I’m Deep if You Say I Am

I’ve taken a lot of writing classes and sat through a lot of truly bizarre interpretations of my work as a result. There’s nothing like being hailed as a genius when you don’t deserve it. After one class I told the professor (confessed, really) that I didn’t understand how on earth people could have liked my flat-out terrible poem so much. He told me something very simple.

“You’re entitled to whatever your audience gives you.”

Day 314/365 - Human Painting
CC BY

As a writer, I tend to think that my work is all about me and my message but that’s not really the case. Once you create something and release it into the world, you lose the ability to control response. Was my poem terrible? Yeah. I spent five minutes on it right before class just so I’d have something to present. But did anyone else know that? Not in the least. They were looking for (and found) depth and connection that had absolutely nothing redeeming behind it. I got an A on the strength of their reviews, not on my writing.

Every day someone looks at your product and sees something in it that’s unique to them. Their vision, their perception and their needs shape what your product means. Brand building, at its heart, is about trying to tell people how to think about your product. You want them to think about your company, your product, you the way you think of yourself.

Sometimes, though, your audience gives you more credit than you deserve. When that happens, don’t argue with them. Realize that you’ve been given a gift. Smile and accept it.

The Unexpected Audience

The audience is fickle, however, and they can remove meaning from your work just as easily as they instill it. It’s a lesson that author Gregory Levey just learned for himself. Gregory, you see, wrote a book called Shut Up, I’m Talking, a memoir about his time working for the Israeli government. He dutifully created a Facebook page to promote his book and gathered a few fans. Then, out of nowhere, he got a LOT of fans. 700,000 of them, in fact. More than Dan Brown, New York City and The New York Times.

But Gregory’s 700,000 fans haven’t read his book. They don’t even know there is a book. They just like the phrase “Shut up, I’m talking.” And that leaves him in an awkward place. Does he write to them all? (“To be honest, if I wrote what I really thought about them, it probably wouldn’t be too flattering.”) Does he ignore them and try to touch his real fans only? Does he embrace what’s been given to him by his audience, even if they’re (as Gawker calls them) “Facebook’s dumbest users”?

With publishing in such precarious shape right now, I suppose authors should embrace any kind of attention they can get, even if it’s completely misguided.

Getting the right kind of traffic is always a marketer’s goal. If you find yourself with an influx of non-targeted traffic, you have two choices, try a different message or adapt to meet the new audience’s needs. If everyone’s telling you that you’re about THIS when you think you’re about THAT, you have to decide if you’re wrong or they are. The trick is that even if it’s them, it’s still your job to change it. Your audience is finding meaning in something you never intended. What are you going to do about it?

Susan Esparza is former managing editor at Bruce Clay Inc., and has written extensively for clients and internal publications. Along with Bruce Clay, she is co-author of the first edition of Search Engine Optimization All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies.

See Susan's author page for links to connect on social media.

Comments (8)
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8 Replies to “I’m Deep if You Say I Am”

Great post! It’s true, the reaction you receive may not be what was first intended, but we have to learn to roll with it. Our perspective is just one, and there are many more out there that could bring a completely different light on a situation that we had not previously thought of.

Great post Susan..
Had someone freak out yesterday when i said..

“those aren’t the keywords i’m targeting, i don’t want that traffic”

Susan Esparza

It’s really amazing how often people turn their noses up at potential customers just because they don’t fit their preconceived notions. Not everyone thinks of your business the way you do. Get out of your own way for heaven’s sake and let them give you money!

I’ve also written pieces that grew legs all by themselves; each seem to have paralleled some major news event at the time.

BTW, I ran across an e-book tutorial for copywriting and thought your readers might enjoy it. The site has a free chapter available you can review.

Check it out…
http://www.copywriting-designers.com/

John Barremore
Houston, TX

Great post Susan, and a problem everyone faces in the written medium. Do you have any advice on conveying the right meaning?

Susan Esparza

Research, research, research. Doing demographic targeting and really honestly learning who your customers are is the crucial first step. Let go of your preconceptions about your brand and your products and listen to how people really relate to your products.

It’s not just about conveying the right meaning, it’s being ready to adapt to the idea that the right meaning isn’t necessarily your meaning.

The intent behind the message and the perception of the message!

I find that even the best positioning you try to stage for your brand is always going to be subject to thousands of factors you will never know.

Are you going to post the poem?

Susan Esparza

Michelle

Ha! No. I gave that poem a ceremonial burning to purge it from the world. It was a mercy killing, honestly.

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