One of the great things about the Internet is that it reaches most everybody these days. One of the difficult things about the Internet is that it reaches most everybody these days.
So when it comes to doing things online, whether participating in social media or writing for a website, just who are you talking to?
You can’t talk to everyone, all at once, all the time. Just like in “real life,” you speak to different folks in different ways. You wouldn’t address a group of 4th graders in the same manner you would a group of PhDs. Those same skills apply online. Communicate with each group appropriately. You already know how to do it.
But what if you don’t know who your audience is? Pick one. Pick a group. Pick a person. Make it up if you have to. Make it specific. It is much easier to communicate if you have someone in mind to talk to. That particular group/person may never even see it, but you’ll sound more coherent if you keep one group/person in mind. Plus if they do find it, they’ll know it was meant for them. And yes, just like in “real life” conversations may get overheard. You intended to talk to the 4th graders and the PhDs dropped in. Keep talking to the 4th graders; the PhDs will understand. And also, just like in “real life,” you’ll very probably have more than one conversation going at a time and have to shift styles appropriately. (You know, like when your talking with the PhDs and the 4th grader tugs on your elbow.)
There’s no doubt that the online world has opened up communication to more people, many of which you may have never communicated with before. But people are still people. Don’t forget you are talking to an individual person on the other side of the screen.
-- Julie Kuehl
So when it comes to doing things online, whether participating in social media or writing for a website, just who are you talking to?
You can’t talk to everyone, all at once, all the time. Just like in “real life,” you speak to different folks in different ways. You wouldn’t address a group of 4th graders in the same manner you would a group of PhDs. Those same skills apply online. Communicate with each group appropriately. You already know how to do it.
But what if you don’t know who your audience is? Pick one. Pick a group. Pick a person. Make it up if you have to. Make it specific. It is much easier to communicate if you have someone in mind to talk to. That particular group/person may never even see it, but you’ll sound more coherent if you keep one group/person in mind. Plus if they do find it, they’ll know it was meant for them. And yes, just like in “real life” conversations may get overheard. You intended to talk to the 4th graders and the PhDs dropped in. Keep talking to the 4th graders; the PhDs will understand. And also, just like in “real life,” you’ll very probably have more than one conversation going at a time and have to shift styles appropriately. (You know, like when your talking with the PhDs and the 4th grader tugs on your elbow.)
There’s no doubt that the online world has opened up communication to more people, many of which you may have never communicated with before. But people are still people. Don’t forget you are talking to an individual person on the other side of the screen.
-- Julie Kuehl