• What are you writing about?
• Who is it for (be specific)?
• To deliver what sort of outcome?
Here's what this looks like in action 👇
"I write about productivity."
No!
WHAT: "I write about productive work habits."
FOR WHO: "For busy product managers at SaaS companies."
SO THAT: "So they can have more time to build meaningful relationships with their coworkers."
Wow, so much better!
"I write about real estate."
No!
WHAT: "I write about how to buy your first rental property."
FOR WHO: "For people who want to get started in real estate but have no money."
SO THAT: "So they can quit the job they hate and create a job they love."
Fun facts about The Art & Business of Online Writing:
• I wrote it in 4 months, right at the start of the pandemic.
• I beta-tested the manuscript with 25 readers (via Twitter)
• I did the final proofread at my girlfriend's parents' house in AZ (in 100 degree heat)
👇👇
• Almost every chapter/main point in the book I've written about elsewhere on the Internet (validating that's what readers wanted to know more about).
• I intentionally designed the cover to look like an "online article" (which many industry pros told me was a stupid idea)
• I workshopped the subtitle with my good friend @craigclemens who said the "how to beat the game" component spoke to my history as a gamer, and my POV that writing online is like a video game.