the least Much Less):
- Pop-ups
- Baiting readers to sign up to our email lists.
- Invasive advertising
- Invasive pitches every 5 minutes on social media
- Pitching other people's products we've never actually used ourselves but get a commission on
- Faking it with just the sunshine shot view of our own lives offline (let's be real and share our failures along the way as well)
- Tricky profiling of our readers so we can guess their next move (and make our next sale)
- Funnelling our readers into landing page after landing page, promising the world but delivering little
- Buying up social media audience and robots so we look impressive with 1000s of 'followers'
- Treating our readers as customers with open wallets for us to stick our paws into and help ourselves
- Cluttered websites, filling every bit of space with a pop-up, message to buy or some other distraction from the reader experience
- Hyperbolic and over the top blog post titles just to get good SEO or social media likes while no one actually bothers to stick around and read the whole post
Much More:
- Being of service
- Trying our best to add value
- Creating from our own pool of ideas (inspired by others but not outright stealing from others)
- Writing from our heart
- Being real and authentic
- Sharing our best work on the day and trying to improve on it next time
- Creating the best possible products we can
- Creating the best possible experience we can for our readers
- Space on our websites for readers to breathe a little, unburdened by clutter
- Using social media to be social and add value to others not just to sell
- Treating our readers with the upmost respect
- Treating our audience as humans with feelings, dreams, cares, wants and stresses
- Doing our best to be our best
Let's all be part of the signal, not part of the noise. Let's make the online world great.
Carl is a writer. He writes short books full of big ideas. He is also the proud owner of Frictionless Living which is focused on helping readers live a simpler and more personally satisfying life.