Defining an audience: Why you should (or shouldn’t) keep reading what I write
I’ve been writing on this blog for almost a year now, and I think it’s about time I defined my audience. I want to make it easy for you to know if my writing is aimed at you, or not.
First, let me remind you of the kind of life I’m trying to build for myself: This November I will be quitting my nice-and-steady 9-to-5 web design job, leaving New Orleans and heading back to Ireland. There I will set up my own business and spend a few months figuring out how to make a living online without working crazy hours. I’ll be working on projects I’m passionate about, building my audience and reputation, and setting myself up for location independence.
Before the calendar flips to May 2011, I will quickly and easily relocate to Spain and spend a maximum of six months there, learning the language from scratch. I will be fluent by the time I leave in the Autumn.
Beyond that, I’m not sure. I will probably travel on through Europe, experience several different cultures en route to Southeast Asia, and I intend to be back in the USA in 2013 for an epic 3-month road trip.
All along the way, my aim will be to help and inspire people to live the life of their dreams. I figure I’ll be somewhat of an authority on the subject, since I’ll be living mine.
So where do you fit in?
I will be pouring my heart and soul into this blog in the hopes of inspiring you to be the best person you can be. I don’t want you to live vicariously through me, reading about my adventures and thinking “Wow, I could never do that.”
No, I want you to go write your own script and live it, too. I want you on this journey with me.
If you read this blog regularly for the next twelve months and your life ends up looking exactly the same, then I’ll have failed you. I’d rather not waste your time like that. Hence this post.
The kind of people I’ll be writing for
- Action-oriented people
- Goal-oriented people
- Open-minded people
- Passionate people
- Heretics
- Change-makers
- Risk takers
- Positive people
- People who love learning
- People who want to change, and want to make change
- People who want to be part of the solution
- People who want to help others
If the above sounds like you, or the person you’re aiming to become, stick around. I think we’ll get along great. In fact, I’d love to get to know you better. Send me a message via e-mail, Facebook or Twitter.
The kind of people who are wasting their time here
- Folks who spend hours watching TV or playing video games each day
- People who expect life to be easy
- Destructive critics
- Pessimists, doomsayers and energy vampires
- People who settle for mediocrity
- People who think material possessions will make them happy
- Anyone who thinks one person can’t make a difference
- Anyone who thinks they don’t have a choice
- People who run from their fears
- People who project their own limitations onto others
- Disrespectful people
(A special message for the last crowd on the above list: I’m fine with you disagreeing with my viewpoints, but you must be respectful. One person left two disrespectful comments on my last post, and I promptly deleted both of them. Sorry, but I’m not going to spend any time or energy arguing with trolls. I’d rather spend that time and energy writing a new post that will help and inspire respectful people.)
If you find you identified more with that second list, well then this is where we part ways. Don’t worry, there are plenty of other blogs out there that you can read instead of mine. No hard feelings. Have a nice life.
If you’re still with me, great. I really appreciate you taking the time to read my blog. I’ll keep trying hard to add value to your life and help you be the best you can be. I’m just getting started on this journey of mine, and I’m looking forward to your company.
Well I gotta say, that’s a pretty big group of people you outlined in the 1st section.
Hopefully no one reading this blog won’t be included in at least one of those descriptions.
On another note, I plan on moving to Spain too! (Barcelona, to be more exact.) Where are you looking at?
Best,
Haidn
I must respectfully disagree with a seemingly implied assumption that some folks in your Group 2 cannot transform into having qualities of Group 1. I think part of growth is first realizing that you may belong to Group 2. Sometimes there are open-minded people in Group 2 who have not yet had their mind opened. Maybe that mind-opener can be you, and it would be a shame for them to miss your insight, no? If you’ve helped even one person exit Group 2 and enter Group 1, then I think you and your blog are even more of a resounding success. Even it takes longer than 12 months. Growth, is, after all, a lifelong and slow process.
I do, however, wholeheartedly agree with you on not entertaining disrespectful people.
Yeah Niall, I kind of agree with Ilya. I fit many of the descriptions in the second group, but I’m going to continue reading your blog – so there!
Of course I am reading because I am looking for inspiration to take a stand and lead myslelf into a life worth living
Haidn: Seville! I wanted to stay clear of Barcelona and Madrid because methinks it would be too easy to find English speakers there. I’m hoping it will be easier to immerse myself in the Spanish language in Seville. When are you moving?
Ilya: Point well taken. I don’t mean to explicitly exclude everyone who identifies with Group 2; I’m just letting them know what they can expect from me. My writing will be targeted more towards Group 1 people (and those aiming to become Group 1 people). I hope Group 2 folks can still learn something from this blog, but I will not be writing with them in mind. I’ll end up helping nobody if I try to write for everyone.
Ali: I think you’re being a little hard on yourself. http://www.alidark.com screams Group 1
Looking forward to reading about your travels! 10 years ago I quit my job and travelled Europe until my money ran out. It was the best experience. Now I have a baby, so my travelling life is on hold for a bit. I will *have* to live variously through you.
Go to Vietnam! Amazing and cheap. Loved it.
Thanks, Corey. Vietnam is high on my list of places to visit. I expect to drop in there before 2013.
And just so I’m clear: I don’t expect everyone reading my blog to quit their jobs and go travel the world. Everyone has their own big dream and ideal lifestyle, and that’s what I hope we can all pursue together.
Look forward to reading all about your adventures. Keep up the good work. Clare. What kind of a business are you hoping to establish in Ireland?
Thanks, Clare. I’m not quite sure how to define the business yet. The main thing I’m aiming for is location independence, so I should to be able to work from anywhere as long as I have my laptop and an internet connection. There will be very little overhead. I’m looking more and more into affiliate marketing, and I plan to do a LOT of work on my writing so I can produce and sell helpful e-books.
I can always do freelance web design, too, but I’d rather steer clear of that since I know from experience how needy clients can be (everything is urgent!). I’d rather focus on setting up automated income streams that only need checking every few days.
I know I’m being quite vague about all this, but I really haven’t looked too much into the details yet. All I know is that there are a lot of folks out there running minimalist businesses, and I don’t see any reason why I can’t be one of them.
I’ll happily blog about my experiences setting up and running this business when the time comes.
Hi Niall,
looking forward to following your adventures.
I’m honestly feeling pretty excited for you.
Jamie
Thanks, Jamie. I wish you all the best on your adventures, too.
Look forward to reading more Niall.